Venting Ductwork in Basement???

[MSchoaf]

I am in the process of finishing my basement. It is comprised really of 2 'rooms'. The office is about 13' x 15', the rest of the space would be about 700 sq ft. I have 2 separate main duct runs going into each room. The temperature in the basement now isn't too bad...it stays pretty cool in the summer, and not too chilly in the winter. I am putting a drop ceiling and carpeting in. My question is, do I NEED to vent the ductwork in the basement? Do I need to vent the return? What size/quantity of vents? The ductwork is soffited. Thanks.
Mike

[Ed Imeduc]

A lot is in what you have there. Most of the time we put 1 or 2 registers in a basement room and run them to just off the outside walls in the ceiling blowing down. Also 1 small return by or near the cold air drop by the furnace.

ED ;)

[MSchoaf]

Thanks Ed. If I can't run it to the wall, is it acceptable to just put it in the main duct? Do I need a return in each room? All of my perimeter walls are finished at this point.

[Ed Imeduc]

Yes you can put a outlet in the duct . But it dont work as good. You want the register about 12 " off the outside walls. Thats so the air comes back across the room to go to the cold air return. you can put a cold air return in each room but just one down there works ok. if you have any doors on the rooms there set them high off the floor or cut the bottom off 2" over any floor or rugs.

ED ;)