Insulate basment?

Hi Home inspector. Not quite sure I understand what the “vent” is and what a larger one would be? Thanks so much for your comments.

jaay

in General Discussion 2 years and 3 months ago

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carolina-moscoso | 2 years and 5 months ago

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HomeInspector, Generally agree but I think your cellar is, perhaps, better sealed than mine and many of my neighbors. Our issue was cold floors on the level above + heat loss on that level because the cold floors acted like a heat sink. I can attest that insulation between the joists made an undisputed and measurable difference in floor temp above. Hydronic heating on the floor boards would have been amazing but out of budget. Heating the basement would require near-continuous heating of a mostly non-occupied space and would be an irresponsible use of energy.

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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On the contrary. I have a full size poorly insulated 1960’s metal garage door which has openings around it (1/8″gaps) and crap joulesy windows in front. Most cellars i have been in in brooklyn are sealed much better and are much warmer, even in winter (i am thinking of full below grade cellars, no windows). Some cellars that have those steel hatches out front have the issues i have with mine. Mine gets so cold i have to put electric heaters on to use adhesives.

By what you are saying, i should insulate mine. For people who might not have drafty cellars or cellars that stay around 60 degrees all year i question the benefit.

jaay | 2 years and 5 months ago

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So really searching for ways to insulate the garden level – I’ve got a thermostat on every floor. It’s a one zone system – I’m using an ecobee that is supposed to balance out all of the running thermostats. I set the system to 70 – Typically The top floor is 70 – parlor level 71 and garden level 67. Of course heat rises – but how do I make sure the garden level is up to at least 70 – which although 2 deg above city requirements – is still pretty chilly in winter months. I can pump up the heat – but wonder what sort of insulation I can do on the garden level – maybe I should add another radiator? Raising to 72 – but garden still seems to stay at 68. Trying to figure out what to do.

Thanks – really do appreciate the discussion.

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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Vic, what kind of heat do you have? Steam or water?

justinromeu26 | 2 years and 5 months ago

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I am asking because if you have steam, you can put a larger vent size on a steam radiator. It will allow cool air to void faster, getting hot steam in sooner, before the thermostat tells the boiler to stop firing. This would work for rooms NOT located where a thermostat is.