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Removing Hot Air from Vaulted Ceiling

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Removing Hot Air from Vaulted Ceiling Todd 07-27-2006
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Posted by Todd on July 27, 2006, 1:47 pm
I don't think that my vaulted ceiling is contructed in the way that you
suggest. I think that there aren't seperate channels, but rather an
area in between the rafters and the ceiling joists. I don't think they
are conected to each other, which would, as you suggest, create
seperate channels.



I could be wrong, and I'll have to take a look, but
trader4@optonline.net wrote:
> First you have to realize how a vaulted ceiling is constructed.
> Essentially you have spaces that are seperate channels, running from
> soffit to peak of the roof. If you put in a turbine type vent, or a
> simple box vent, all that is going to vent is the one channel. You'd
> have to put one in between every rafter to vent the whole thing.
>
> A ridge vent is the correct solution. However, the next thing you are
> up against is how much insulation was put in and how it was installed.
> If it's too thick there may not be room for air to flow above it. If
> it's pushed up over the soffit vents, air can't get in. The right way
> for this to be done is to use plastic baffles that go in above the
> insulation, beneath the decking to keep the channel open.
> Unfortunately, you have no way of knowing how yours was done.
>
> You don't have anything to lose by adding a ridge vent. It can't hurt
> and if air can flow, it will help a lot.
>
> To answer your other question, this can help reduce your room temp
> because it helps decrease the temps directly above the insulation.
> However, if it's 80 deg, adding a ridge vent ain't likely to cure that.
> I'd get the ace AC guys that did the install back and see what they
> have to say. Did they install sufficient returns up high?


Posted by on July 27, 2006, 2:40 pm

Todd wrote:
> I don't think that my vaulted ceiling is contructed in the way that you
> suggest. I think that there aren't seperate channels, but rather an
> area in between the rafters and the ceiling joists. I don't think they
> are conected to each other, which would, as you suggest, create
> seperate channels.
>


Having the roof decking on one side of the rafters and the the ceiling
on the other is the simplest, cheapest and direct way of creating a
vaulted ceiling and it gives maximum height. If yours is done with
seperate rafters for the roof and ceiling joists with a space in
between, then you could ventilate that by means other than a ridge
vent, like your turbine idea. However, I still think in that case, a
ridge vent is still the way to go.


Posted by on July 27, 2006, 2:59 pm
I'm guessing that you have a n older house made before A/C or otherwise
doesn't have proper ducting for A/C. In order to get rid of the hot
air, you need a return air in an area where it's hot. If your lowest
return air grill in near the bottom of an upper floow (i.e. in the
floor itself or low on the wall) then you will need a return air placed
higher to draw in the hot air instead or recirculating the already
cooled air.


Posted by Todd on July 27, 2006, 5:28 pm
The house wasn't built for A/C, it was built for heating. It does have
central heating, so added A/C wasn't a big deal since all of the duct
work was there. However,

a.) the ducts upstairs aren't as wide, to prevent TOO MUCH heat from
getting to the upstairs during the winter

b.) the return air upstaris was located at the bottom of a wall.


I put a second return air register as high as I could go right over the
existing return register, just 8 feet higher.

The problem is that the only air return occurs in the hallway, and not
in my bedrooms surrounding the hallway. And the bedrooms surrounding
the hallway have vaulted ceilings as well.

Its would be great if there was a way to get the hot air in the
bedrooms into the hallway and down the air return.

But still, i figured that venting the space between the ceiling and the
roof would better cool the room. I dunno.

- Todd




scott21230@gmail.com wrote:
> I'm guessing that you have a n older house made before A/C or otherwise
> doesn't have proper ducting for A/C. In order to get rid of the hot
> air, you need a return air in an area where it's hot. If your lowest
> return air grill in near the bottom of an upper floow (i.e. in the
> floor itself or low on the wall) then you will need a return air placed
> higher to draw in the hot air instead or recirculating the already
> cooled air.


Posted by on July 27, 2006, 3:44 pm

Todd wrote:
> barry@sme-online.com wrote:
> > Todd wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > >
> > > I have a two story house with vaulted ceilings throughout. I had AC
> > > put in last year, but the upstairs doesn't really cool down. The front
> > > of the house has the biggest windows, and is West Facing, so it gets
> > > all of the afternoon sun. Last year, I also replaced all of these
> > > windows with much more efficient windows.
> > >
> > > However, I can't get it below 80 degrees upstairs. And this can often
> > > be when its cooler outside.
> > >
> > > In examining my options, I noticed that I have NO vents on my roof. I
> > > have all vaulted ceilings, so I don't have an attic. I do have some
> > > soffit venting on either side of the slope of my roof.
> > >
> > > Can I put turbine vents on the roof? Will this make a difference in
> > > temperature for those upstairs rooms if I can cool the space between
> > > the ceiling joists and the rafters? Again I have NO ATTIC.
> > >
> > >
> > > Really, what I'm looking for is a way of removing that hot air from the
> > > vaulted ceilings in the summer.
> > >
> > > Any suggestions? Turbine vents appear to be an easy solution. Will
> > > cooling the space between the roof and the ceiling help in cooling the
> > > room below it?
> > >
> > >
> > > - Thanks in advance,
> > >
> > > Todd
> >
> > Maybe. Soffitt venting might be useful, _if_ it's of adequate inlet
> > area _and_ air coming in there can move up inside the roof deck and
> > escape somewhere. ,
> >
> > Insulation between ceiling and roof deck could block airflow, unless
> > spacers were installed between insulation and roof deck. You mention
> > nothing about this.
> >
> > Ridge vent could work, and is simple, elegant solution, depending on
> > stuff mentioned above. Thermostatically-controlled fan(s) with
> > mushroom-looking enclosure would work.
> >
> > Ask locally, and/or visit big-box.
> >
> > J
>
> But how is it that venting the this space will help remove the heat
> from the ROOM below it? This is what I don't get. I understand venting
> the soffit, but I don't know how that will allow the heat in the room
> below (with the vaulted ceiling) to cool down.
>
> Any thoughts on this?
>
> - Thanks,
>
> Todd

Hi, Todd.

How do you think the interior air (mostly) gets heated? Unless you
didn't tell us about the forge/smelter you're running in there, I'll
wager that the majority is coming from above. And you want to stop
that, by diverting it harmlessly (read: avoid roasting roof.)

Thus, if you dissipate heat from roof (see my previous about ridge
ventc, etc. too) it won't heat the innards. Infrared transmission can
move some serious energy.

You still haven't told us anything about what's between the ceiling and
the roof deck. Please investigate & report. You need to know this.

Once you control unwanted entry, then it makes sense to throw $ at
reducing the rest.

J


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