Thx for reading my post. I've been battling for years trying to figure out how to cool my house but to be honest, I've made minimal progress.
Here are my details: I live in Ontario where the winters are cold and summers are hot. My house faces west, therefore I get the sun all afternoon and into the early evening as well. My house built in mid 90's has a cathedral ceiling in front of the house (which is where my issue is). I also have 2 big windows in front of house. One being 6' x 8' high with an oval circular top and another one over front door that is approx 6' x 9' high.
As soon as I moved in during my first summer, I noticed my A/C during those 85-90 degree days would never shut off from say 3 pm till 4 am ! And the house thermostat would never read lower than 79 degrees F. Lucky we don't like it that cold in summer in house but when we would entertain, we would often be asked the question "Is your A/C on ?"
So to help solve my problem I did a number of things over the past 10 years or so:
1. Had my front windows professionally tinted to deflect some of the afternoon heat away
2. Closed all my registers in basement from the main duct work.
3. Purchase a pretty expensive ceiling fan and placed it in highest peak of my cathedral ceiling. Yes, it's turning the right way.
4. Had my duct work professionally cleaned as well as my furnace and A/C unit.
To be honest, the above things really didn't solve the problem.
5. Then this summer I had to get my A/C replaced (originally 2.2 tonne)and I thought "great, now I'll get a bigger unit and my issue will be solved". I purchased a 3 tonne Keeprite unit which I'm very happy with. It's solid and very quiet. But when a hot/humid day came last week, again from 4 pm till about 9 pm the unit did not shut off and the thermostat temperature was 78 degrees. Once the sun went down, it cooled down to 76 within 20 minutes.
6. I moved one of my basement registers (which was in basement ceiling) and turned it up. Worked out perfect because now I have 3 registers in that cathedral ceiling area. I thought this would do the trick. It really didn't. Helped a bit though.
So now I'm thinking about my cold air return. I have one in that cathedral ceiling room which is located near floor. I've heard that it should be located on top of ceiling like my bedroom returns are. Can I make another register up that same wall where the exiting one is and close (for summer) the one that is located near floor ?
Any advise would be appreciated . Sorry for long post but I wanted to be as detailed as possible.
Here are my details: I live in Ontario where the winters are cold and summers are hot. My house faces west, therefore I get the sun all afternoon and into the early evening as well. My house built in mid 90's has a cathedral ceiling in front of the house (which is where my issue is). I also have 2 big windows in front of house. One being 6' x 8' high with an oval circular top and another one over front door that is approx 6' x 9' high.
As soon as I moved in during my first summer, I noticed my A/C during those 85-90 degree days would never shut off from say 3 pm till 4 am ! And the house thermostat would never read lower than 79 degrees F. Lucky we don't like it that cold in summer in house but when we would entertain, we would often be asked the question "Is your A/C on ?"
So to help solve my problem I did a number of things over the past 10 years or so:
1. Had my front windows professionally tinted to deflect some of the afternoon heat away
2. Closed all my registers in basement from the main duct work.
3. Purchase a pretty expensive ceiling fan and placed it in highest peak of my cathedral ceiling. Yes, it's turning the right way.
4. Had my duct work professionally cleaned as well as my furnace and A/C unit.
To be honest, the above things really didn't solve the problem.
5. Then this summer I had to get my A/C replaced (originally 2.2 tonne)and I thought "great, now I'll get a bigger unit and my issue will be solved". I purchased a 3 tonne Keeprite unit which I'm very happy with. It's solid and very quiet. But when a hot/humid day came last week, again from 4 pm till about 9 pm the unit did not shut off and the thermostat temperature was 78 degrees. Once the sun went down, it cooled down to 76 within 20 minutes.
6. I moved one of my basement registers (which was in basement ceiling) and turned it up. Worked out perfect because now I have 3 registers in that cathedral ceiling area. I thought this would do the trick. It really didn't. Helped a bit though.
So now I'm thinking about my cold air return. I have one in that cathedral ceiling room which is located near floor. I've heard that it should be located on top of ceiling like my bedroom returns are. Can I make another register up that same wall where the exiting one is and close (for summer) the one that is located near floor ?
Any advise would be appreciated . Sorry for long post but I wanted to be as detailed as possible.