We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

On Jan 22, 9:24*am, blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

is the vent into the third floor in the floow or on the sidewall. You
could mount a fan in either location if you have a way to get
electricity to the fan.

On Jan 22, 9:24*am, blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

We always think first about boosting input, but flow requires that
input to get back to the furnace. Any chance that too many closed
doors might be part of the problem? Or blocked/inadequate returns?

Joe

blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9"
riser that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result,
there is much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would
sit just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping
up the walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but
that would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct.
I want something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

Google heat vent booster.

"blueman" wrote in message
...
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

I haven't seen you around for a while. Nice to know you are still here.

What size is the boot or grill area? I imagine some field engineering can
be done.

One of those hassock type fans sat over a floor register or a cheap box fan
in front of a wall register might let you test the concept at minimal
expense.

Colbyt

On Jan 22, 9:24*am, blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

Ive seen ones that plug into 120v and come on with airflow that fit on
top a register like you mention but I dont know if they do anything,
before just closing off registers you need to know and monitor the
temp of the exchanger, reducing airflow can run it hotter than the
design temp, overheat it and kill its life. You just drill a hole
above the exchanger and insert a probe Meat-cooking type of
thermometer. Booster Fans can easily be installed in the basement
ductwork

"hr(bob) " writes:
On Jan 22, 9:24Â*am, blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

is the vent into the third floor in the floow or on the sidewall. You
could mount a fan in either location if you have a way to get
electricity to the fan.

Vent is in the floor approx 4x12"

I have power in the wall nearby but was hoping ideally for a low voltage
solution so that I could run wiring under the carpeting and into the
vent without safety/code issues.

Joe writes:
On Jan 22, 9:24Â*am, blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

We always think first about boosting input, but flow requires that
input to get back to the furnace. Any chance that too many closed
doors might be part of the problem? Or blocked/inadequate returns?

Poor returns are undoubtedly contributing since the only returns are in
the open first floor hall (which is open to the 2nd floor though the
stairway to the third floor is enclosed).

In the future when we renovate, we will need to add returns on the 2nd
and 3rd floor (particularly since we want to add AC) but in the short
term there is no easy way to fix that situation since there are no
obvious open chases, stacked closets etc. going up to the 3rd floor.

So that together with the fact that the supply duct is shared with the
2nd floor makes me think that the best near-term solution would be to
boost flow from the terminal end. But obviously I am open to other
suggestions if they are easier/simpler...

ransley writes:

On Jan 22, 9:24Â*am, blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

Ive seen ones that plug into 120v and come on with airflow that fit on
top a register like you mention.
I was hoping for something that would sit inside the register since the
register is on the floor. Also, low voltage would be preferable since I
wouldn't need to worry about properly routing line voltage but instead
could use a low voltage wire running under the carpet.

before just closing off registers you need to know and monitor the
temp of the exchanger, reducing airflow can run it hotter than the
design temp, overheat it and kill its life. You just drill a hole
above the exchanger and insert a probe Meat-cooking type of
thermometer. Booster Fans can easily be installed in the basement
ductwork

My concern over adding the booster fan in the basement is that the
ductwork for each side of the 3rd floor is shared with the same side of
the 2nd floor. So, a push solution would probably end up boosting flow
more to the 2nd floor (since the ducts feeding the 2nd floor rooms are
not only closer but also much larger).

Again, the root of the problem is of course a system design issue but
until we renovate, I am looking for an interim solution.

"Bob F" writes:
blueman wrote:
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9"
riser that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result,
there is much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would
sit just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping
up the walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but
that would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct.
I want something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

Google heat vent booster.

Thanks very helpful - I tried googling before but did not know what to
call it.

blueman wrote:

My concern over adding the booster fan in the basement is that the
ductwork for each side of the 3rd floor is shared with the same side of
the 2nd floor. So, a push solution would probably end up boosting flow
more to the 2nd floor (since the ducts feeding the 2nd floor rooms are
not only closer but also much larger).

Again, the root of the problem is of course a system design issue but
until we renovate, I am looking for an interim solution.

It sounds like your best option might be some sort of portable
electric heater for now.

"Colbyt" writes:

"blueman" wrote in message
...
We have relatively new high efficiency gas furnaces that feed into 100
year old ductwork.

In particular, our 2 third floor bedrooms are fed off the same 9" riser
that feed the 2nd floor bedrooms underneath it. As a result, there is
much less heat reaching the third floor than the 2nd floor.

Even adjusting the dampers at the takeoffs to the bedrooms has only
limited effect, since the airflow is just not powerful enough 3 floors
up.

So, I am wondering whether someone makes a booster blower that would sit
just below the 3rd floor vent grill and would not require ripping up the
walls, ceilings, or floors to install.

Note I know they make inline fans that it into the duct itself, but that
would seem to require breaking into the wall to access the duct. I want
something that would sit right underneath the vent grill.

I haven't seen you around for a while. Nice to know you are still here.
Thanks!

What size is the boot or grill area?
Register is 4x12"
I imagine some field engineering can be done.
Part of the reason I asked here was to get ideas on "field engineering".
Most of the solutions I saw on google involve replacing the register
with a unit that contains a pair of fans, a knob to control temperature,
and a DC input from a wall wart.

I was thinking that through "field engineering" I could get a better
solution using high quality PC fans, a DC wall wart and a temperature
probe plus a simple circuit to control fan speed and temperature
response) that would be:
1. Quieter (both by using better quality fans and by placing the fans
inside the vent and below the register)
2. Neater looking (everything would be hidden below the register)
3. Better temperature response (by locating probe deeper in the duct so
it would respond as soon as hot air starts flowing)

On the other hand, buying one would certainly be easier but I worry
mostly about the noise.

On Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:29:48 -0500, blueman wrote:

Poor returns are undoubtedly contributing since the only returns are in
the open first floor hall (which is open to the 2nd floor though the
stairway to the third floor is enclosed).

In the future when we renovate, we will need to add returns on the 2nd
and 3rd floor (particularly since we want to add AC) but in the short
term there is no easy way to fix that situation since there are no
obvious open chases, stacked closets etc. going up to the 3rd floor.

I have my original ducts in my 119 year old house. I have four floors and
the only returns were on the first floor. I was able to bring a small
return to the second floor. Of course this can't possible cool the top two
floors, but my roof is flat and I put a packaged unit up there that cools
those floors with a big return at the top of the stairs. A good idea, but
only if you have a flat roof.

Don www.donwiss.com (e-mail link at home page bottom).

"blueman" wrote in message
...
"Colbyt" writes:


On the other hand, buying one would certainly be easier but I worry
mostly about the noise.



My mind finally started working and I figured out the Google search term you
need to use: booster +fan +boot +mount


Lots of hits and the first page shown has several models to choose from.
Thought I would let you do your own reading.


--
Colbyt
Please come visit http://www.househomerepair.com