basement air conditioning

[CasaDelSol]

We just noticed that the basement seems air conditioned. Apparently the grating at the bottom of the stairs allows the cool air to enter the basement. We were wondering if this is normal?

[jimcol]

Many of us block that vent during the summer. No advantage to cooling the storage area. Jim

[WaltBennett]

There is an advantage to cooling under the steps though - that's where the converter is. Won't work very well if it overheats.

[WeBeFulltime]

quote:Originally posted by WaltBennett

There is an advantage to cooling under the steps though - that's where the converter is. Won't work very well if it overheats.

My converter is not under the steps. It is enclosed in the main power panel.

[jcurtis934]

but the power panel area is exposed to the area under the floor as is the furnace and the water heater. There is probably enough airflow under there that the converter could live very happily without the added air conditioning. John

[DQDick]

Because we spend our time in Kansas and Arizona we haven't done that. We store some things like candles etc in the basement we don't want to melt. The folks that have blocked that area off or at least restricted it with furnace filters have done it for years with no apparent problems.

[CasaDelSol]

thanks all!!!

[jimcol]

With all due respect I have blocked mine for 9 summers and have never had the converter overheat. The converter has it's own fan and if you keep air moving over it It probably won't overheat. To me the advantage is keeping the cool in the living area but to each their own. Jim

quote:Originally posted by WaltBennett

There is an advantage to cooling under the steps though - that's where the converter is. Won't work very well if it overheats.

[dieselguy]

If you were to take off the rear wall from the storage area, you'd see a 2" gap between the wall and the main floor that allows air to fall into the belly pan ... if you look up there is a 2" gap between each floor joist that allows air to flow right into the storage compartment. Most all Montana's that I've looked at are built this way ... especially the dropped frame ones. Depending on your floor plan (mine being a 3150RL) blocking off the vent under the stairs does little as there is a louver under the fridge that allows massive amounts of air in the same space as the under the steps vent. There is also a gap between the steps and the wall next to them. If you do a search about 3 years back, I posted a way to insulate the storage compartment rear wall above and below to mostly eliminate cooling a space that for some of us needs no cooling. It made a significant difference in cooling my rig on extremely hot days.