MK_Chicago
Member
Hi Everyone,
Hoping to get some good advice or recommendations on this forum. I have expertise in HVAC so any real advice I can get would be helpful.
Background
Our house was built 3 years ago and we moved in 1 year ago this week. The home has a finished basement. In January we had a contractor put up a wall in our basement to create a true bedroom area. The area of the basement we made into the bedroom was where the one air return is (~15 x 15). When the contractor added the wall, they added a second air return (~12 x 5) on the wall outside of the bedroom (see pictures). There are a total of three ~4x10 registers in the finished area of the basement plus one in the basement bathroom. We did change the registers with the wall addition.
Issue
With the vents open in the basement, it will stay ~62 to 64 degrees while the main floor is 69 and the top floor is ~71-73. With the vents closed, the basement at most will get up to 66. It definitely feels cold down there and my kids are starting to complain. I do not remember it being that cold last year (could just be bad memory) so I am wondering if it is possible that adding the wall or modifying the return duct has caused issues with air flow. I have noticed that when in the bedroom with the door shut and the air conditioning is running, you can feel the cold air coming in under the door and into the bedroom pretty significantly.
With these symptoms, is it possible I need a larger / smaller return or any other possible causes or solutions?
Thank you
Hoping to get some good advice or recommendations on this forum. I have expertise in HVAC so any real advice I can get would be helpful.
Background
Our house was built 3 years ago and we moved in 1 year ago this week. The home has a finished basement. In January we had a contractor put up a wall in our basement to create a true bedroom area. The area of the basement we made into the bedroom was where the one air return is (~15 x 15). When the contractor added the wall, they added a second air return (~12 x 5) on the wall outside of the bedroom (see pictures). There are a total of three ~4x10 registers in the finished area of the basement plus one in the basement bathroom. We did change the registers with the wall addition.
Issue
With the vents open in the basement, it will stay ~62 to 64 degrees while the main floor is 69 and the top floor is ~71-73. With the vents closed, the basement at most will get up to 66. It definitely feels cold down there and my kids are starting to complain. I do not remember it being that cold last year (could just be bad memory) so I am wondering if it is possible that adding the wall or modifying the return duct has caused issues with air flow. I have noticed that when in the bedroom with the door shut and the air conditioning is running, you can feel the cold air coming in under the door and into the bedroom pretty significantly.
With these symptoms, is it possible I need a larger / smaller return or any other possible causes or solutions?
Thank you