How to Vent Heat From Basements

Venting Directly From Basement

• 1

  Open the basement window as far as you can. According to code, the window's open area must be at least 1 percent of an uninhabited basement's area and 4 percent for habitable basements.

• 2

  Place a window fan in front of the basement window with the airflow directed out the window.

• 3

  Switch on the fan and let it pull the hot air from the basement out the window. Run the fan until the excess heat has been removed.

• 4

  Turn the fan 180 degrees so the airflow pulls outside air in from the outside and into the basement for fresh airflow.

Passing Heat Through House

• 5

  Open a window on the highest floor in your home.

• 6

  Close all windows between the basement and the open window.

• 7

  Open only the doors between the basement and the room with the open window. Close other doors in the house.

• 8

  Place a fan in the open window to blow outside the house and turn it on. Heat rising from the basement will pass through the house to the window on the upper floor and exit the house. This can redistribute heat from a basement that was overheated from running a dryer or other appliance. Use this method to warm a house on a slightly chilly day without having to turn on a central heating system.