Basement Heating

Long story for a simple question. Live in the mountains of North Carolina in a 6 year old house sitting on a basement. Basement has been finished into a large living room that has 3 windows and door to outside. It also has a furnance room, bath, and kids play room. I have a wood stove in the living room.

Part of the reason for finishing the basement out was cheap winter heating (the wood stove easily heats the basement and I have plenty of wood) and for the coolness that it will provide in the summer without having to run the AC.

Here is the problem/question: I am finding out that it doesn't heat up enough from the sun on these "tweener" days. The air just doesn't circulate from the outside to the inside enough to heat the basement up, even with the basement windows open. The upstairs will be low to mid 70's from just the sun heating up the house. However the basement will be low 60's still and you feel like you need a fire.

I know that I can install, and probably will install, a little in-wall gas stove because I will need that in winter to warm up the basement as the fire gets going. And I know that I can use that on these "tweener" days to warm it up.

My question is what other options do I have? If I can get more airflow (right now the door at the top of the basement stairs is being kept closed) will that let the basement warm up more. Any potential solar solutions out there? Thanks.

Will

 

Open the windows and let the sun shine in. You're welcome.

 

That's what I thought, but I'm just not getting any air flow to warm up the basement. And that is with 3 windows and the door wide open. I'm thinking I'm just going to have to leave the door at the top of the basement stairs open.

 

box fans?

 

Won't help, heat rises

 

I would suggest a wood stove. Oh yeah, plenty of wood too,

 

Suggestion

Gas Water Heaters are the way to go

 

The way for you to go is to HELL, straight down.

 

get one or two of these electric heaters. like 40 bucks and are oil filled. if it is low 60 it can heat the room in a half hour.

 

Pull a transfer duct. Install a six duct from the attic to the basement. Tie into basement duct work. you can use an old old furnace fan. Cheap and strong. You will need a thermostat