This old house.... and ventilation help?

[Bluestar]

I'm in need of some guidance as to remedy my situation...

Winter's coming, and I'm still running an a/c to cool my drobe. During the summer, temps were solid around 73 when a/c was running at 68. Now that it's getting colder, it looks kinda weird that the unit kicks on throughout the day (it's been in the 40's for the past few days). I'm on the second floor, with a full attic above me, but this house is from civil war era (plaster/lathe walls, hardwood floors in attic, radiators for heat). I've been looking through the posts, and have seen one option of venting into the attic, but I think it's gonna be hard to do (going through the plaster/lathe, making the vent in the attic virtually invisible, etc.) can anybody help me out?

Oh yeah, I'm using a 400w lumatek with the batwing reflector and a 4"vortex venting out the top of the cabinet and blowing through a carbon filter (reduce noise a little).

I've thought that maybe upgrading to a 6" vortex and the Lumecool reflector and turning the radiator off in the room would help. Just strapped for cash and can't splurge if it's not gonna fix the problem.

 

[fishheadbob]

Turning the heat off in the room is a good start. See what happens with that simple step before going on to more expensive remedies. You'll save a few bucks on the heat bill too.

 

[JohnnyHolland]

Civil war era?

Dude if your banging around or climbing in roofspace be ULTRA carefull of blue asbestos. This stuff is like inhaling micronized acid/cancer for your lungs, any place it lands when you inhale your lungs develop scar tissue, it can also cause a nasty nasty form of cancer.

It was used almost everywhere in the past as insulation in a sprayable form, (sorry if you already know this ).

 

[Philosophelon]

Why don't you vent the extra heat/humidity into your living space -- if it's 40 outside, you need heat (and the extra RH is nice too) anyway, so recycle it.

 

[Lazyman]

You can use an upside down duct that normally attaches to floor registers, so you make a neat rectangular hole in the ceiling, and takes a 6" duct. When you're done with it, remove the duct, put in a standard floor register and screw it to the ceiling, if painted to match most folks won't notice it.

 

[SpasticGramps]

Good ideas. I hear lots of people using the lights to heat their house during the winter. On a side note. I fucking hate old houses. Spent too many years remodeling, moving, and remodeling OLD houses. You can never make them like new. I'm not too much for "old character" in my home either. *I'm jaded* (Just for living in them, you can grow in almost anything). Not hating....

 

[noone4u]

hole saw

 

[Philosophelon]

You can also make a round hole in the ceiling, and install one of the round louvred ceiling registers with the damper handle in the middle. Just don't do it in a closet .

 

[Bluestar]

I appreciate the warning about the asbestos, was very careful when doing an initial walkthrough. I currently have it setup in my bedroom, and it is currently drawing and venting into the room (the a/c keeps the temp of room in check).

Spastic- yeah man, I hear you about old houses. The more time I spend here, the more I hate it.

I was thinking of using some kind of vent, but that means cutting through the plaster and the wood floor (original flooring as far as I've been told- looks like 1 1/4 thick) as well as all the insulation to install it. I like the idea, just not sure how to explain it when time comes to move out? I guess what I'm trying to ask is this: Is there a justifiable reason for installing a ceiling register in this type of house?

Thanks for all the help guys, I really appreciate it

 

[ItsAllOver]

If it's a rental, you are not going to be able to add a register, I wouldn't think.

Now if there is a fixture of any kind in the ceiling, you can remove it and will be presented with a hole of about 4" which you can enlarge if necessary to vent through. The fixture may cover an enlarged hole when replaced for moving out.