HawthorneVillager.com

Ok, im glad its not only me! I bought a Springvalley model resale several months ago and its true...the ground floor is FREEZING. I keep my heat pretty low to begin with (16-17 C) and everyone razzes me about turning the heat up. My dad was suggesting that maybe the door/window isnt insulated or something?

Also, the tiles are FREEZING as if they didnt put a subfloor down and just laid the tiles on top of the cement.

We have a Brentridge End and our downstairs is extremely cold. You could not spend any time down there in winter.

When we have complained to Mattamy they say thats just how they are... there is not basements, you are on the concrete, etc.

I've always been a little amazed though how few heating vents we have down there. Look in any other room and we have usually at least 4 vents. Our whole first floor only has two (one in the powder room, and one in the hall)

We did have an inspector in for our 1 year and she found many drafts coming in places on the first floor, but was also concerned that it should not be as cold as it is. So we will see what happens.


But as for having a model with a room down there... if its anything like ours, you wouldn't even be able to stand staying down there in the winter, let alone the cold being bad for your electronics

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During inspections of Village Homes we have noted many times that there was no return provided to the heating system from the lower level. In one case the return duct was installed but the builder forgot to cut the hole in the drywall and install the return grate. In the other cases the return and duct was missing altogether.

Don't confuse a grate on the wall with a return. It is there to provide air to the heating equipment for combustion. The return grate should be near the floor, outside of the room with your heating equipment. There should be a duct from this grate directed to your boiler/furnace. Without this return, cold air will just settle in this part of your home.

This would be a warranty repair.

Andy Shaw - 905 876 4761
http://www.haltoninspections.com

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

I have a village home corner with the den and don't have a problem. I've spent just about every night this winter down there watching tv and such (and usually falling asleep!) and the temperature is just fine. The den itself has two heat registers and a return air duct so maybe that has something to do with it

I have the exact same home with the same problem..

Hi check17

I prefer to use a piece of plastic that I carry, but a couple paper towels will work. Just make sure it's sized big enough to completely cover the return grate.

Your utility room should have 2 grates. One allows air into the room for your equipment to use for combustion. The other should be the return. The return should be as low to the floor as possible so that the coldest air in the home is returned to the furnace/boiler to be heated and sent back into the home.

With the heating system running, hold the paper towel to the return. It should be sucked onto the grate firmly. If there is weak pull on the towel then the return is obstructed, broken, or poorly designed. While you are at it, check all the other returns in the home. You may get a sense that some perform beter than others.

Please let me know the results of your test.

Andy Shaw - 905 876 4761
http://www.haltoninspections.com

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

Yes it has ducting to the furnace. When the heat is on the suction is quite powerful.

Hi mcarag,

Your utility room requires supply air for the equipment in the utility room to use for combustion. Furnaces, boilers, water heaters, etc., can not just be put in a tiny room without this supply air. The equipment would not perform properly. It's like trying to suck air out of a glass bottle, and that can't be done.

Every floor requires a return.

It could be that this hole, with a grate over it, is the supply air for the utility room but it could also be where the builder intended to have a return. Is there another supply air grate somewhere else ? Is there also a return in the den ?

I would not be the first time that I have discovered missing duct work.

Every owner, of any new home should call us for their one year warranty inspection. I have been specifically trained to identify issues that your builder is required to repair, improve, or provide. I have yet to do a home inspection where the value of the repairs detected were less than the cost of my service. While many new homes are OK, with just a few issues, many others are not.

I also inspect many newer resale homes for buyers. During these inspections, no warranty issues should be found. When they are, the buyer will likely request a discount on the price of the home or ask the seller to pay for repairs that the builder would have fixed for free.

Andy Shaw - 905 876 4761
http://www.haltoninspections.com

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

I think so....the den has the air return grate and 2 heat vents, then there's another heating vent in the foyer and I think a grate into the utility room (I'll have to check on that!). And there's another heat vent in the utility room. Funny enough my last house had a basement which I found to be much colder!

check17,

The one on the stairway is normally the supply air, not the return air.

The return air grate should be as close to the floor as possible as the coldest air in the home will be at the floor. Unless there is a return in this location, then cold air will just accumulate in this area and sit there.

When in the utility room, you should be able to see what is going on.

Call me if you need help.

Andy Shaw - 905 876 4761
http://www.haltoninspections.com

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

We bought a 2 year old resale Moonseed End, our ground floor is crazy freezing as well. I noticed that all the heating vents are in the ceiling, perhaps that has something to do with it, since warm air rises it never actually makes it down to the floor to warm the space.

I also wonder if tearing up the ceramic floors and putting in some sort of heated floor system would be worth it?

On the fence,

On this topic I posted a special rate for village towns under 1800 square feet for $259.

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Visit our "What You Get" page on our website at http://www.haltoninspections.com

Book early for Saturday Inspections. Your one year inspection forms need to be submitted in the last 30 days of your first year of possession.

Andy Shaw - 905 876 4761

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

Lets hope that the central vac line from the garage is not "open" and that it's taped and sealed in the garage with red vapor barrier Tuck Tape. If it is open, you have a very serious health hazard there.

But that's another subject.

Andy Shaw - 905 876 4761
http://www.haltoninspections.com

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For Home Inspection services call Andy Shaw at Halton Home Inspection Service. 905 876 4761

This concerns me greatly since we have purchased a Mainstreet Detached and our office will be on the ground floor....

the heated floor option would have been nice

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HVE