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OP, I also live in the northeast with an unfinished basement. (I just call it the cellar)
My natural gas furnace is down there along with all the pipes that carry the heated water upstairs through the baseboard heat. Water heater is also down there along with washer and dryer.
Sometimes, I take a book with me and sit and read while I wait for a load to tumble dry. In the winter, I put on a sweater or a sweatshirt but then, I'm inactive. Kids are bouncing around even if they're playing a board game so I'm betting with a sweatshirt and jeans (or sweatpants) they won't be cold. You may not need another source of heat.
How old are your kids? Any concerns that they might knock over the heaters or put something combustible too close? And yes, it's almost guaranteed that they won't remember to turn off the heaters, so as you said, you'll need a timer, or to remember to go down and do it yourself when they come upstairs.
OP, I also live in the northeast with an unfinished basement. (I just call it the cellar)
My natural gas furnace is down there along with all the pipes that carry the heated water upstairs through the baseboard heat. Water heater is also down there along with washer and dryer.
Sometimes, I take a book with me and sit and read while I wait for a load to tumble dry. In the winter, I put on a sweater or a sweatshirt but then, I'm inactive. Kids are bouncing around even if they're playing a board game so I'm betting with a sweatshirt and jeans (or sweatpants) they won't be cold. You may not need another source of heat.
I have the same setup in my house. I also have a heat pump as a source for back-up heat, but I don't use it unless the boiler should go out, as it's just not warm enough for me anymore. My basement stays warm enough in the winter without the HP vents being active just from the boiler running and the occasional heat that comes off the dehumidifier, although that doesn't run much during the winter. In the summer the basement maintains a constant cool temperature as well. It's really a shame that I don't use the so-called "finished" side (drywall with a gas fireplace), but it has all the appeal of a dungeon for me.
Furnace in the basement? Ductwork for first floor running through the ceiling area of basement?
Have a HVAC contractor tap into the existing ductwork and add a couple of vents- one at each end of the basement. You can open and close manually as needed; or if you’re really want that lazy man option have him install dampers at the two vents. They could be wired to operate with a wall switch (like the lights).
Our basement wasn't heated growing up, it was cooler than the rest of the house, but the furnace and water heater were both there and I never remember being chilly down there. We spent lots of time down there too.
How old are your kids? Any concerns that they might knock over the heaters or put something combustible too close? And yes, it's almost guaranteed that they won't remember to turn off the heaters, so as you said, you'll need a timer, or to remember to go down and do it yourself when they come upstairs.
I’ve used oil filled radiators with tip over protection before and they worked well.
My biggest concern would be that they're all made in China, so who knows what that "oil" really is?
Quote:
Originally Posted by markjames68
I’ve used oil filled radiators with tip over protection before and they worked well.
All resistive electric heaters are equally efficient. The "oil-filled" ones take a long time to cool off, but this is equally offset by how long they take to heat up in the first place. Plus they sometimes explode.
If it wasn't possibly to just use existing heating ducts then, depending on the age of the kids, I would go with wall-mounted heaters. Keeps them off the floor and avoids most of the fire and tipping risks, and by permanently mounting them near an outlet, avoids the temptation to use extension cords.
All resistive electric heaters are equally efficient. The "oil-filled" ones take a long time to cool off, but this is equally offset by how long they take to heat up in the first place. Plus they sometimes explode.
If it wasn't possibly to just use existing heating ducts then, depending on the age of the kids, I would go with wall-mounted heaters. Keeps them off the floor and avoids most of the fire and tipping risks, and by permanently mounting them near an outlet, avoids the temptation to use extension cords.
Interesting paper but I didn’t see a reference to explosion, just fires due to spot weld failure.
I have two vents in my basement and it works well. I usually only have one open by the laundry/utility sink and close them both in the summer because there is no need for AC.
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My biggest concern would be that they're all made in China, so who knows what that "oil" really is?
