So after posting here last night I ran flex pipe up the chimney today and made a shutoff with 6 inch cutout for the fireplace damper. Wood stove still only had basement (finished) at 70 degrees. Wife left the door open which goes upstairs about an hour ago. Now the basement is at 77. How and why is that?
Little confused
- Thread starter Bowow
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webbie
Seasoned Moderator
I'm not sure I fully understand your post, but perhaps this will help.....
First, basements and underground rooms are often hard to heat - even when finished. Sure, they are easy to get to temps not far from the ground temp (usually 55 or so), but it's hard to really counter the effects of the large cement floors (even if covered) and walls which are not as insulated as upstairs.
That being said, heat often will just stay in a basement or lower room and not rise up the stairway. I've seen this happen a number of times. It makes some sense if you consider that the rest of the house has cold air (relatively) which is pressing down against the basement stairway.
It may help to have a circulation pattern established by the cutting of another grate or opening into the floor from the basement. This may or may not need a powered fan in it. In that case, a lot of hot air may rise up through the grate and then the air from upstairs will drop back down the basement stairs - establishing circulation, which is needed.
First, basements and underground rooms are often hard to heat - even when finished. Sure, they are easy to get to temps not far from the ground temp (usually 55 or so), but it's hard to really counter the effects of the large cement floors (even if covered) and walls which are not as insulated as upstairs.
That being said, heat often will just stay in a basement or lower room and not rise up the stairway. I've seen this happen a number of times. It makes some sense if you consider that the rest of the house has cold air (relatively) which is pressing down against the basement stairway.
It may help to have a circulation pattern established by the cutting of another grate or opening into the floor from the basement. This may or may not need a powered fan in it. In that case, a lot of hot air may rise up through the grate and then the air from upstairs will drop back down the basement stairs - establishing circulation, which is needed.
wingsfan
Feeling the Heat
Cutting a grate into the floor of your living space will probably be against building codes in your area , as the floor its self acts as a fire stop. I would check with your building inspector and your insurance company before you open up the floor.,,,, Just a heads up.
weatherguy
Minister of Fire
It's ok if you install a fire damper, they're not that expensive and it makes the insurance companies happy.
Put a fan at the top of the stairs aimed down into the basement. On the floor. It will blow cold floor level air down into the basement and the warm air will flow up to displace it upstairs. Do one on the floor in the farthest bedroom doorway down the hall too.
They don't have to be blowing hard. Blow the cold air back toward the stove. The warm air will flow to replace it.
They don't have to be blowing hard. Blow the cold air back toward the stove. The warm air will flow to replace it.
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