How to Get Cold Air From Basement Upstairs
There is nothing more frustrating on a hot day than to be stuck upstairs in a house with no air conditioning. Of course, you can try opening all the windows, but that often does little to cool the room. If you have a basement, though, you may be able to get some relief from the heat.
The air in a basement is naturally colder than the air upstairs, so it’s easy to use this fact to your advantage on these hot days. You can get cold air from your basement into any room you need by using a fan and a flexible dryer vent hose.
The hose will allow you to direct the cold air into the room without blowing dust and allergens through all the open windows. But, of course, if you want to run the hose under a door or through any other tight space, it’s flexible enough for this task as well. So, this article will explore how to get cold air from basement upstairs.
Materials You Need
- Styrofoam cooler
- Fan
- Drill
- Tube or pipe
- Staple gun
Step to Follow on How to Get Cold Air From Basement Upstairs
Step One : Determine
First, find out if you have a cold air return. A cold air return is an opening on the wall of the lowest floor of your home, usually in the corner of the room, that allows for conditioned outside air to enter. You can also tell if there’s one by checking to see if it has some duct system attached to it–this means there’s a system in place to deliver air from one part of your house to another.
If you do have a cold air return on the lowest floor, then you’re all set. The basement will be the only place where cold air can enter your home, which means that all you have to do is put a fan in it. On the other hand, if there’s no cold air return, then the only way to get air from your home into your basement is by getting rid of some of the humidity down there.
Fans won’t work unless they have outside air to draw on. To do this, you can open up the doors to the basement, let some of the hot air out, and create a suction effect caused by opening an exterior door on the floor above the basement.
Step Two : Keep Some of Your Basement Windows Open
If you don’t have a cold air return, keep some of the basement windows open to allow for airflow. If your house was built with one or more basements used as living spaces and not just foundations, then it’s likely that at least some of these areas have outside access through their windows and doors.
This will allow you to create a sort of wind tunnel effect, as cold air from the outside will be drawn down into your basement through these windows and exit through some of those on the opposite side. This also means that you may need to install exterior covers or shutters on your windows to keep the cold air from escaping when it’s not supposed to.
If you only have one basement and it’s not a living space, you can still create air movement by putting a heavy object on the floor above. This can be a bar stool–make sure that it’s heavy enough to do some good. This will help in how to get cold air from basement upstairs.
Step Three : Consider Fixing a Return Air Vent in The Basement
If your home has a cold air return on the bottom floor, but it’s blocked by debris or furniture, you can probably fix this by clearing out the space beneath and around the opening. Make sure that there are no vents or grates beneath where you’re going to be placing your fan as well since these will reduce its effectiveness if they’re positioned in front of it.
If the area around the cold air return is too small for a fan, you can install a vent in place of the door. Please remove the existing frame and doorbell with sheet metal on both sides, then add a new doorbell that allows cool air to flow into your basement.
This will provide an excellent cooling effect, but it will only work when you’re running the fan. While some fans are relatively quiet, any moderate to high-velocity airflow can be very noticeable, especially if it’s blowing through an open window or against a wall in your home.
Step Four : Use A Combination of Fans and Vents
If neither of these options is possible, you can use both of them simultaneously. Put a fan near your cold air return to draw cool air into your basement and keep hot air moving out. Then put vents in by the windows on the lowest floor to allow extra airflow.
Combined with some open windows upstairs, this will create an effect that pulls cool air from outside into your basement while keeping out the humidity. Be aware, however, that this may not be enough to keep your home completely comfortable.
Because of this, you should consider adding insulation to your home or making additions that will help keep the cold out year-round. Installing a vinyl or metal roof is one option that can help keep heat from seeping out of your home during the winter months. In addition, these steps should help you learn how to get cold air from basement upstairs.
Step Five : Balance The Pressure on Your Air System
While some fans and vents can be used to effectively remove hot air from your basement, doing so can cause problems elsewhere in your home. Because of this, you want to make sure that there’s a balance between the heat being drawn outside and the heat is kept inside.
If you have a cold air return on all levels of your home, you can use this as a central location to balance the pressure created by forcing cool air into your home. If it’s cooler outside than inside, that will create suction that draws hot air out through vents and open windows.
However, if the situation is reversed, you don’t want to create suction that keeps hot air inside. To compensate for this, keep windows open on the top floor, but don’t leave vents in a place that will allow hot air to escape. You can also use exhaust fans strategically to maintain a comfortable level of heat throughout your home during the summer months.
Step Six : Use Your HVAC System’s Furnace
If your HVAC system is equipped with a furnace, then you can use that to help draw hot air out of your basement. While the details on doing this will vary by model, most systems work in roughly the same way. A fan draws conditioned air through the filter before it’s sent into your home.
The furnace warms it up to a regulated temperature as it does this. A fan draws air through the filter before sending it into your home. Because of this, you can draw hot air out of your basement by increasing airflow through your filter, which creates suction that can be used for venting purposes.
Again, the details on doing this will vary by model, but the basic functionality is the same. If your furnace doesn’t have a built-in fan, then you may be able to purchase one that runs off of the heat generated by your furnace. This information will help you learn how to get cold air from basement upstairs.
You can check it to Vent a Basement Sink
How Do I Get More Airflow Upstairs?
A homeowner will often install a central air conditioning unit in their basement to provide cool air to the rooms on their main floor. Unfortunately, with this configuration, even though it seems as if there is plenty of cold air being produced downstairs, many times, it does not make its way upstairs.
To allow for more airflow from your basement to the first floor, installing a return air vent is best. A return air vent usually has a damper that allows the user to adjust the airflow they want from their basement to their main floor.
In addition, if you have a central heating unit, it is also recommended for most homeowners to use an in-line blower that helps blow conditioned air from your basement to your first floor. Another option available to homeowners, especially those with a finished basement, is to install an air duct right between your first floor and your basement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Cold Air Come Up From the Basement?
Unfortunately, this is not possible. A cold air return is a system used to bring conditioned air up from the basement. This is typically done by installing a central chilled water plant in the basement and routing chilled water to the various areas of the home where conditioned air is needed.
Why is It So Hot Upstairs but Cold Downstairs?
One possibility is that there is more air circulation upstairs, which allows the thermal radiation from the warm surfaces to escape more easily. Another possibility is that the upstairs space may be larger and have more open spaces, which lets in more light and air.
Will Closing Vents in Basement Help Cool Upstairs?
Closing vents in the basement may help cool down the upstairs, but this is not always a good idea. The hot air expelled from the home will continue to rise and can cause problems further down the line. In addition, closing these vents can trap moisture inside of your home, leading to mold growth or other environmental damage.
How Can I Cool My Upstairs of a 2 Story House?
First, open up all of the windows and vents on your upper level. This will allow fresh air in and heat out quickly. Additionally, turn off all of the lights in your home when it is cooler outside so that natural light can circulate through the building. And finally, use an air conditioner or fan only during periods of extreme heat or humidity – keeping your other appliances turned off will save energy and money over time!
Conclusion
The only time we recommend using a dehumidifier is if your basement has excess moisture and you’re trying to prevent mold growth. If that’s not an issue, using a dehumidifier can make your basement feel colder. That’s because it brings the humidity level down, which makes your body think that you’re closer to the outdoors and, in turn, causes you to feel colder.
One final option that we recommend is installing an air vent that takes air from outside and brings it inside before sending it to the rooms on your main floor. The conclusion paragraph is informative and provides information on how to get cold air from basement upstairs.
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