heating problem

I have a split-level home. When I set the heat the upstairs where the bedrooms are so hot it is hard to sleep. However, the lower level where the kitchen , living room, dining room, and family room are freezing. I have closed the vents in the bedrooms and opened all the vents downstairs thinking this would force the heat downstairs. But this has not made a difference. In the family room there is an air intake register on the wall on the other side of the wall is where the furnace is. I have an entertainment center in front of the wall vent. Can this be causing a problem? I have the entertainment center pulled about 5" from the register. Any suggestions?

Just a fact of life that heat rises. Have you tried closing the bedroom doors? You might also try a reversible ceiling fan. Push the air down in the winter, and up in the summer. Sometimes the simple solutions work the best.

Debby those are very good suggestions, so many times one forgets to do the most simple things to resolve a problem.

But it seems like catscradle is having a Flow problem, the upstairs vents are closed, yet the heat is not being flowed to the first floor.

BTW, welcome Catscradle !

Is there a Damper in the line somewhere ?
Could it have been close to the first floor at some point.

I'm just guessing here, but with the registers closed to the second floor, you should be getting a LOT of air out of the ducts. Those things are usually in the Attic.

Check the Filters too, they may not be letting very much air through them.

Have a good Day !
S.W.