Should I Heat My Dover, PA Basement In The Winter?

Heating your basement is a good idea even if you don’t spend much time down there. It can make your entire house warmer and more comfortable. It’s also energy-efficient, which can save you money and even help prevent mold and other problems. The best solution depends on how and how often you’re in the basement. 

In this article, we’ll look at three ways heating the basement helps you out even if it’s unfinished. Then, we’ll look at the best options for doing so. 

Meanwhile, reach out to us here at Air Comfort Technologies with any questions about the comfort in your Dover, PA home. 
Why Is Indoor Air Quality Important?

Three Reasons To Heat Your Basement

1. It Keeps The First Floor Warmer

2. It Helps Save Energy

3. It Prevents Mold Growth

It Keeps The First Floor Warmer

Have you ever noticed the floor in your living room or kitchen feeling too cold on a winter morning? Even with the heat on, this can be a problem. And, it’s one you can solve by warming up your basement. 

We all know that heat rises. And in the case of your first floor, having warmth coming up from below can help keep your living space warmer. 

Any unheated part of your home will be colder than the rest of the house. But, a basement will stay especially chilly. It’s underground, which is naturally cooler than above the surface.

You usually only have one small window — not enough to let the sun raise the temperature. 

With all that in mind, it’s easy to see how adding heat below the first floor helps keeps the dining room, living room, and kitchen warmer. And, there’s more. 

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It Helps Save Energy

That’s right: Adding more heat to your home can help reduce your energy bills! This takes a little planning, of course, and the right strategy. We’ll get into that a little later. The point here is that treating your entire home costs less than leaving out a part of it. 

A heated basement helps keep the upstairs warm. An unheated basement actively draws heat away from the rest of the house.

The problem is that heat doesn’t always rise. Another property of thermal energy is that it naturally moves toward cold spots. 

And, if you’ve got a whole underground space that’s colder than the rest of the house, well, that’s where some of the heat from your ductwork goes as it passes from the furnace. 

But there’s not enough heat to warm up the basement. So, that cold, concrete area just keeps drawing heat away from the rest of the house. In the long run, keeping that space warm means using fewer resources upstairs. 

Met-Ed & Energy Save PA Rebates For AC & Mini-Splits

It Can Prevent Mold Growth

This one’s a little unexpected: You can prevent mold from taking hold when you keep your basement warm in the winter. It seems unusual since the three big ingredients for a mold-prone environment are warmth, darkness, and moisture. 

Your average cellar has the second too. Why, then, do you prevent mold by adding heat? The answer has to do with condensation. Here’s what happens: 

Yes, the basement is cooler than the house. But, it’s still warmer than the outside or even the ground around it. Remember, it’s still getting at least some heat from the rest of the house. 

And, when that warmer air hits the cold foundation walls, you get condensation. That means more moisture, which means a greater chance of mold growth. So, adding heat can take the “dank” out of the “dark, dank basement.” 

 
Prevent Dust In Your Home (Using Your Heater & AC)

Four Ways To Heat A Basement

Here are four ways to heat a basement. You should start with the first one regardless of whether it’s a finished space or not. Then, you can choose the best option for your home. 

1. Insulation 

2. Extra Ductwork

3. Radiant Floor Heating 

4. Ductless Heating And Cooling 

Insulation 

Your first step should be insulating your basement. If it’s not a finished space, you probably won’t want to invest too much in climate control since you’re not spending a lot of time down there. 

Or, if you’re planning on finishing it, make sure you factor in the time and cost to insulate it properly. 

Start with an energy audit, which will tell you where you have drafts or are otherwise losing heat. That indicates where and how to focus your attention. 

An audit can even help if the room’s already finished. You probably won’t tear down walls just to add insulation and rebuild them. But, you may find out that you can make a big difference by replacing a window or door. 

Extra Ductwork

Next, you can extend ductwork from your furnace and add a vent in the cellar. This is possible both for finished and unfinished basements. But, it’s a bit expensive and will affect the circulation in the rest of the house. 

Also, it may not do the job. Remember, there’s no thermostat down there, and not nearly as much heat hitting that area as upstairs. So, it’s likely your furnace will turn off when the living room is warm but not the cellar. 

Radiant Floor Heating 

If you’re planning to finish your basement, you can consider radiant floor heating. It’s electric heat that goes under the carpet or floorboards. That means no more cold toes, and the heat rises to fill the whole room. 

It’s energy-efficient, silent, and it doesn’t depend on a thermostat in another part of the house. But, it’s not an excellent option for a room that’s already done — unless, of course, you’re planning on ripping up the floor. 

Ductless Heating And Cooling 

We can go on and on about the benefits of ductless heating and cooling (and we have!). It’s energy-efficient, it works great, and it’s whisper-quiet. And in the case of your basement, it’s an excellent way to heat just one room, regardless of whether it’s already finished. 

All you need is a heat pump and wall-mounted air handler to do the job. That means you can put one in a finished basement without ripping out walls or the floor. Or, choose a low-wall mount or other configuration for an unfinished cellar. 
Four Big Benefits Of Ductless Mini-Splits

Ductless Heating And Cooling In Havertown, PA 

If you’re interested in ductless heating and cooling for your Dover, PA home, reach out to us here at Air Comfort Technologies. Starting with a free consultation, we’ll help you decide if ductless is right for your home. And, if it’s not, we’ll work with you to build the right strategy to make your home more comfortable and energy-efficient than before. 
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