Insulation Between Basement and Ground Floor

12 years ago

My basement is a conditioned space, as is the first floor. The basement has a suspended ceiling and the ground floor has wood floors. The home was built in 1976 and is probably under insulated compared to todays standards. My problem is as follows.

In the summer, the basement air conditioner never runs because the ground level air conditioning sinks directly to the basement. The ground level air conditioner is doing the work for two floors.

In the winter, the opposite is true. The basement heat runs much longer and heats the ground level to the point where the temperature will rise higher than the ground level thermostat setting. The ONLY plus side to this is when I do use our wood stove, the added heat to the ground level is welcome.

Questions:

Should I insulate the joists between the basement and the first floor? Will this make the home more efficient? Will it negate the desired effect that the wood stove provides?

With regards to the wood stove, is it feasible to add a filtered vent over the stove and tie it into the return for the ground level heat pump if I do decide to insulate? Would this reduce the workload of the ground level heat pump by adding in heated air?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (6)

mike_home
12 years ago
Are the ground floor and basement separate zones?
ctilley79
Original Author
12 years ago
Separate zones, separate heat pumps.
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cold_weather_is_evil
12 years ago
Poor insulation shouldn't work that fast. Sounds LEAKY, and leak remediation would come before insulation work. The suspended ceiling might be the first place to go poking around, perhaps with canned smoke.
cold_weather_is_evil
12 years ago
PS

>> Should I insulate the joists between the basement and the first floor?

Yes yes yes

>> Will it negate the desired effect that the wood stove provides?

It would be tough to have it both ways.
klem1
12 years ago
Answer to last question first. No,do not put a return near the wood heater,the air will already be warmer than the system is capiable of raiseing it to.
There likly isn't a problem during cooling season. The basement will be cooler than ground level wherther either ac is running or not. I can see where heat riseing from basement is a problem. Insulating between floors will help that. Depending on existing facturs,a return in basement connected to ground level air handler and/or return on ground level connected to basement might also help even out load and temps. The main consideration about crossventing between floors is possiable negative pressure in basement and backdrafting the wood heater and gas water heater.
energy_rater_la
12 years ago
insulating the rim joist will help.
not having experience with basements...I'll
leave that to those who do.

but if you do decide to insulate the rim joist..
use foam spray froth pack. closed cell..at least 2"
thick. this will both air seal & insulate this leaky area.

best of luck.