Home and Auto Adding vents to a basement heating/cooling system? - Page 2

Silock · 08-19-2012, 11:59 AM

We are refinishing the basement, which is a full basement. About 2/3rds of it is going to be our theater room, but there are only 2 vents for the whole place. As such, it gets a little cold during the winter (read: a LOT cold). Would it be possible to just run some more vents to increase airflow downstairs, or would that **** up the whole house due to a more dispersed airflow?

Thanks in advance.

jd1020 · 08-19-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I'm not an HVAC expert (wait - this is the Internet, I can be whoever I want to be!), but it seems like ceiling heat vents are going to be very inefficient.

How exactly are they going to be less efficient than floor vents? If you don't have a crawl space to feed the duct under the house then you put them in the ceiling. They both have their seasons of efficiency.

**Rain Man** · 08-19-2012, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jd1020

How exactly are they going to be less efficient than floor vents? If you don't have a crawl space to feed the duct under the house then you put them in the ceiling. They both have their seasons of efficiency.

I think ceiling vents are better for cooling and floor vents are better for heating. As a compromise they tend to be placed in the floor. But the fact that heat rises means that you have to really pump a room with hot air if you want it to reach the height levels where people are hanging out. (People other than NBA players, of course.)

jd1020 · 08-19-2012, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

I think ceiling vents are better for cooling and floor vents are better for heating. As a compromise they tend to be placed in the floor. But the fact that heat rises means that you have to really pump a room with hot air if you want it to reach the height levels where people are hanging out. (People other than NBA players, of course.)

If heat rises do you think the heat from a floor vent is evenly distributing itself on the floor before rising to the ceiling? You are going to have to pump a basement full of heat no matter where the vents are.

**Dunit35** · 08-19-2012, 03:16 PM

You'll have to make sure your unit is being enough to add additional ducts. If it is, you are good. My house is 1700 sq feet with a 3 ton unit. I would like to add one vent in my den, but i would have to go up a size to do that. Thankfully, its the family business so everything is at cost for me.

How many sq feet is your home, including your basement? What is your current unit size?

**SAUTO** · 08-19-2012, 03:21 PM

I was told that they basically say 1 ton is about equal to 500 sq feet coverage
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**DaneMcCloud** · 08-19-2012, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

I was told that they basically say 1 ton is about equal to 500 sq feet coverage
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I think it depends on the space, the unit, the manufacturer, ceiling height, etc. Cubic feet should also be taken into consideration.

I'm having a ductless Mini-Split installed this week in a 300 square foot room and chose a 12,000 BTU AC/Heat Pump. The heating most likely won't be necessary (as the reason for the unit is to cool the room, regardless of the exterior climate) but a 9,000 BTU unit would have needed to work harder than the 12,000.

Also, this particular unit is 12,000 BTU cooling but 15,000 BTU heating. It's an LG and has a SEER rating of 20, so it should be very efficient, energy-wise.

Ace Gunner · 08-19-2012, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I think it depends on the space, the unit, the manufacturer, ceiling height, etc. Cubic feet should also be taken into consideration.

I'm having a ductless Mini-Split installed this week in a 300 square foot room and chose a 12,000 BTU AC/Heat Pump. The heating most likely won't be necessary (as the reason for the unit is to cool the room, regardless of the exterior climate) but a 9,000 BTU unit would have needed to work harder than the 12,000.

Also, this particular unit is 12,000 BTU cooling but 15,000 BTU heating. It's an LG and has a SEER rating of 20, so it should be very efficient, energy-wise.

Good. I was worried you'd freeze your ass off out there in socal

**SAUTO** · 08-19-2012, 04:04 PM

A typical house has eight foot ceilings, windows do make a difference though.

It's just a quick way to calculate tonnage for a typical situation, iirc
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**DaneMcCloud** · 08-19-2012, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JASONSAUTO

A typical house has eight foot ceilings, windows do make a difference though.

It's just a quick way to calculate tonnage for a typical situation, iirc
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I think you guys have to take dehumidifiers into the equation as well, whereas out here, it's not nearly as important.

FTR, the room I'm going to cool has nine foot ceilings and a 4'x6' brand new dual pane, Low E, window. But it has to be cooled separately from the rest of the house due to the use of the room.

**SAUTO** · 08-19-2012, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaneMcCloud

I think you guys have to take dehumidifiers into the equation as well, whereas out here, it's not nearly as important.

FTR, the room I'm going to cool has nine foot ceilings and a 4'x6' brand new dual pane, Low E, window. But it has to be cooled separately from the rest of the house due to the use of the room.

new meth lab going in huh? Lol
We are just getting to the end point on a thousand foot add on, two stories, turned an existing bedroom into a large bathroom and added another. Had to add another system. Been fun
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Silock · 08-19-2012, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunit35

You'll have to make sure your unit is being enough to add additional ducts. If it is, you are good. My house is 1700 sq feet with a 3 ton unit. I would like to add one vent in my den, but i would have to go up a size to do that. Thankfully, its the family business so everything is at cost for me.

How many sq feet is your home, including your basement? What is your current unit size?

The area we want to heat is about 800 sq ft. It already has two cents but I want to add two more.

Whole house is about 2500.

Silock · 08-19-2012, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scho63

Look into some of the new radiant heat options. They are much simpler than in the past and much less expensive.

Well we stained the concrete instead of putting in tile or carpet so I don't think that will work, unfortunately.

**Bugeater** · 08-19-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Well we stained the concrete instead of putting in tile or carpet so I don't think that will work, unfortunately.

Bare concrete? Good luck ever keeping that room warm.

**Rain Man** · 08-19-2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Silock

Well we stained the concrete instead of putting in tile or carpet so I don't think that will work, unfortunately.

If your ceiling is high enough, put in a hardwood floor and put in-floor heating below it. It will turn your basement into the coziest man cave ever.

(Rules question: am I allowed to use the word 'cozy' to describe a man cave?)

cookster50 · 08-20-2012, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

(Rules question: am I allowed to use the word 'cozy' to describe a man cave?)

Yes, but if you were talking about your "manscape," 'cozy' would be off limits.

08-19-2012, 11:59 AM
Silock MVP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Overland Park Casino cash: $10020882	Adding vents to a basement heating/cooling system? We are refinishing the basement, which is a full basement. About 2/3rds of it is going to be our theater room, but there are only 2 vents for the whole place. As such, it gets a little cold during the winter (read: a LOT cold). Would it be possible to just run some more vents to increase airflow downstairs, or would that **** up the whole house due to a more dispersed airflow? Thanks in advance.
Posts: 19,908

08-19-2012, 03:16 PM	#19
Dunit35 Keepin it Real Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Oklahoma Casino cash: $-2112955	You'll have to make sure your unit is being enough to add additional ducts. If it is, you are good. My house is 1700 sq feet with a 3 ton unit. I would like to add one vent in my den, but i would have to go up a size to do that. Thankfully, its the family business so everything is at cost for me. How many sq feet is your home, including your basement? What is your current unit size?
Posts: 10,507

08-19-2012, 03:21 PM	#20
SAUTO Shit Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10039067	I was told that they basically say 1 ton is about equal to 500 sq feet coverage Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 55,715

08-19-2012, 04:04 PM	#23
SAUTO Shit Join Date: Jun 2008 Casino cash: $10039067	A typical house has eight foot ceilings, windows do make a difference though. It's just a quick way to calculate tonnage for a typical situation, iirc Posted via Mobile Device
Posts: 55,715