Very cold basement?

Question

We are living in a brand new home with three bedrooms in the basement.

It is FREEZING down there

Each room has one vent -- including the large family room area. All the vents are open.

I realize that basements always run cooler and yes, its winter and thats what happens, but the cold seems too extreme.

Any helpful suggestions as to why its so cold and how we can improve the warmth circulation.

Thanks much!

Answer 1

well, basements are under ground level so it is typical that they are cold (seems you already know that)

you could buy a kerosene heater or something, they work incredibly well and would easily warm it up

or possibly put a few fans down there, as cold as it seems to be it would only make it warmer by circulating the air between the basement and ground floor

Answer 2

there are many things working against you, espeially if the bedrooms were added in after the house was built / designed. Also you did not mention what kind of flooring you have down there. Nothing but cold is going to be sucked up from the cement floor in your basement. If the furnace was installed without planning for the basement bedrooms most of the heat will be designed to go upstairs. You can try to ''recalibrate'' the furnace by partially closing off vents that go up and try to redirect more heat into the bedrooms.
No matter what you do the basement isn't going to be warm like upstairs. I would consider small electric heaters in the bedrooms at night and maybe a stand alone gas fireplace in the familyroom with a thermostat.

Answer 3

Cool Basement Bedrooms

Answer 4

I'm no expert but it seems to me at least one room if not all the rooms should have a cold air return vent. It would logically be located near the floor where the air is the coldest. Maybe it is closed off?

If not, try partially closing some of the upstairs vents so the furnace will run longer and send a larger percentage of heat to the basement.

Answer 5

Is there air coming out of the vents? If possible, try to check the ductwork to make sure the vents have ducts attached to them and they have no holes. Sometimes this is the problem.

Answer 6

it is probably so cold because it is not/under insulated. what kind of heat do you have??? appears to be hot air. this is not the most efficient type of heat. hot water would be better. i would start by checking on the insulation. if the bedrooms were a part of the original plan, the wall should have be insulated

Answer 7

easily its the different in my residing house the basement is quite like the warmest cuz thats have been the heater is whilst u step upstairs its like somewhat freezing im fortunate my room is in the middle its acceptable durnin the wintry climate & summer