Q&A Will air/heat exchanger move heat around house

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QandA

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Nov 27, 2012
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Question:

I am having a new home built and it will be up to building code etc and contain an air/heat exchanger supplying air to all rooms. I'm having a woodstove installed with a fresh air inlet to supply the stove. The stove will be installed on the upper living area of a split-entry home. My question: will the air exchange system transport the heat all through the home on both levels or should I consider having the stove installed in the basement area and then cutting vents into the basement ceiling to allow the heat to get upstairs?



Answer:

Keep one basic thought in mind. Hot air rises. It's very difficult to push heated air downwards via a blower system, and have this air still remain hot.

You best is to put the stove at a lower level, and use louvered registers to allow the heat to rise. The use of a louver will give you the control as how much heat you need and/or want.

One final thought: If the basement is unfinished, non-insulated, with a bare cement floor, then you must oversize the stove for the application because 40-50% of usable heat will be lost through the non-insulated walls & floor. That's a fact. If the basement is finished, then you are all set. Good luck.
 
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