Cold from Cellar?

camelot1001

I wonder if you good people could help?

I live in a late victorian semi with central heating. The downstairs struggles to get warm when the weather is really cold, could this be to do with having a cellar that runs the full length of the house? Thought perhaps it could be trapping cold air under the floorboards.

If this is the case, how do I go about insulating it, will insulation trap moisture and cause condensation? Any suggestions would be welcomed.

maninthestreet

is the ceiling of the cellar plasterboard, or just the exposed floorboards of the ground floor?

camelot1001

Floorboards of the ground floor.

Plasterer

Insulate from underneath use cellotex not rock wool as the u values are far superior - if you are not over boarding with plasterboard simply tape over between cellotex and joists with silver tape to seal it, it will make a huge difference to stop any drafts

macman

Unlikely, since cold air falls rather than rises. Any draughts from the cellar should be obvious and simple enough to seal up. You'd be better off reducing the heat loss from the windows and loft (assuming that CWI is not possible in a Victorian house).

maninthestreet

Still worthwhile insulating the ceiling of the cellar. If it's unheated, it will be much cooler then the rest of the house that is heated.

Plasterer

I agree cold air falls however by sealing the floor from underneath you will make the room a complete sealed unit therefore keeping Heat in for example if you inflate a hot air balloon and then stop introducing heat it will deflate however if you tie a knot in it it will stay inflated

camelot1001

Thank you all very much for your suggestions, loft is insulated, can't have CWI.

I will get some insulation, every little helps as they say.

Thanks again