Home Heating System: Boost the Heat in a Cold Bedroom

By Don Ames

Homeowners know when they're cold and they know where their cold. They may not know how to light a pilot light, or air seal an attic floor, or balance a home heating system, but they know when they are cold. Bedrooms are often the coldest room in the house and most often people just live with it. Stick the kid in the cool bedroom, throw a couple extra blankets on the bed and tell them to finish their homework.

Dealing with a cool bedroom is frustrating. If you turn up the heat to warm the room, the rest of the house gets too warm. Shut all the heating registers except the bedroom and it puts too much back pressure on the furnace. Too often I see a household try to adjust the temperature of one room by closing heating registers in other rooms and soon they have half the registers in the house closed and the home heating system working overtime to satisfy the heating request at the thermostat.

Usually, the home heating system is designed by a professional Heating Contractor that went to HVAC school for several hours a week for a number of years. A Heating contractor must pass an apprentice program before he or she can even take the test for their journeyman license.

HVAC Education

During the educational phase of the heating and cooling training, they are taught how to do a heating load calculation on a home. They take the heating load and develop a designed heating system that includes furnace size, fan capacity, duct size, air flows, and register size. In other words, heating systems are designed to heat all rooms evenly and to work as a system with all registers open.

If you have one bedroom that is cooler than the rest of the house, one of two things has happened:

• The heating system was designed by a contractor that barely passed the test, or
• the heating system is broken.

Recently, I had a homeowner complain that they got very little air flow out of the heating register in their dining room. The dining room was cooler than other parts of the house. With a flow hood, I registered a 75% decrease of air flow at the register as compared to the register in the living room. I removed the register grill, took a flashlight and mirror and looked down the inside of the heating duct.

With the mirror to see around the initial elbow, I could see that a flow damper valve was installed in the heating duct. Further inspection showed that all the heating ducts in the home had a flow damper installed near the registers. The damper in the dining room was the only one that was closed most of the way. The homeowner was not aware that flow dampers were a part of the homes heating system.

Heating Duct Damper

Flow dampers are a bit unusual in my neck-of-the-woods, I don't see them very often. Flow dampers are added to a heating system to allow manual adjustment of the flow of air to the registers. With dampers, the flow of conditioned air can be balanced so warm and cool areas of the home can be eliminated. To keep from putting increased pressure on the furnace fan motor, when one damper is closed down another damper should be opened up.

Sometimes, I believe a heating contractor may throw in a bunch of flow dampers when he looses his pencil and can't be sure of how big to make the heating ducts or how many registers need to be in a room.

6 Ways to Boost the Heat in a Cold Bedroom.

Repair Heating Duct:
There is always the possibility that the duct system has a problem that can be fixed. Ducts can become partially or totally disconnected and flexible ducts can become pinched off or collapsed. This is the first and most important fix considering the cold bedroom. This fix will not only warm the bedroom, but also increase energy efficiency and energy savings.

The first step is the inspection of the duct leading from the plenum to the register to be sure it is securely connected. Also, look for holes, crimping, or collapsed areas. Heating ducts damaged by animals is also a possibility that you should be looking for.

Disconnected heating ducts can be reconnected, but damaged heating ducts most often need to be replaced as they are difficult to repair.

Check for a Damper:
The sneaky heating contractor may have placed a damper in the heating duct and kept it a pretty good secret. Look and feel inside the duct by removing the register cover. Also, remove insulation from the outside of the duct, especially near the register and check for the telling signs of a damper. A metal rod with a small handle and a few anchor screws indicate a damper inside. Open the damper and your cool room problems maybe over.

Balance Room Pressure With a Cross Over Duct:
Now we need to talk about room pressure and balloons. Crack the bedroom door open about an inch, turn the furnace on and see if the pressure builds up in the room and closes the door.

The heating system is a circle of air. Air is heated in the furnace, pushed through the heating ducts into a room and then sucked by the same furnace, out of the room, back through the return air duct to the furnace. If the air in the room cannot get back to the furnace, the room builds air pressure, like a balloon, which restricts the flow of conditioned air into the room in the first place.

With an increase of pressure in the bedroom, the conditioned air is forced through a different duct and into an adjoining room.

To fix the potential problem, many homes have cross over ducts installed in the ceiling or over the door that allow the air in the room to get back into the hallway even when the door is closed. In some larger, higher priced homes, they may have eliminated the room pressure problem by installing a return air register in every room.

To balance the room pressure and stop this problem, the two most used repairs are installing a cross over duct through the wall over the door or simply cutting the bottom of the door off so there is a wider gap between the door and the carpet.

Increase the Size of the Duct:
Maybe the Heating Contractor ran out of 8 inch ducting so he decided 6 inch was close enough. There is a real possibility that the back bedroom is cool because the heating duct system was not engineered correctly. When this happens, the best fix is to correct the mistake and replace the duct with a larger one. If the home is fairly new and the Contractor is still around, you might get this done as a freebee.

In this way, the cool room will get a larger share of the air coming from the furnace. This repair can still be a do-it-yourself'er if your willing. Heating duct material, both ridged and flex, can be purchased at your favorite home store. Some zip ties, a few sheet metal screws, a sharp knife and a pair of tin snips should do the trick.

If the heating duct size is simply too small to service the room, besides replacing the duct with a larger one, the only other fix that might work is installing a booster fan in the duct or adding a complete second duct and register.

Duct Booster Fan
Place a baffle in the heating plenum:
This adjustment can be very effective - especially in a manufactured home. A section of the main heating trunk ( the plenum ) needs to be opened up so a metal baffle or shield can be placed in the main trunk line that will direct more air into the heating duct that goes to the cold room. This is a very effective way to grab more of the conditioned air that passes down the main heating trunk and direct it in the direction you want it go. This is an inexpensive and permanent fix that works very well.

Install a Booster Fan in the Duct:
This $30 part won't create more heat, but it will pull more heat to the cool room. The booster fan should be installed as close to the offending room as possible and can be wired directly back to the furnace fan so the booster fan will run each time the furnace comes on. Installing it can be a pain. A section of round metal duct either needs to be dropped down or added to the system. Be sure the duct system is air sealed or this added fan will pull unconditioned air into the system and lower your energy efficiency.

I know dealing with a cold spot in your home can be a frustrating ordeal. Hopefully I have provided some solutions to the problem that will work for you and your home. The home heating system was designed to provide the comfort you are expecting and deserve and, with a little T.L.C., will provide years of energy efficient service.

If you live in the South Bay Area of California and you are dealing with cold spots in your house- please visit Sandium.Com to schedule a visit with one of our technicians. 

by Don Ames, a home energy auditor that is your host at http://www.detectenergy.com and the publisher of the eNewsletter, the Energy Spy Insider.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Don_Ames

Choosing The Right Home Heating Solution To Meet Your Family Needs

By Mike S Williams

As the climate starts to cool down we all start to be aware of the coldness and consider purchasing warmer attire and heating our home to stay comfortable and healthy. You'll note I mentioned the word "healthy," because reduced home heating can adversely have an effect on a person's physical condition, particularly if he or she already has a respiratory health condition.

Children and the elderly are often more at risk when a simple chill develops into a more dangerous health condition. For that reason alone, effective house heating is essential. It not only keeps us warm and comfortable, it can also help to keep us healthy.

There are several types of house heating systems to choose from, and not every system will match every home. The kind of heating you select will depend on the needs of your family. Any assessment will need to take into account several factors.

• How much you are ready to spend on installation
• The age of your house
• Your home dimensions
• How many rooms you want to warm
• Whether your home is adequately insulated (after all, it might be sensible to start by remedying heat loss via walls, doors, windows and floors to begin with).
• How long you want the heating to operate for (will you have it turned on all day, or would you just turn it on when you arrive home?)
• Do you want instantaneous heat?
• Will you be looking for all-night heating or just at certain times?
• How environmentally friendly do you want your heating to be?
• How cost-effective does it need to be?
• How easy should the heating system be to operate and maintain (do you want to chop logs?)
• How safe do you want it to be (do you have children at home?)

Yes, there are countless things to contemplate when deciding on the best home heating system for your family. Now let's look at some of the numerous options available.

First of all, if you have an older home with a fireplace you may want to get the smokestack swept and burn coal or logs to be warm. Open fires are nice to sit in front of, but they have disadvantages also. They necessitate regular cleaning and somebody will have to chop the wood, or transfer the coal inside. Are you happy using fossil fuels, or would you want something more environmentally friendly?

Some folk install modern heating systems to wedge neatly into the space occupied by an old fireplace. It is worthwhile noting that some heating systems give off fumes, smoke, and/or dry out the air. I can still think of the kerosene vapors from the heater my Mum used when I was a child.

Is under floor heating worthwhile considering?

Under floor heating is now more popular particularly with those constructing or renovating homes. The setup requires a boiler to heat hot water which can then be circulated to radiators, baseboard units, or to radiant heating tubes placed underneath the floor.

Under floor heating warms rooms from the ground up and is generally very efficient to operate. Under floor heating is also hidden and won't take up any space. The systems are generally better operated at a low consistent heat, rather than switching them on and off to produce bursts of heat.

Are other systems worthwhile considering?

Some home owners choose gas fires, or electric plug-in heaters, but they can be costly to operate and are not essentially the most economical way to heat your home. Portable heaters can be very hazardous if they tip over or come in contact with furniture, furnishings, curtains, or garments. Accidents do happen.

Central heating is one more possibility. You really need to decide how many rooms you want to heat and if you want a consistent heat in each room.

What do you need to do before purchasing a home heating system?

First of all, don't simply rush out and purchase a new radiator for your home, as is might prove to really uneconomical and inadequate. Nevertheless, if you are just renting a home or apartment, then a portable electric fire might be a short-term heating solution.

Find out about the numerous heating options and the benefits and disadvantages of each system. You'll then be well-informed to make a good decision on the most appropriate system for your circumstances.

You'll want to debate the preliminary installation price tag with the ongoing expenses of running each system. You will want to look at the efficiency of each heat system in terms of heating output and heating loss.

House heating is not cheap, and purchasing the cheapest may prove to be a false economy. Some systems cost you more upfront, but end up being cheaper in the long-term.

I personally like a home that is warmed equally rather than all the heat being focused in just a solitary room or on one wall. Under floor heating systems can be more pricey (but not always), but they distribute the heat equally throughout a home from the floor up. That's why I personally fancy water underfloor heating.

After doing your exploration you'll then be well-versed enough to contact some established heating specialists to chat about options and prices. Knowledge is power, so you'll be able to ask the right questions and select the right heating solution for your home.

To set up a visit with a professional to determine the best heating solution for you and your family please visit Sandium.Com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_S_William
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HVAC Zoning Gives You Control over the Temperatures in Your Home

Most Bay area homeowners spend a lot more time in particular parts of their homes than they do in others. So it does not make much sense to heat and cool just about every a part of your house in the very same way. A Heating and air conditioning zoning method is the perfect answer to this problem.

What exactly is HVAC zoning?

A zoning system for the air conditioner, furnace or heat pump enables you to have precise control over the temperature in different regions of your house. You'll be able to divide your property into various zones and set each and every zone to a designated temperature in accordance with how your family makes use of that a part of your home.Similar to the way  a programmable thermostat adjusts temperatures in line with when you are at house or sleeping, a zoning program can focus your conditioned air on the rooms which you use the most.

How does HVAC zoning operate?Every single zone that you just designate in your residence receives a damper either inside the air duct that leads to the zone or near the air register in the zone. The damper opens and closes in accordance with whether or not the zone calls for conditioned air. When the damper is open, air is permitted in to heat or cool the zone. When the damper is closed, the zone receives no conditioned air.Each zone receives its own thermostat which you can set to your liking. When a thermostat detects that a zone desires to be heated or cooled, it sends a signal to a central control panel that asks for the HVAC unit to send conditioned air. Its damper is then opened to permit the air into the zone.Once each zone inside your property has reached its desired temperature, your HVAC unit shuts off and stops sending conditioned air.

What are the key advantages of HVAC zoning?

HVAC zoning comes with a few terrific benefits. For one, it permits you to have maximum control over the comfort levels inside your household.You will feel significantly much less hot and cold spots using a zoning system mainly because your HVAC unit is able to give a lot more consideration to each and every separate part of your house.

HVAC zoning also saves power due to the fact your heating and cooling units only work as tough as they must in an effort to satisfy each and every zone. That signifies they will not have to waste power on conditioning rooms that you simply do not devote quite a bit of time in.

If you have any questions about HVAC Zoning or if you would like a zoning system installed in your home please visit Sandium.Com