I have a bi-level (from the front door, there's a foyer, 6 steps up and
6 steps down), approx. 1760 square feet, in southern NJ. The current heating system is gas forced air, one zone, with the thermostat on the house's upper level. The house is built on a slab and the lower level is carpeted. The walls and attic were insulated 25-30 years ago. There's also a central air conditioning unit.The furnace is about 20 years old and it's time to think about replacement. Before I call around for estimates, I was wondering if one of you guys would be kind enough to fill me in on options for heating this house. My main question is about the lower level. It's usually about 5 degrees cooler than the upper level, which is fine in the summer but not so great in the winter. The ducts were run between the floors, and the registers in the lower level are in the ceiling. Playing with the registers helps a little bit; closing the door between the lower level and the stairs helps more. I can keep the downstairs fairly comfortable if I close the door and run a space heater or two, but I was wondering if there's a way to set up the new furnace and/or the ductwork to make the lower level warmer.
Thanks for any replies! Sara