How can I get more even heating/cooling in my house?

We own a ranch home, 3 bedrooms and bath at one end, living room in the middle, kitchen, then converted garage on the other end. The bedroom end of the house is always cooler than the other side.

The converted garage is now a family room and all the electronics are in that room, tv, computer, stereo, games, etc.; generating heat and causing this room to be as much as 10 degrees warmer than the rest of the house, even in winter. This room sits on a slab that extends out both sides of the house, in front it becomes the driveway. The previous homeowner did not insulate the floor and so this room gets very warm in the summer. It only has one vent that supplies heat and air conditioning.

The kitchen connects to the converted room and is also very warm in the summer. There are no vents in the kitchen but there are two vents in the connected dining room. There is no air return in the kitchen/dining rooms.

Obviously it would be nice to add vents to the converted room, but someone also suggested that adding an air return would actually be more beneficial as it would give the hot air somewhere to go. The room has no air return currently. There are two air returns at each end of the hallway where the bedrooms are that area seems to get the lion's share of heating and cooling from the furnace. I also wondered if just adding a vent near the ceiling that would connect the converted room to the living room would allow enough air exchange that it would even out the temperatures.

Beyond what I stated, I'm lost as to how I can even out the heat/air conditioning in these rooms.

Reply to
Mac Cool
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In the summer, the air return could be at the ceiling of the converted room, so it would pull the hottest air out as cooled air comes in.

Reply to
Michael Baugh

This is Turtle.

I have listen to all the replys and your replys to this matter and it seem your stuck in one deal to cure your problem and you have said it maybe too costly to do so. So to put everything a nutshell to give to you is this.

1) you getting good answer here over the internet is right next to nothing or less.

2) You need to have a Manual D run on your house and Manual J to get exactly what you need to be done. Without this being done rightly. We / You / anybody is or will be guessing at best to get a answer to your needs.

3) Now if your going to guess at this project and will usely fail but it might work sometimes. You can over power the added room with a over sizing of the discharge registers and return ducts. Then if you see where there is too much air to the added room. You can install a baffle door to the added room ductwork and try to reduce the flow to make the air flow right in this application. now you can use the registers to restrict thje air also. Now if you do not do the work of installing the ductwork your self. It will be very little difference in the price if you have the duct work run by a professional. The difference in the price will be only the price of having a manual D & J run on the house.

4) Now if money is tight here. Just deal with what you have till your ship comes in and have it do right the first time like it should have been done the first time any remodeling was done. The first thing I cincider the cost of will be the heating and cooling cost and equipment needed to have the added room temperature controlled correctly and you would not be posting here right now. Now hindsight is always better than forsight.

If you wanted to discuss this by e-mail do so.

TURTLE

Reply to
TURTLE

As I see it you have three choices.

  1. Switch the fan switch to on, so the fan runs all the time.

No initial cost Additional cost of running fan Likely some improvement, but not likely you will be really happy with the results

  1. Try any of the half way fixes that have been or will be suggested and invest money but not get the results you really want.
  2. Follow Turtles advice. Have the job done right when you have the money and be comfortable.

There is not shortcut to doing this right.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

TURTLE:

Ok, I'm convinced. I was hoping to be able to do something that would help before summer but I'll look into the load calc and see if it is likely to save as much money as some people are claiming. If it will make my bills cheaper and can be recouped in five years or less then I will find the money to make it happen.

Reply to
Mac Cool

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