Ok I have two separate units in my basement. One feeds the downstairs, one feeds the upstairs. Both are pulling return air partially from the basement itself, as well as through some other return vents that feed into the basement. My problem is the fact that while the upstairs gets great airflow through the supply vents, I believe there is very little of the upstairs air actually getting to the heat/air unit (return). Maybe a little bit is being pulled downstairs and makes its way to the basement, but not near enough. Despite this, heating the upstairs is no problem whatsoever. I am concerned about humidity control upstairs during the summer with no direct return air coming from the upstairs. Any ideas? Should I just buy a dehumidifier and put it in the upstairs hallway? Would this help?
2007-02-20 02:15:59 · 4 answers · asked by TB28 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If the supply to the upstairs is "x cubic feet of air per minute", then you also are getting return, somewhere, equal to that, or very nearly that amount.
In other words, all the air being supplied upstairs is being returned, somehow.
Unless the return is blocked, and there is no other pathway back to the furnace, would you be pushing that air out through the sidewalls/windows/outlets/ceiling.
The air that is being pulled out of the basement is being replaced with air coming down the stairs or other route. There is very little chance that you are maintaining any significant pressure difference between each floor. If the air was NOT being returned...the top floor would be pressurized, the flow out the registers would stop when the fan reached it's pressure limits, while the basement would be under negative pressure. You would need airlocks between the floors to maintain this difference, and your ears would pop as you went from floor to floor.
Take an incense stick, and follow the air flow around the house. You will see that the flow goes from the upstairs back to the basement. It will be slow and subtle, because the velocity is not high, but it will be there.
Things always flow from areas of higher pressure to areas of lower pressure, whether it's temperature, or water pressure, or air pressure, or vapor pressure, or electrical pressure.
2007-02-20 02:47:46 · answer #1 · answered by roadlessgraveled 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
A smoke bomb will be able to give you an indication of how much air is being returned to the unit. An A/C contractor should be able to do this for you. If you are happy with the way you system currently works and are only concerned about dehumidification, then I would leave the exisitng system alone and install an independant system in the upstairs to take care of the humidity
2007-02-20 18:17:06 · answer #2 · answered by adrian20971 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
For best humidity control, you want the smallest Air Conditioner unit possible, but still able to keep up. In other words, you want that AC running like 90% of the time.
Possible solution in your case would be to have an extra relay installed so you blower could run at SLOW speed if you turn it on to run Constantly and not HIGH speed which is noisy and costly.
On placement of Humidifier, youd want that in basement, because the humid air is heavier, collapsing and sinking to basement and not upstairs.
2007-02-20 02:32:04 · answer #3 · answered by James M 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I hate it whilst that happens, besides the undeniable fact that it relatively is extra desirable than no warmth in any respect. We get various calls in the process the season to seem at contraptions that dont choose for to close off. looking on your particular setup, it ought to be various various issues. the main uncomplicated as all human beings has indicated, is the thermostat. it ought to be the temperature sensing unit has grow to be defective and isnt shutting off. Or depending on if this replaced into some thing at present further in line with danger a pass over wiring occured. some contraptions have diverse putting for various sorts of furnaces that's the problem. I even have additionally experienced undesirable relays in the warmth controls in our air handlers right here. Your run capacitor is unquestionably no longer the problem. you ought to attempt some thing for the night. turn the controls to off so as that neither warmth or cool are chosen. Then turn your fan from motor vehicle to on so as that the blower keeps to circulate the air in the abode. confirm all your curtains and/or blinds are closed and positioned towels down in front of exterior doorways to maintain the air from being lost there. in the experience that your place is unquestionably insulated that could desire to get you in the process the night. stable good fortune
2016-10-02 10:52:16 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋