Move heat - Consider Open Transome - Photo

[blazincajun]

Consider this with any remodel effort.

 

[begreen]

Good idea, get creative. I had to do the opposite. We have an open floorplan and flat ceiling from the living room to the entry hallway. Heat from the stove poured upstairs. I put a fake box beam partition at the opening and that helped balance things out nicely.

PS: nice crown moldings.

 

[Hoozie]

Cool idea. I've threatened to bring the chainsaw inside to do that to some of our doorways:
1. Would help move the heat along
2. I'd stop hitting my head on them

 

[Rick8325]

Good idea, get creative. I had to do the opposite. We have an open floorplan and flat ceiling from the living room to the entry hallway. Heat from the stove poured upstairs. I put a fake box beam partition at the opening and that helped balance things out nicely.

PS: nice crown moldings.

PICS!

 

[begreen]

I don't have a good before pic, but this is just after it went in, before painting. The ceiling used to be flat all the way across.

 

[Highbeam]

Why even have a door? If it's a bedroom or bathroom then you don't want that open transome and if it is just a connection between two "public" rooms then why do folks insist on doors?

Maybe I'm bitter from having to remove walls and doors that I deemed excessive. Then working the sheetrock above to make it continuous.

 

[blazincajun]

Why even have a door? If it's a bedroom or bathroom then you don't want that open transome and if it is just a connection between two "public" rooms then why do folks insist on doors?

Maybe I'm bitter from having to remove walls and doors that I deemed excessive. Then working the sheetrock above to make it continuous.

If your goal is to minimize use of electricity to prepare for a grid down scenario (i.e., blower fan) designing your home at the beginning is always easier - just depends on your motivation.
The door is a decorative door given to us by my brother - it separates the living area from bedrooms and pantry. During the summer at night we want the cool air to stay in the bedroom areas, with the door closed the warm air moves over the transome into the main room for the AC return. During the winter when using the woodheater we leave the door open as much as possible to get the cool air moving towards the woodheater, the taller the space the more efficient the air movement is with minimal shear. begreen had the opposite problem and corrected it by lowering the transome and increasing shear. The door also helps with dogs and small children control and provides some reduction in noise for our children to study.

 

[Cynnergy]

That looks excellent! Here is another trim option from woodheat.org:

Our door between the kitchen and the living room has a decorative arch, so I was thinking of busting that out and just making it square. I don't know how much difference it would make though. The top of the arch is only about 2" below the ceiling.