getting heat upstairs

You want to try to create a convection loop by bringing the cold air down to the stove, rather than trying to shove the warm air up into the cold air.
Maybe cut a floor vent or 2 near an outside wall on the opposite end of the room from the stairway.

You don't want to push the hot air up, you want to pull the cool air back down to the stove. Ideally, it would be nice to have a forced (fan assisted) cold air return duct going from the 2nd floor back down to the basement. I should also point out that some frown on cutting holes in floors as it can be a safety issue in the event of a fire (it feeds oxygen to the fire).

I'm faced with a similar situation. Stove is on the first floor near the staircase. MB and baby's room is on the other end of the house upstairs. We have a ceiling fan at the top of the stairs but after reading these posts, I have no way of pulling the cold air out of the other end of the house. So a vent in the floor will naturally create this convection loop?? Will a stove naturally "pull" colder air?

Do everything you can to avoid having to cut vents. Cutting vents into floors/ceilings can create potential code violations and also allows for fire/smoke travel in the event of a house fire, which can significantly cut down on your escape time.

My suggestion is to get a fan (your basic window fan works well for this), and run it on low at the top of the stairs blowing down. This will move the cooler more dense air down the stairs and displace the lighter warmer air back up the stairs. Running the fan on low is all that is necessary to get the air moving, and it doesn't create a bunch of extra noise.

It's worth trying at least, before cutting holes or running ducts.

-SF

I also have my stove on the lower level. The upstairs bedrooms all have ceiling fans. During the heating season should I use the ceiling fans, and if so should they blowing air down or up?

Thanks

I think Wet1 had the right idea but I think that folks underestimate the ease of moving the warm air sometimes.

You need to understand how the air naturally moves first before implementing your system. I have a split level - so just half a staircase at a time. The heat from my stove naturally rises from the room along the ceiling and up the stairs. If you sit on the stairs or at the bottom, you can feel the cold air rushing down. I tried both pushing warm air up and cold air down - and the difference was negligible. So I installed a doorway fan - 75CFM - and push the warm air up. Location is great and it works like it should. I run that fan to keep the area not unbearably hot in the shoulder months and to spread some heat in the winter months.

You will have to figure out what is right for your setup, though I think you realize that you will not be 'heating' your house this way.

SlyFerret said:

Do everything you can to avoid having to cut vents. Cutting vents into floors/ceilings can create potential code violations and also allows for fire/smoke travel in the event of a house fire, which can significantly cut down on your escape time.

My suggestion is to get a fan (your basic window fan works well for this), and run it on low at the top of the stairs blowing down. This will move the cooler more dense air down the stairs and displace the lighter warmer air back up the stairs. Running the fan on low is all that is necessary to get the air moving, and it doesn't create a bunch of extra noise.

It's worth trying at least, before cutting holes or running ducts.

-SF

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Thanks for the info. This is my first year with a stove so it will be a learning year for sure. Thanks again.

i have a wood stove in my basement also, you would be surprised at how well the heat actually gets up to the first floor. getting to the second floor now thats a little more difficult and i have not attempted it. as far as cutting vents i have read quite a few posts and the majority say don't do it. what i'm confused about is people who have forced hot air, they have vents in there floors? does this make their house more of a fire hazard? good luck with whatever you choose

itworks said:

I also have my stove on the lower level. The upstairs bedrooms all have ceiling fans. During the heating season should I use the ceiling fans, and if so should they blowing air down or up?

Thanks

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Forgot to mention that I also have a ceiling fan on the lower level pretty close to the stove. Should I use it, and if so should it blow up or down?

BeGreen said:

Can you describe the whole setup, lower and upper? Or better yet if you can post a floorplan, it would be easier to comment on. Otherwise I'd just be guessing.

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Sorry don't know how to post a floor plan, but I'll try to describe it.
Raised ranch, downstairs finished room about 600 sqft includes 1/2 bath and laundry room. Stove (Harman P68) facing staircase (no doors) to upper level. Upstairs 1,136 sqft

Thanks again

I have the same stove in my basement and use it almost 24/7 to heat the house, as I don't have the kids work the stove when I am not home, often it is still warm from the morning fire when they get home from school anyway.
I get a 7-8 hour warmth from the stove.

Sometimes I open the downstairs door to let in cold air to push up. I also have a fan bottom of stairs pushing air up & one fan pushing down, along with ceiling fan in the great room/living room.

is there any reason you chose to put the pellt stove in the basement? it seems you have it finished thats why i would assume you put it there

If your stove is located right next to your stairwell you may not need any fans or floor vents. That stairwell will be your main supply/return. See how it works without fans and vents first, then you can experiment later if needed.

People keep talking about not cutting vents because of possible fire. I completly understand this being a fireman, but I am wondering if it is a violation of code to use the vents that have a "fire door" built into them. They are designed to close the door and close off the opening if there is a fire. I'm not sure of the brand, but I know that they were posted somewhere on hearth.com before. This is what I was thinking of doing to help move air. Just wondering if anyone knows about these.

I am still waiting for someone to cite these "codes" they bring up that says you can't put a vent in a non-fire rated ceiling/floor. I have a 4 foot wide stairwell going to my finished basement with no door, is this a violation of this "code?"

I have a doorway fan pointing towards the stairs away from where the insert is located, and it does help. But it helps a whole lot more if you can burn 24/7 so the upper levels don`t really get a chance to cool down. Even then, you will only be looking at temps in the low to mid sixties. But is sure does cut way back on the oil consumption.

As this thread has been slow for over a month, and rather than start a new one, I thought I would ask the following: Has anyone used the outside air intake of their wood stoves to draw cold air from the back of the house by using a (somewhat) long supply tube running through the basement or rafters? IMHO, this would be a great way to force circulation from the stove to a cold part of the house without the use of any blowers, fans or vents. An added bonus would be to put in an inline flapper vent which could be closed in the event of a chimney fire.


I have searched all of these forums and not encountered any one mensioning that they had done this.

I also had a fan question. An upstairs ceiling fan, should it be turning clockwise or counter clockwise to pull heat up?
I've hit reverse so many times I can't remember and it seems to just be blowing cold air either way.

Lothar of the Hill People said:

I am still waiting for someone to cite these "codes" they bring up that says you can't put a vent in a non-fire rated ceiling/floor. I have a 4 foot wide stairwell going to my finished basement with no door, is this a violation of this "code?"

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yes it is in violation of section 3 part 7 paragraph 89 dealing with commonsense "when you find yourself in the absence of it do not try to use it as a defense or justification

Jeff: it is a little early yet to give a complete report-(I too have an new epa insert). Will give a full report late Nov. But for now=suffice to say that well, Hemmingway said "the sun also rises"---well, heat also rises-it is a question of time?

Just to give a hint, longer you can extend your wood heat, more comfy you will be. Sorry, just not cold enough yet to summarize completly. But stayed tuned to this forum