Floor registers for Radiant Heat

I've finished my summer project of installing a coal stove and am now onto the floor registers. The house is a small (1200 sq) single level with a full basement, where the stove is located. My plan is simple but I want to know before I go cutting registers my hardwood floors. Question is placement of cold air returns. I plan on putting the hot air registers basically straight down the middle of house, I think two should be sufficient, and have the basement door open. Then plan cold air returns along the outside walls and cold corners of the house. Is this solid thinking or do I need them placed in the walls instead. Also two bedrooms are directly above the stove, I don't think ill need a hot air register in these rooms but what about cold air return. Anyone just place a stove in the basement with no registers and call it a day, with good results.
Thanks for your insight.

Bruce, hopefully fastcat will chime in here--he's got his stove in the basement & can explain what he's done better then me--I do know that he is a firm beleiver in economic & efficient

Bruce M wrote:Anyone just place a stove in the basement with no registers and call it a day

Yes.

Bruce M wrote:...with good results

No.

That's what I figured rob but just needed to hear it I guess. I'm not really concerned about cutting the floor at all, I'm really more concerned in placement of returns and their effectiveness, as in being put in the floors as apposed to walls, I really do not want to start tearing up sheetrock to get registers in. Is the some sort of guideline in cold air placement, I am sure that qulifies as the stupid question of the day. I was just going to basically put the returns furthest from the stove where the cold air would most likely be.

A friend of mine did what you suggested and was happy with the results...he left the basement door open in the center of the house and cut in some smaller registers by the outside wall for cold air returns.

The rooms above the stove should have toasty warm floors and very comfortable. You could always add a register to those rooms later if needed, but I doubt you will.

I always thought it was cold air returns toward the center & warm air towards the outside walls, been a long time that may the older way.

Yeah I was going to take a wait and see approach to the bedrooms above, hopefully not necessary. As far as the outside or inside wall I was only going by the one line diagram that DS stoves sent with their product, They say return air outside. But that's kind of a moot point, in my mind anyway, I am using the same registers for cold air as I am for hot air, ones with close-able louvers so I have maybe some sort of control of air flow. It should be very apparent by now that I have not a clue in this field.

I know there are a couple of HVAC guys here as well as Jpete that is going to school, once they see this someone should be able to steer you right. Maybe if you give some insight of what you have in the house now it would help.

Insight as so much as registers? nothing. I just installed a free standing DS stove down the basement, this is not a forced air furnace. It's just a radiant heat basement stove, so when I talk of floor registers I am really only talking of a hole in the floor with no duct work connected to it, just lovers in which I can open and close. I hope that clarifies.

Yep, gottcha

Check your codes and question insurance provider before cutting. One of my rentals fail code inspection due to floor registers, reason was in case of fire in lower level. Fire would travel in a faster rate to above rooms. I had to remove vents and replace floor boards and ceiling to create a firewall. Then install electric baseboard in 2nd floor

the air will flow up the steps well as long as the cold air can get down, when you cut your returns put a flange on and run a pipe atleast 18" below the ceiling of the basement. if you just cut a hole the hot and cold air will clash and not much will happen.




Eric

This might open some eyes Floor Registers

How are you getting the heat upstairs, through the stairway? That is how I am heating 2400 sq ft and I found the coldest rooms and put in 4X12 registers, one in the farthest bedroom and one right near the sliding glass door in the rear of the house. That made all the differance in the world now the complete upstairs is the same temp all winter. Now remember every house is differant and you may need more than 2 but maybe not. Just don't go cutting holes all over, mine are against the outside walls and seem to work well without any duct work attached. If I were you I would wait till the cold weather gets here and you are burning to see how your house is working and make adjustments at that time to what the house wants. Keep us informed.

Coalfire wrote:the air will flow up the steps well as long as the cold air can get down, when you cut your returns put a flange on and run a pipe atleast 18" below the ceiling of the basement. if you just cut a hole the hot and cold air will clash and not much will happen.




Eric

I've read about putting a drop on the returns and will do that I will also. I will check with the local fire codes also
Thanks for all the great input, I have some things to coincider.