I have read here for quite a while about cutting a hole in the ceiling to allow heat to circulate and boy did it work well.
We have 2 1/2 story 2500 sqft med. well insulated home trying to heat in Edmonton Alberta Canada not easy.
Cutting the hole is like having 2 stair wells. Heat goes up the hole on the back of the house and cold goes down the stair well on the front of the house creating a cycle.
Before the all the heat had to go up the stairs and the cold air come down the stairs. The 2nd floor was always cold.
Now the 2nd floor is as hot as I want by regulating the flow through the hole. In fact the front of the house where the stairwell returns cold air is too cold, better near the stove vs up stairs though.
I cut 2' x 3' like I have seen in old old houses but this was too large so I covered half with glass to restrict the air flow. It looks great you can see right up through the salvage iron railing to the second floor like a vaulted ceiling. My brotherin law, a fire inspector, said it is now worse than having 2 stairwells.
Here are some pictures:
We have 2 1/2 story 2500 sqft med. well insulated home trying to heat in Edmonton Alberta Canada not easy.
Cutting the hole is like having 2 stair wells. Heat goes up the hole on the back of the house and cold goes down the stair well on the front of the house creating a cycle.
Before the all the heat had to go up the stairs and the cold air come down the stairs. The 2nd floor was always cold.
Now the 2nd floor is as hot as I want by regulating the flow through the hole. In fact the front of the house where the stairwell returns cold air is too cold, better near the stove vs up stairs though.
I cut 2' x 3' like I have seen in old old houses but this was too large so I covered half with glass to restrict the air flow. It looks great you can see right up through the salvage iron railing to the second floor like a vaulted ceiling. My brotherin law, a fire inspector, said it is now worse than having 2 stairwells.
Here are some pictures:
