heat not coming out of all vents - wtf is wrong?

[purbeast0]

this is my first winter in this house and now that it's cold as shit outside, i've noticed that quite a few of the air vents in our house see to be having hardly any heat or none at all coming out of them.

and when i go into the room with the furnace (and dryer/washer) it feels pretty damn warm in there.

but like in my basement (4 level split level house) there are 2 vents down there and literally no heat is coming out of them, and it's cold as shit down there lol.

i do know that i have to get a new air filter which i'm doing tomorrow. not even sure if that will make any difference probably not.

but is there anything to fix myself as far as fixing the air flow? or is this something that a pro will probably have to fix if i want it fixed?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

this is my first winter in this house and now that it's cold as shit outside, i've noticed that quite a few of the air vents in our house see to be having hardly any heat or none at all coming out of them.

and when i go into the room with the furnace (and dryer/washer) it feels pretty damn warm in there.

but like in my basement (4 level split level house) there are 2 vents down there and literally no heat is coming out of them, and it's cold as shit down there lol.

i do know that i have to get a new air filter which i'm doing tomorrow. not even sure if that will make any difference probably not.

but is there anything to fix myself as far as fixing the air flow? or is this something that a pro will probably have to fix if i want it fixed?

Try closing the vents on the upper floors and opening them on the lower floors and see if that helps. In the summer, you'll do the reverse -- open the upper floor vents and close the lower floor vents.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Do you know if there is flex duct running into that room in the basement? Could be the inner liner has collapsed.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Probably poor or, non existent, taping of duct work joints. If it's a newer home, there's also the possibility of inadequate duct work sizing and/or capacity.

You need to check the duct work joints and make sure they're properly sealed as a first step.

 

[edro]

Is there actual air flow coming out?

 

[Ichinisan]

OP, did you check to see if your thermostat has a setting like this?

 

[lxskllr]

Dumb question, but you're sure they're vents, and not intakes?

Edit:
Btw, Ichinisan's advice is legit, even if his pic isn't :^D

Check your ducts for cutoffs. You usually see them in a basement setting, but I suppose they could be installed on any line.

 

[Squisher]

Look for levers like this in your vent piping:

The lever should be parallel to the pipe for them to be open.

 

[Wingznut]

Replacing a dirty air filter can definitely make a difference. As you've already figure out, that's your first step.

 

[mcurphy]

Look for levers like this in your vent piping:

The lever should be parallel to the pipe for them to be open.

Heh! Never seen a valve like that for an air duct before. I don't have any in my home, but can certainly see where it would be useful.

 

[sourn]

Heh! Never seen a valve like that for an air duct before. I don't have any in my home, but can certainly see where it would be useful.

Maybe some jerry rigging?

The only time I seen those type of vents used are on wood stoves.

 

[edro]

I have those valves on all of my main ducts coming out of the furnace.
I think there is one for each room.

My house is over 130 years old though...

 

[K1052]

I have those valves on all of my main ducts coming out of the furnace.
I think there is one for each room.

My house is over 130 years old though...

It's very common in older homes. Newer systems usually won't have them but if he has only one unit to cover a 4 level home it's possible there could be some for balancing.

 

[Possessed Freak]

Look for levers like this in your vent piping:

The lever should be parallel to the pipe for them to be open.

This, probably down in the basement as each pipe branches off the mains.

 

[bruceb]

Check to see if the furnace fan is running. I had one quit on me in the dead of winter about 7 years ago and it cost an emergency call to fix it (it was at night, with an old person there as well) and it ran me about $600 for a replacement fan motor. If the fan is running, then it probably is a damper set incorrectly or as mentioned, a massive air leak. Also see if the burners are actually lighting.