DIY Network

we have a finished attic that provides 2 bedrooms in our upstairs. This is great and gives my son a huge area for all of his stuff, but there is only one heat vent in the hallway between the two rooms. How do I add another vent? Is this possible without hiring someone to rip apart my walls and floors? Should I just buy a safe space heater for the winter?

Hi chriscan2,

More information is needed but really, others here may not be able to offer much help because of the many variables involved. You don't say how large your home is, i.e. 1 storey with finished attic, 2 storey with finished attic, etc. The more floors between the furnace and the area where heat is needed the more problems to consider. In addition, you want each room to get heat but there also must be a method of returning the cold air to the furnace so installing a air return nearby for proper circulation needs to be considered, so you will likely need 3 ducts. The one vent between the rooms may be able to be converted to the cold air return, so consider adding a new heat duct to each room.

As to ripping apart walls, that may not be needed. It may be easier to choose 2 locations to run these ducts close to existing interior walls and then box them in with drywall. This though needs to be done with careful consideration as to the size of the furnace the amount air flow needed to heat these areas, other walls in your home, and whether the furnace has the capacity and fan capability to meet these needs. This needs to determined by a pro. Get several quotes and be sure to understand what they plan to do in each so you can compare them properly to make a decision. Once you have one quote and understand his method of doing the job i.e. you may get other quotes based on his ideas for comparison as well as the pros and cons of his method, etc. You will need to make some holes in walls and ceilings to do this. Doing it properly though will have greater benefits if you also have A/C.

As to other methods of heating, electrical baseboard heaters could be added but then you must run new circuits to your main panel and each room would need its own heater, so 2 lines will need to be run and added to your main panel. Do you have space for this? It may be the easiest and cheapest to install but possibly the mostly costly energy wise. Putting in a gas space heater means running a gas line and a proper vent system. This is best left to the pros so get a quote for this.

This may not answer your questions but should give you some ideas to consider.

Others may have additional ideas.

Good Luck!

Thanks Simply Me,
You have been very helpful and I will make sure I get well informed before I do anything. Thanks for the info!!