Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Temperature Differences (Heat Rising?)
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culvercitylee
08-06-02, 02:02 PM
I have a three story townhouse in Maryland which is too cool in the basement and too warm upstairs during the summer months. (How) can I get more air (re-)circulation? Would installing a separate duct and fan/blower(or two) to force hot air down to basement and or cool air from basement to upstairs be practical? 4" ducts through interier walls could be easily installed during unrelated major replumbing project.
Has anyone actually heard of this working? Top bedroom is about 240 sq ft of 550 sq ft 3rd level. "Finished" office/bedroom is about 300 sq ft of 550 sq ft basement.
Any suggestions that actually have worked would be greatly appreciated.
The reverse is less of a problem in the winter as usually the basement is unused, but would the same setup (or reversing the fans) also work then?
Has anyone actually heard of this working? Top bedroom is about 240 sq ft of 550 sq ft 3rd level. "Finished" office/bedroom is about 300 sq ft of 550 sq ft basement.
Any suggestions that actually have worked would be greatly appreciated.
The reverse is less of a problem in the winter as usually the basement is unused, but would the same setup (or reversing the fans) also work then?
54regcab
08-06-02, 04:55 PM
Tempatures are NEVER even with multistory dwellings using one central system.
An easy solution would be to install a window unit on the top floor.
THe ducting idea might work but you need to move a lot more air than a 4" duct can deliver !!
How much $$$ are you looking to throw at the problem ??
A 2nd central unit for upper levels is the best but costly
An easy solution would be to install a window unit on the top floor.
THe ducting idea might work but you need to move a lot more air than a 4" duct can deliver !!
How much $$$ are you looking to throw at the problem ??
A 2nd central unit for upper levels is the best but costly
culvercitylee
08-07-02, 06:54 AM
I don't mind spending a few hundred dollars for ducts and a fan but I don't want high operating costs of another air conditioner. How big a vent and how powerful a fan would I need (and how many air exchanges) to recirculate the top bedroom air with the basement bedroom air (about 2000 to 2500 cubic feet per room)?
54regcab
08-07-02, 06:57 AM
Is to run additional supply ducts from the air handler to the "hot" rooms then shut them off in the winter
culvercitylee
08-08-02, 07:20 AM
If I let the top floor get comfy then the downstairs is too cold. Has anyone ever heard of or tried a separate vent just for air circulation between top floor and basement?????
CHuntMD
08-12-02, 08:05 PM
I've (and almost everyone with a single unit AC system) has.
I'm also in MD (since 1989) and I don't remember a hotter summer and my Pepco bill was more than twice last summer!
I'm putting in a ductless AC or mini-split system the weekend after labor day due to scheduling. There was a Washington Post article 1.5 months ago in the Thursday Home section about how popular these unis are in Japan and Europe.
I'm putting in a 1 ton single zone for my second story. Go a google search for mini-split or check out epa.gov
Forcing the cool from the basement to the 2nd floor would work but it won't be as "dry" as the AC air.
I'm also in MD (since 1989) and I don't remember a hotter summer and my Pepco bill was more than twice last summer!
I'm putting in a ductless AC or mini-split system the weekend after labor day due to scheduling. There was a Washington Post article 1.5 months ago in the Thursday Home section about how popular these unis are in Japan and Europe.
I'm putting in a 1 ton single zone for my second story. Go a google search for mini-split or check out epa.gov
Forcing the cool from the basement to the 2nd floor would work but it won't be as "dry" as the AC air.