ductwork suggestions

[jdulberg]

I am putting in a bathroom in the basement that is directly under the bathroom upstairs. There is existing ductwork going to the upstairs bathroom. Cutting into the main ductwork and running new ductwork to the downstairs bathroom would be a major undertaking so I was wondering if I could just take a lead off the existing ductwork going to bathroom above? I know this will reduce flow to the upstairs by at least 50%. The pressure is currently very high so a reduction wouldn't cause too much of an issue. My problem is figuring out how to take a lead off the existing duct to the new one? Space is very limited. Are there any "out of the box" solutions for this or do I have to create something custom? I've attached an example of what I've come up with so far but I think its a bit tight.

Any suggestions would be great! :)

Thanks.

Jason

[Wgoodrich]

Changing the duct outlet in our predesigned system may very well reduce the heat balance of your home.

Bathrooms are normally small areas. Also remember a flow of air no matter how warm the air will feel cold to a wet body.

I suggest you install a small baseboard heater in that bathroom without a fan. This will give you a better comfort level. Often times if the bathroom is in a basement and the basement is normally heated and that bathroom is small you can change your exhaust fan to an infrared heat bulb or double heat bulb exhaust fan and create the warm feeling in that room with just those heat bulbs.

Hope this give you some better ideas

Wg

[jdulberg]

A heat lamp... now that's a good idea! Would certainly save messing around with the ductwork. The bathroom is very small... only about 6x6.

Thanks.

Jason

[Wgoodrich]

Good Luck, also you might like the added advantage to see from the infrared being able to see imperfections in a person's skin with that heat light if it is the type bulb that is white not red.

Wg

[mdshunk]

Your basement bathroom likely does not have a window, so you'll want to install an exhaust fan. Why not use one of those Fan/Light/Heat combos? They're 1500W usually. Plenty nuff for many bathrooms. Might be just what the doctor ordered for your cramped space.

[jdulberg]

The crappy thing is that I already installed a plain 'ole exhaust fan. It was only $27 so I guess I could just take it out and replace it with the heat lamp kind. It would certainly make things easier than messing with ductwork!

Jason

[Wgoodrich]

If that resistant heat in your exhaust fan is radiant not fan driven you would be fine. However as I stated before a wet body even with warm air blown on it will feel cold. That is why I usually suggest the double heat bulb exhaust fan to heat the room. Warm feeling.

Just my thoughts

Wg