basement return - http://www.hvacmechanic.com/ Forums

Original message

qasimodo

76.66.6.46

"basement return" , posted Sun 7 Sep 10:09

Hi

I have just replaced our 20 year old furnace and ac with new Lennox high efficiency models which include a DC motor. The house has basement, main floor and 2nd floor (bedrooms). There is a very marked difference in temperature between floors and so in summer we “compensate” by keeping the top floor vents open and reducing the lower floor vents. The basement is finished with a number of rooms and the furnace is in a room with the hot water heater etc. The basement was finished a few years after the original construction and includes ducts and vents into each of the rooms.

With the new DC motor I thought that we might run it On full time (rather than Auto) so that it would circulate the cool air from the lower floors up to the top floor thereby getting a more balanced temp throughout the house. (I realize that in winter this would no longer be advantageous) On the other hand I see that the basement has no return air vents (main and top floor do have returns). So the coolest air, in the basement, would not be cycled up to the top floor.

Is there a reason not to have a return air vent somewhere in the basement level? Was this just a mistake in planning when the basement was furnished?

Thanks for your feedback
q

Replies:

yuri

142.161.103.182

"Re(1):basement return" , posted Sun 7 Sep 11:33:

A Canuck eh? In Wpg we very rarely put them in the basement as the air is cold and DAMP. You want to suck the air from the rooms for better circulation. Taking it from the basement reduces that effect. I recommend a de-humidifier for the basement if it is damp. I have seen circuit boards turn green and get damaged from EXCESS humidity. I use a de-humidifier in mine. Very good choice of system. I sell lots of Lennox G61V units and they do a great job on ON. I provide a custom service to my customers of balancing their ductwork/dampers with a CFM/velometer and perhaps your installer can do the same. Well worth the $$. If he doesn't know what that is get back to me I can explain it more.

Yuri

[this message was edited by yuri on Sun 7 Sep 11:57]