Ventilating a Finished Basement

Published by: Elizabeth Gormley
Published on: 2010-01-10 15:26:13

After you've decided to finish your basement, ventilation and air quality might be one of the first things to creep into your mind. Unfinished basements tend to have a dank, musty odor and chilly feel. If you want to make the space a desirable destination for you and your family, the air will have to be temperate and pleasant to breathe. Many heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems already set in place can handle the added space of a finished basement. You will need to make sure that it is properly insulated. Also, you might have to add fans and ducts to evenly distribute the treated air. You might have to extend your heat distribution pipe so its openings are set about 16 inches from outside walls. If this is the case, you will have to run the pipe to the location and install a boot. After the ceiling is completed, you will install the register.

Sometimes it is the case that the existing HVAC does not have the sufficient capacity to treat the air in a basement. A homeowner will need to consider his options. One way to go is installing a self-contained heat pump or separate air-handler. It is possible that this route is more energy efficient and all-around practical. It will give you heat and cold-treated air in one unit. You will avoid having to install extra piping, wiring, and penetrating the basement walls.

If your home's HVAC system was not built to handle the basement space, you might consider revamping or replacing the entire thing. It may seem costly, but it quite possible will save you loads in the long run. If the system is older than fifteen years, it is not up to today's energy-efficient standards. If you decide to replace the existing HVAC system, make sure you install one that is not oversized. It will simply make your energy bills higher and sometimes provide more complications in treating the air in your home, from the attic to the basement.

To ensure proper basement ventilation, it is imperative to seal all air leaks. This will avoid humidity and overall stuffiness. Also, you might consider investing in a dehumidifier, particularly in the summer months. In the winter, your HVAC should emit enough hot, dry air that humidity won't be a problem. One way to reduce humidity in the basement is to install hot air ducts at floor level. In the summer, the air-conditioning should take enough return air from the basement, reducing moisture. Year-round, a modern dehumidifier will reduce chill in a finished basement, as well as give you a break on your heating costs—truly an eco-friendly way to save.

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