I found this site a while back when I googled something about cold air returns in basements. I have read quite a few threads about it but have some questions specific to my project.
I have a house that was built in 2005 with an unfinished basement(all below grade). It has a total of 510 square feet. Of that, 28 square feet will be a utility room that will contain the Heater, water heater, water softener, sump and drain. It will be one big room that is 365 square feet(23 x 17 minus the utility room) and the balance of the square footage is hallway to the stairs and to a small storage space. Right now it has two ceiling vents, one in the middle of the big room just back from the wall and the other one back in the storage space so nothing too much. I am thinking about running two more heat vents in the big room and then adding a cold air return. I thought I had it figured out and then I read some of the threads here. I would say I am more concerned about heating it during the winter then cooling in the summer but want both. I have had heard I need the cold air return up on the ceiling and that I should have it off the floor. Reading this forumn, I take it I definitely want it closer to the floor but then I read stuff about making sure I am pulling as much air as I am forcing into the space so how do I take that into account?
I am just starting to frame the walls so i can still run the heat vents from the ceiling or I can run them down to just above the floor so which is best for me to locate them?
The best place for me to tap into the cold air return duct is right near where it goes down the furnace and then running it over to the wall for the utility room. Will I draw too much if I am closer to the furnace?
I am running the heat ducts off the end of the square duct work in the basement for the one and then right near the furnace for the other one. Do I need a flu(or whatever you call them) to slow down/speed up the flow without drawing away from the rest of the house.
Is there anything else I am not taking into account when I do this prior to sheetrocking?
Thanks again. I look forward to learning all I can in this forum.:thumbsup:
I have a house that was built in 2005 with an unfinished basement(all below grade). It has a total of 510 square feet. Of that, 28 square feet will be a utility room that will contain the Heater, water heater, water softener, sump and drain. It will be one big room that is 365 square feet(23 x 17 minus the utility room) and the balance of the square footage is hallway to the stairs and to a small storage space. Right now it has two ceiling vents, one in the middle of the big room just back from the wall and the other one back in the storage space so nothing too much. I am thinking about running two more heat vents in the big room and then adding a cold air return. I thought I had it figured out and then I read some of the threads here. I would say I am more concerned about heating it during the winter then cooling in the summer but want both. I have had heard I need the cold air return up on the ceiling and that I should have it off the floor. Reading this forumn, I take it I definitely want it closer to the floor but then I read stuff about making sure I am pulling as much air as I am forcing into the space so how do I take that into account?
I am just starting to frame the walls so i can still run the heat vents from the ceiling or I can run them down to just above the floor so which is best for me to locate them?
The best place for me to tap into the cold air return duct is right near where it goes down the furnace and then running it over to the wall for the utility room. Will I draw too much if I am closer to the furnace?
I am running the heat ducts off the end of the square duct work in the basement for the one and then right near the furnace for the other one. Do I need a flu(or whatever you call them) to slow down/speed up the flow without drawing away from the rest of the house.
Is there anything else I am not taking into account when I do this prior to sheetrocking?
Thanks again. I look forward to learning all I can in this forum.:thumbsup: