Cold Basement

Question from Karen in Calgary, Alberta —–

Hi Shell,

We are having great trouble keeping our basement warm. We live in a bi-level in the NE part of Calgary. Our Television is downstairs and so is my studio. Even when I turn up the temperature so that the upstairs is hot and put the furnace fan on continuous it is freezing in the basement, at least 90% of the time. I think the majority of the problem comes from the brick fireplace that is in the family room. You can feel cold air coming off of it continuously. We don’t use it much so the dampers are closed and I have a large blanket tucked around the closed glass doors. The furnace vents are in the ceiling and there is a cold air return on the floor in the family room. Please give us some ideas for warming up the basement? I hope it is “just that easy”.

Regards,

Karen
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Hi Karen,

The best advice would be to have you contact ATCO Energy Sense at 310-SAVE and sign up for the Energuide for Houses Program. This will give you a complete energy evaluation on your home and heating system. You will receive a report that outlines the steps you can take to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Your description of the problem points to a probable imbalance in the design of your forced air furnace system.

Once you have the Energuide report in your hands, you can call Greg Martineau Projects at 403-250-8201. They can complete any of the recommendations listed on the report and will make your home more comfortable and energy efficient.

To get an evaluation of your heating system and to see what steps might be taken to redirect the heat to the basement, call Service Experts at 1-888-HEATCOOL.

It’s Just That Easy!

Shell

Poor Air Flow at Our Heat Registers

Question from Brian in Surrey, B.C. —–

To Shell,

I have a down-flow gas furnace. How can I increase the airflow at the floor registers? There is very little air at the registers when furnace running now.

Regards,

Brian, Surrey

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Hi Brian,

Even the very best of furnaces will not work properly and efficiently if they are not installed and set-up properly. Problems often arise in cases where the duct-work was not designed very well. Without seeing it, my guess is that your duct-work is at fault. Please contact HouseSmart Centre at 604-542-2236 and we will refer you to one of our heating associates who will be happy to look at your heating system.

It’s Just That Easy!

Shell

Musty Odor In Our Crawl Space

Question from Karen in Prince George, B.C. —–

To Shell,

We have an old house, quite small and the basement is finished in concrete. There is also a crawl space. We do have a sump pump working but there is a musty odor. I have a small heater to try and keep it dry, but the smell is still there. Is there something I can put in the basement to get rid of the odor. We do not have any windows there. It seems the smell is bad particularly at run off time. I know there is a product for Recreational vehicles called dry ease. Would this work?

Thank you

Karen
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Hi Karen,

Dryease is much too small of a system to stop the musty odors. Consider a Humidex basement ventilation system. These units are available from Home Hardware or call
1-800-416-9111. (You can also visit their website at www.humidex.ca.) Humidex units are available in a number of sizes appropriate for basements and crawlspaces. The best location to install the unit would be in the lowest point of the basement/crawlspace area.

It’s Just That Easy!

Shell

Eliminating Water Hammer

Try the following steps to get rid of the airlocks within your plumbing that can cause water hammer (banging pipes or pipes that rattle):

1. Shut off the main water supply (there is usually a shut-off valve right at the location where your water service enters your home).

2. Go throughout the house and turn on all your water faucets including any outside faucets.

3. Flush all your toilets.

4. Turn your dishwasher to the fill cycle.

5. Turn your clothes washer to the fill cycle.

6. Shut off the water supply to your hot water tank.

7. Leave the system for about 2 to 3 hours to allow the water to completely drain (to the lowest point).

8. Turn the water back on at the main water supply valve.

9. Wait until all the taps have water running at full force.

10. Turn your dishwasher off.

11. Turn your clothes washer off.

12. Turn on the water supply to your hot water tank.

13. Start shutting off the water faucets beginning with the faucets that are the highest (within the home) and the furthest away from the main water shut-off and work your ways to the faucets that are the lowest and closest to the main water shut off valve.

Note: The toilets tanks will fill up and shut off on their own.

Another tip: Never tighten water pipe clamps on floor joists. They should be loose to allow the pipes to expand and contract as they get hot and cold.

Your water hammer should now be gone!

It’s Just That Easy!