HVAC Questions

nast70

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I know there are a couple HVAC pro's on here, maybe someone can help me out.
We installed new HVAC system a couple years ago, tankless HW, AC and new furnace. The installers did a good job, including redoing some duct work to help airflow in the finiashed basement.
My issue is, my MIL lives with us in the basement suite. The house is a 2 story executive. The thermostat is set to 21. Main floor is 21, upper floor is about 24, but the basement stays around 18 or colder. Now my MIL seems to getting sick, her doctor says its because its too cold for her.
I'm looking for a way to force more cold air upstairs (a lot more cold air upstairs!). We've closed all the vents downstairs, and most of the vents on the main.
Without a major overhaul to the system, what can I do to help warm up the basement?
 

rknight111

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You can add a dampener to the system, there are plenty of systems available. With this you would have a thermostat on both levels and this will provide heat or cooling to each floor as requested. Humidity and fresh air intake and displacement both play a big factor in comfort parameters as well. If your in edmonton try the furnace family. I’m an IAQ consultant and deal with these issues on a daily basis.
 

Tchetek

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A multi zoned damper system may be difficult if all the duct work is covered up with drywall.

Depends on how the existing duct work is layed out.
 

gunner3006

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Depending on how big the house is and how your return air is set up you can choke off the supply to the basement, sending more air upstairs. I would also suggest try running your blower for 24/7. If you have a digital stat you will have a CIRC mode and an option to just keep it on all the time. Your filter will plug off quicker this way but your basement should also come up in temp to at least your main level temp. Make sure all your registers upstairs are wide open though. If you don’t get enough air flow you will freeze off your evap coil in your plenum. Then you will have zero ac.
 

nast70

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Thanks for all the info so far guys.
My basement is completely drywalled, zero access to the ductwork outside the furnace room. How much access would be needed for the damper? It makes sense that would be on the basement return air right? Basically cutting off the basement from all HVAC during the summer?
The installers actually moved the return air in the basement, moved it from the ceiling to near the floor.
We have the icomfort Lenox thermostat. I have looked before but couldn't find the setting for the blower. Nothing on the app either.
 

YamaDad

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You would either need a damper in each branch line or a dedicated trunk duct for each area that you want to control. In either case the duct has to be exposed. Maybe you can use a second heat source, maybe a gas fireplace, second furnace for the basement ( that may not be possible) or even electric heat.
 

Caper11

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Your temps in the house are similar to mine with the AC. Is there a door to the basement, if so keep that closed, the cold air will go downstairs anyway.

Try a dehumidifier in the basement to get rid of the dampness and the chill. We have one downstairs in the summer, and it will warm up the air and take alot of the moisture out as well. I also had a cold air return installed in the basement with the AC since there was none.
 

lilduke

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Get a space heater or a sweater maybe?

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nast70

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So I've played around with the fan settings. Prior to doing anything, the temp differential between the 2nd floor and the basement was 6 deg. Set the fan to circulate. That didn't make a huge difference. Set it to on. That helped a bunch. The differential is 3-4 deg now. Grandmas happy now. Still going to look at a longer term solution. This will kill my filter in half the time it should last. At a $100 a pop, I will need to.
 

Caper11

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So I've played around with the fan settings. Prior to doing anything, the temp differential between the 2nd floor and the basement was 6 deg. Set the fan to circulate. That didn't make a huge difference. Set it to on. That helped a bunch. The differential is 3-4 deg now. Grandmas happy now. Still going to look at a longer term solution. This will kill my filter in half the time it should last. At a $100 a pop, I will need to.

100 a pop. What kind of filter are yah using?

The cheap filters work fine and my hvac guy recommends using them, unless yah have a person in the household with bad allergies the more expensive ones work but they restrict air flow.
 
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