I'm not even close to an HVAC novice but was asked by a customer for my thoughts so he could understand the problem.
Typical 2 story home in this northern climate. Open stairwell to second floor, forced air furnace. This one has updated windows, insulation and a 4 yr old furnace.
The issue is not much heat to the second floor bedrooms. Family of 4, one to a bedroom. Each keeps their door shut. Some gap under doors for air movement but no second floor return air vent.
In my home, very similar with a central hall to an open stairwell to first floor they added a return air vent/duct back to the basement and into the furnace. I have a more even heat distribution, I believe.
Homeowner is not a DIY kind of guy and I suggested he call in someone that is able to check his entire system and better advise. He pressed for my thoughts so I explained that his second floor did not have enough negative pressure (closed doors) to allow the air to flow easily back to the furnace. The first floor return air was either working ok for the furnace requirements or the furnace was starving for return air.
Was I close?
Typical 2 story home in this northern climate. Open stairwell to second floor, forced air furnace. This one has updated windows, insulation and a 4 yr old furnace.
The issue is not much heat to the second floor bedrooms. Family of 4, one to a bedroom. Each keeps their door shut. Some gap under doors for air movement but no second floor return air vent.
In my home, very similar with a central hall to an open stairwell to first floor they added a return air vent/duct back to the basement and into the furnace. I have a more even heat distribution, I believe.
Homeowner is not a DIY kind of guy and I suggested he call in someone that is able to check his entire system and better advise. He pressed for my thoughts so I explained that his second floor did not have enough negative pressure (closed doors) to allow the air to flow easily back to the furnace. The first floor return air was either working ok for the furnace requirements or the furnace was starving for return air.
Was I close?