Lets take a look at some heating options for any basement remodeling job today. With the cool and damp feel of any basement coupled with the fact that warm air rises, it can be hard to get comfortable. Do not worry though where there is a will, there is a way!
One of the first lines of defense in any efficient job is insulation. In the case of the basement this is even more important. It has to be done correctly to insulate from the obvious cold air but you also need to make sure no moisture will be entering and ruining the insulation. For this reason alot of people choose to go with a insulative panel material rather then the normal fiberglass. This keeps the water from penetrating and destroying the insulation and hopefully acts as a little protection for any drywall as well. Another area that needs insulated in the basement that is normally never touched in other areas is the floor. You will want to raise your flooring level with a “subfloor” installation that will keep you from contacting the cement. This keeps everyones feet warm and toasty and also acts as another barrier for water intrusion. Of course before you did any of this you did take preventive water measures right?
Now that you have your area properly insulated its time to find some ways to bring in more heat. Generally people go about this with extra ducting and fans from their original furnace. In my experience this has minimal effect without alot of time and upgrading. It can be done though and every basement is different.
A much better way to heat a basement is through radiant floor heating. While this adds a significant cost to your project, it also makes your rooms much more livable. Plus for those on a budget there are now electric in floor heating methods that can be installed in each room. This means you can choose the areas you will use the most and heat them! Of course you can do the whole basement with in floor water heat if you have the budget for it. If you do this is the BEST option for any area that gets cold come winter time.
I hope this has helped clear up your heating questions. Get together with your area hvac technician and see what they can do for you. Now that you are informed youll know what to expect and what to question. Good luck with your project!
