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Posted by Abby Normal on September 23, 2007, 8:35 pm
> BETAC-T wrote:
>
> >>> Thanks everyone.
>
> >>> I haven't moved into the house yet, but I went there on Saturday
> >>> morning and checked out the HVAC duct work in the basement. There
> >>> are no cold air returns and no supply vents in the basement. So
> >>> the basement is completely isolated from the system. I found a
> >>> place where I could easily open a 6" x 6" space in the cold air
> >>> return duct and could feel the air being drawn in
> >>> through the opening. About 6 hours later, it seemed like I could
> >>> already feel a marked difference in the basement -- it didn't feel
> >>> damp or musty at all.
>
> >>> I'm going to go back this week and check it again to see if that
> >>> solved the problem. If so, I'll put an adjustable intake vent in
> >>> the cold air return
> >>> duct, and I'll add one or two adjustable supply vents for the
> >>> basement. It would be great if this simple change solved the problem and
> >>> eliminated the need for a dehumidifier.
>
> >> Too bad it's against IMC and a MAJOR safety issue!!!
>
> >> DO NOT cut an opening in the return as you suggest!!!!
>
> > Okay, I give. It's an electric heat pump HVAC system. So, why would
> > including the basement in the HVAC system (including a return duct)
> > be "a MAJOR safety issue"?
>
> As long as there are no fossil fuel burning appliances in the basement, it
> *may* be permited. [Beware, that if you do have fossil fuel burning
> appliances you *must* provide combustion air and proper ventilation for the
> products of combustion. You could also cause a negitive pressure and draw
> fumes from other areas of your home into the basement as well.] Check with
> your local city and county codes. In some area's basements are
> "conditioned" to prevent water pipe damage during cold weather.
>
> --
> Zyp- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Sometimes it is the definition of the basement itself.
In some places it is a space not yet finished off, but suitable to
become spare bedrooms, rec rooms.
Others places it can be a vile place not much better than a deep
crawlspace.
When you line floor joists in the basement and use them as return
ducts for the floor above, probably half of the return air the furnace
draws in comes from the basement.
Air likes to fall down the strairs when the furnace runs. Can cause
problems in some homes
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