Background: I have a 1.5 story house, 2000sf first floor, 900 up, and will finish about 1/2 of the basement (1000sf). I am planning to add ductwork off plenum to supply finished basement area. Current system with dampers is adequate to handle the air distro. I do not have variable speed motor on the air handler and do not want to run my fan motor continuously for comfort if I can help it due to cost, but would like to avoid the basement getting cold much quicker than the main level. Also - running the fan continuous seems to eventually blow air that is too cold and creates a draft.
Thus the project...
I am considering running an new "return air" duct from the highest point in the house where hot air is trapped and no returns exist (they are all in bedrooms on the floor/wall) - all the way to the basement floor. I'd place fan on the basement side to pull hot air from the upstairs to the basement. I would consider running this only when the HVAC air handler is not running. Not sure if I would run this same setup in summer.
Is this a viable alternative to the "always on" blower on the air handler?
House Comfort and Warm Air Circulation
Re: House Comfort and Warm Air Circulation
