Cold air return vents aren't the most elegant feature in your home, but they exist for reason. These vents, commonly found in hallways or on ceilings, are absolutely essential to an air conditioner's well -being. Cold air returns take in warm air from your home's indoor spaces for use in your air conditioning system.
Can you block cold air return?
Restricting the airflow in the air handler or blower contributes to premature system problems, which can be serious. ... In the heating cycle, blocked cold air returns can cause the heat exchanger inside the blower compartment to store too much heat and eventually crack.
Does a furnace have to have a cold air return?
In order for your furnace to run efficiently and your home to heat evenly, this airflow must be in balance. In other words, the amount of air that your furnace “breathes in” must equal the amount of air it “breathes out.” Cold air returns are what allow your furnace to “inhale” your home's air .
What happens if a room doesn't have a cold air return?
Some of that air will find its way under the door and through interior leaks back to the central return vent . The rest of it, though, will push through openings and leak to the outdoors and into interstitial spaces. It leaks out.
What happens if there is not enough return air?
If there is not enough return air available, your HVAC system will not heat or cool properly . ... If not enough air is brought back, your HVAC system will not be able to keep up with temperature demands. In some cases, two returns may be necessary to provide enough return air.
What is the point of a cold air return?
The return registers draw stale air into the ductwork, where it's pulled through the filter to capture dust and debris and then delivered back to the HVAC equipment for reconditioning .
Does every room need a return?
Having several return vents ( ideally one in every room , but even two or three is better than just one) creates consistent air pressure. If you have one return vent, your home is fine. Keep the doors to each room open so air can properly circulate.
Does every room need a return duct?
Does Every Room Need Air Return Grilles? While it is a myth that air return grilles are required in each and every room in the house, it is definitely necessary to have more than one of these grilles installed at strategic places in the house . The most important place to have these would be the bedroom.
Why are cold air returns near the ceiling?
In an air conditioning climate the return duct goes near the ceiling to draw off the hot air and cool it down. In a heating climate, the return duct goes near the floor to draw off the cold air and heat it up.
How many cold air returns should a house have?
Generally speaking, you should only need one return air vent per room in your home . However, you may need additional air vents for larger sized rooms.
How much does it cost to install an air return?
Generally, a return air plenum will cost approximately $50 to $60 per unit . The other costs to consider are those for the labor and materials needed to install the return air plenum. The installation takes an average of about five hours with the sum of labor costs between $290 and $370.
How big of a return air do I need?
In order to determine the size of the tonnage you have, simply divide 980 by 400 CFM per ton . Doing this for this space will yield a tonnage of 2.45. Always round up and we have a tonnage value of 2.5. A return air grill should be sized for an air speed of 300-500 FPM(feet per minute).
Where do you put cold air returns?
Where are cold air returns located? Cold air returns are located on interior walls in a home , typically close to the floor or low on the wall. You want to make sure that cold air return vents are not blocked or covered by furniture so that your home can get proper air circulation.
How many cold air returns do I need in a basement?
The number of these supply and return registers is determined by the typical use and desired temperature of this area. I recommend that all basements should have at least 2 supply registers and 1 return register in the basement/equipment area just to keep that area slightly warm or cool and the air fresh.
Can you put a cold air return in the basement?
Drawing the cold, damp, stale air, from the basement floor and sending it through the furnace and back to the whole house will improve the environment in the basement. ... Then cut a six-inch hole in the cold air return connecting to the furnace.
Do you need Return air on every floor?
“An HVAC return air duct should be in every room except a bathroom and kitchen . They should be on interior walls across the room from the supply ducts that should be washing exterior walls with conditioned air
