My Bungalow has cold Basement and hot upstairs

Braddiy

Well winter is coming and i have this issue with the main floor of my bungalow being hot and the basement is cold, here is a few things i have tried already

1. closing vents half way upstairs.
2. adding more ducts downstairs.
3. insulated 80% of my basement,
4. tuck taped seams of ducts i could reach.
5. changed air filters regularly.
6. replaced basement windows with energy efficient windows

I have a gas forced air system and my house is only 950sqft. it seems to cycle very fast meaning it only comes on for about 3 minutes at a time.
also my furnace is in middle of house and the main trunk branches both ways so size of ducts is not an issue.

please help!

techpappy

do you have a return air duct on main floor and one in basement...both together should equal area of all supply ducts..at least

Steelfab66

Cold air return in the basement is critical. I had the same problem and installed a cold air return and the difference it made is astounding. A pricey way to fix your problem is to split your heating system with additional heat and return air ducts controlled by a separate thermostat and damper system. Typically runs $1500-$2500 but if you have living space in the basement it is the only way to go.

techpappy

\Zoned system absolutely not necessary...we're only dealing with less than 1000 sqft..this is not the Hearst Mansion! and no offense intended..we are moving to our.... new to us (circa 1957),1000 sqft residence... next month and it will be quite big enough. Downsizing from 2500 sq ft 2 storey..but now the kids are gone!!...'bout time too...remaining son just got married .. yay!! but, he's still moving out! Still has project car ( 340 HP..AWD Talon) in garage..in pieces of course.....wahhh!!

Anyway..it's all about circulation!

Make sure furnace fan is clean and any other obstructions like dirty A Coil?....blocked return air vents OR lack of same etc.

Steelfab66

Doesn't have to be the Hearst mansion to split the system. I did it to a 1200 SF ranch with 900 SF of finished space in the basement (family room, bedroom and bath). In spring and fall when the upstairs thermostat doesn't call for heat as often, the basement got cold and clammy. Splitting the system fixed that problem beautifully for me. It's pricey, but it's all in what you want.

techpappy

just put fan on continuous low speed during those times..to keep circulation and temps even throughout..

biggles

if the furnace is on the main floor then the supplies are the only heating into the basement..are there returns from the basement or just supplies

techpappy

I think we've lost our OP..any comments BRADDIY?

Braddiy

Yes I have 2 return air ducts upstairs and 2 in basement.

Braddiy

My furnace is located in the basement

Missouri Bound

Where is your thermostat? When you say upstairs is hot....is it hotter than the thermostat is set for?

__________________
Do you want it your way or the right way?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

Braddiy

My thermostat is in the upstairs living room , probably the hottest room in the house, I should probably move it to the hallway. The upstairs is the temperature of the thermostat and during the day a lot of sun comes in living room.

Missouri Bound

So there are times that the room is heated by the sun rather than the furnace? This explains a lot. You may have to move the thermostat around a bit to find the correct place. Invest in a cheap thermometer that you can move around for a few days to see what is happening when the sun comes up. If you can move it away from the hot room it will help, and if you can move it near the return air it may be beneficial.

__________________
Do you want it your way or the right way?
To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 10 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

imautoparts

What is the composition of the walls and floor in the basement?

What is the ceiling height?

How many heating vents do you have down there?

I'm assuming it is a full basement, thus you have 900 or so sq ft to heat. I have a similar situation, but one half of my basement is finished with full wall insulation (pink stuff) and has a couple of layers of removeable carpet on the concrete floor.

The half that is still concrete walls and floor is impossible to heat to comfort levels compared to the finished half. The same underground temps that make my basement so nice and cool in the summer fight tooth and nail to keep me from warming the basement thoroughly.

techpappy

I don't know why but, I always assume basements are insulated, at least to below grade or 4 feet below ceiling. It's code here. Cheap and easy to install AND well worth it. AND don't forget the vapor barrier. I have no problem heating my basement. Mind you our house is built in sand which does not hold any water/frost at all.