In homes with a single central return-air grille, return air often struggles to find its way back to the furnace.The result: room-to-room pressure imbalances that lead to uneven room temperatures, comfort complaints, higher energy costs, and even moisture problems in walls and ceilings. Don’t let them get caked with dust. Next, place it up against return vent and see if the air suction holds it in place. Return Air Problems | The red arrow points to a large wall-mounted HVAC return-air vent. If your house does not have this return air ducting on the second floor, it frequently can be added. Helpful. The grate collects dust like a fleece jacket in a sawmill, so stay on top of it! Be sure these are fully open on the pipes leading to the second floor rooms. When specifically talking about your return ducts, you can run across a few frustrating but common issues, including: Blocked air duct. This is because these vents are for air intake, an essential part of your AC system. It’s important to remember that hot air rises and cold air falls. I opened it and took the filter off and its not pulling any air in. Don’t block the return air vents. You should be able to see it being gently pulled towards the vent. The other vent upstairs is down the hallway, about 30-40 feet. more restrictive) air filters, the noise from the air being pulled in increased dramatically to the point of being annoying. Adjust Return Registers for Winter. This pulls the air across your body. The lint and dust were jammed into the allotted space and came rolling out in packed balls when the filter was removed. If I rotated the lever so that it was straight up and down, the disk would block 90 percent of the air flow in the duct. When I suggested they check out the furnace filter, they weren't even sure where it was. When the downdraft vent fan isn’t pulling much air, clogged grease filters, air duct problems, a fan motor failure or a broken blower wheel could be causing poor air suction. It does not seem to be pulling any air at the return vent. A duct-blaster test can be used to detect duct leakage and to confirm proper air flow at each duct supply outlet. The metal grease filters have been replaced (in fact with the grease filters removed it still doesnt pull good air). Not only will that air be cooled again, but it will also be cleaned by your air filter or air cleaner. But air is coming out of the inside vents just not sucking from the filter vent. Because hot air rises, it needs to be "vacuumed" off the ceilings in the second floor of your house. On its way to the return duct, the conditioned air cools you and the rest of the objects in the room. I noticed no “suction” at return vent in hall at main level. Here is a picture of stuff blowing out of intake vent. The furnace will not receive sufficient air to circulate. Place your cold air return vents on the inside walls of buildings at the lowest point. When the downdraft vent fan isn’t pulling much air, clogged grease filters, air duct problems, a fan motor failure or a broken blower wheel could be causing poor air suction. Not sure if you’re looking at a return or supply vent? They enable the contractor to balance or adjust the amount of air going to each room. The heavier cold air which is flowing from the supply duct is pulled across the room and up towards the return duct. The return air duct in our house has a thin pad of insulation spot-glued to the inside walls. The cool air enters each room through supply ducts. Our Lennox system is doing the same thing now for several months. If the tissue is held firmly in place, your return ductwork has adequate sealing. If you do not have a hot air return vent at the ceiling level, then do not cover your cold air return vent. The standard central system in Okla is strictly a closed loop. This process removes dust and debris from your home. By opening the lower registers and closing the top ones you keep hot air in and draw the cold air out. Unlike supply vents, return vents do not need to be cased in metal. kookykook 11 hours ago . Lay your air vent on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. It gets very hot upstairs in the late afternoon. Except you can't pick your house up, turn it upside down, and shake out the yuck. F. R. DEAR F.R. There are 2 cold air return vents upstairs and 1 in the basement. Sign up to my newsletter to receive expert advice for your home! If your house does not have this return air ducting on the second floor, it frequently can be added. When a furnace comes on, heated air is pushed through supply ducts to registers in each … ft. house. You don’t want to block off or close them because they’re pulling in air, and they can’t do that if they’re blocked. All registers, grilles, and returns are vents. At the floor level, this stud cavity is then connected to a traditional metal duct that is connected back to the return air ducting system. This is one reason why your first floor is so much cooler than the second floor. Some mobile homes have a duct under neath the homerunning to the return air but they usuall have a grille mounted in the floor not a closet. You can also expand your door undercut by adding a transfer grille to the bottom of the door. COMMON ISSUES WITH RETURN DUCTS: CLOGS AND LEAKS. As that air exits the house, it must be replaced with more air in the rest of the house since the return duct is still pulling in air. The evap coil in the furnace room may be dirty, if not, another possible reason could be that somehow the return air is open somewhere between the filter and the … They are typically larger in size. Without this second floor return air system, the heavy cool air being discharged from the supply ducts in each room can't do its job. The air conditioner seems to work fine, however the second floor rooms are warmer than the first floor rooms. Here are 5 reasons why this happens. Once this hot air has a pathway into the central hallway, an experienced heating and air conditioning contractor can convert one or two stud wall cavities into the initial return air duct. The supply air needs a return path to the systems return air,or the supply will be reduced in that room. Multiple Vents Keep the Balance. If the outside unit is running but no air is blowing inside, check that the returns aren't blocked, check that the filter is clean, and if that's not it, it's probably the fan or the blower motor (in my case, about a $500 repair) or the control board. If the supply ducts are high or in the ceiling, then the return-air ducts or grills should be low on a wall. 2. Return vents are connected to your return ducts, which pull air out of your indoor spaces to deliver to your heating and cooling system. The challenge is to install adequately sized ductwork from the second floor hallway to the basement or furnace room. The air returns are not metal ducts, they are just open cavities in the studs. Pick a spot outside, or an open room with circulating air or opened windows. The hot air from the second floor rooms can be collected in the hallway and sent back to the air conditioner. A return air vent is the part of your HVAC system that allows that warm air to flow back to your air conditioner. Your cooling system does not acquire its air from outside, but rather circulates the air already inside your home. When specifically talking about your return ducts, you can run across a few frustrating but common issues, including: So how can you tell if your system is blocked, or if it’s possible leaking? On 2020-08-31 by Randy Salisbury The upstairs return is a single vent, 12 x 5, in a closet at the top of the stairs, with the closet having louvered doors to the landing. Normally when my ac is running you can hear the air being sucked in at the vent. In an ideal HVAC design, your home would have an air return in every bedroom. Dirty or Blocked Ducts. This return air opening pulls hot air from the top of the room. a/c not pulling air through t he filter i guess the filter has no dust at all and the dust is in the house refrigerated ac. Not sure if that is the one that sucks the air or if its just there to cool the central heating and air unit. It's not brand new, but new to me. Just hold a tissue or piece of toilet paper near the inlet grille face. When I installed “better” (I.e. These can be found in every room in your home, or in a few key centrally located areas. 3. ... Is 160sq.in.of return vent adequate in a heat pump unit with a 20x20 air return filter. If you don’t, dust and debris will block the air flow. An HVAC system is basically a recirculating pump that works by heating or cooling air and then pumping it into a home. Dirty air filter - The air filter in your return vent keeps dirt out of your HVAC system, but if the filter becomes dirty, it restricts how much air can get back into your system to be reused. Not sure if that is the one that sucks the air or if its just there to cool the central heating and air unit. As air circulates in your home, it collects dust and debris. If the supply ducts are in the floor, then the return air should be located up high. Honestly, it’s very hard to diagnose without the training and efforts of a professional. The distance from the upstairs "intake" vent to the HVAC unit is 18 feet. Fresh air intakes are a key component the HVAC system utilizes to maintain a safe and comfortable indoor environment in your home. A simple test for air movement at the return air inlet is illustrated in our sketch. Well, which duct aspect we’re talking about has an important influence on potential problems and solutions! The lever you see on the side of the round metal duct is a damper control. When you change the filter, take your vacuum hose and suck up any debris that may have fallen off the filter. If you’re like most homeowners, you probably think a lot more about the efficiency of your HVAC units and not the performance of your air supply and return systems. Put your fingers on the vent and determine whether you can rattle or move it. Reply. What Is a Gas Shutoff in a Furnace and Why Does it Matter. What If Your House Does Not Have Return Air Ducts? Remember the hot air rises and the cool air stays low. We are going to discuss what a fresh air intake is and how a properly installed fresh air intake can increase your unit’s efficiency, performance, and prolong the life of your furnace. Author: Blake ShurtzMuch like the recommendation to install dampers, I almost always emphasize adding a second return when replacing ductwork. The return vent pulls cold air from the bottom of the room and returns it to the furnace to be reheated and returned as warm air. It eventually cascades down the stairwell to the first floor. I noticed no “suction” at return vent in hall at main level. These ducts typically start with vent grates in the wall, on the ceiling, or in the floor. You don’t want to block off or close them because they’re pulling in air, and they can’t do that if they’re blocked. It then connects to another T section with the cold feed coming from teh expansion tank entering the top of the pipe in 15mm, and the 22mm pipe continuing for a … Having one central air return dirties up your house in much the same way. The white vent just covers a hole in the wall which is lined with studs, but does not connect to the return system like the rest do...hence, no air movement unlike the others in my return vents in my home. ©2021 Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Design & Marketing by LeadsNearby. First, check the condition of the grease filters and wash or replace them if dirty. One other caution is to have the cold air return opening half as large as the sum of all the hot air outlets in the basement. It opens an air pathway from the room, allowing more air to reach the central return. It is connected to a round metal disk inside the duct pipe. These move conditioned air from your system, throughout the home to control temperatures in the desired way. Where do we start? Apparently the previous renters didn't know either! There might be a quarter inch gap between the duct and the joist, not enough to let much air out. "The location of the return grille does not affect room air patterns which are controlled by the supply outlets and will not have a significant affect on pockets of stagnate air. Return air vents pull in the air so your AC system can pump out conditioned air. Return air vents serve this purpose by helping to pull in the air … You can find the return ducts around your home by looking for those square or rectangular vent grates, usually located along walls. Clean them regularly. For the cavity to serve as a supply- or return-air pathway, it must contain a sealed, insulated duct made of approved duct materials. The system can work as you show, but as I said, at higher cost. In the winter you want the cold air to be drawn through the return registers leaving the hot air behind. They are the vents, usually located on your home’s walls, that do not have a control mechanism to open or shut their airflow. The furnace or air handler (AHU in the drawing below) pulls air through the return ducts, conditions that air, and then sends it through the supply ducts back into the house. Heating and Cooling Air Returns That was for a 1.5 ton system and the static was 0.33 inches of water column (IWC). The return air vent is located near the thermostat so that the air drawing into the heat pump system closely matches the temperature displayed on the thermostat. These holes allow the hot air from each bedroom to easily enter the hallway. Closer look at HVAC unit in lower level utility room I find return duct is open at top, only source for return air in 2 level 2800 sq. A typical bath fan is rated to move 50 cubic feet per minute of air when it's operating, but most actually move about half of their rated air flow. Install a transfer grille. :mrgreen: We don’t use outside air in the return the A/C units are not sized for the extra temp load introduced into the system as non-conditioned air. Do not allow furniture to cover or block these air outlets. If only one is pulling air that means you probably have too little air flow through the air handler, reducing performance and efficiency. If the supply ducts are in the floor, then the return air should be located up high. I'll let Edna tell it in her own words. Change your air filters regularly. Well, I should say it's only a potential problem because a good installer will be working from an actual HVAC design, which should specify exactly how air gets back to the air … The other returns in my home are pulling so much air that a few of them "humm" and keep the rooms very comfortable. The return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room. The hot air from the second floor rooms can be collected in the hallway and sent back to the air conditioner. Home and building owners don’t need to know the difference between air registers and grilles. Return vents don’t have adjustable louvers like supply vents often do. All returns need airflow through them, no air in means no air out. When replacement air doesn't come in, a building becomes desperate for air. ... 2 of the returns blows cold air out of the return vents but not out of the supply registers. When the air turns on the fan sucks air into the return air vent, thus pulling the warm air from the ceiling and cooling it down, which keeps the house cool. Closer look at HVAC unit in lower level utility room I find return duct is open at top, only source for return air in 2 level 2800 sq. Not sure if you’re looking at a return or supply vent? It seems cold air is now blowing out of the intake vent and hot air is blowing out of the vents. Rectangular holes can be cut into the wall space just above each bedroom door. I opened it and took the filter off and its not pulling any air in. What, if anything, can be done to correct the problem? Return ducts should be located in each room very near the ceiling on an interior wall. You can generally identify a blocked air duct by a distinct drop in heating and cooling efficiency, increased energy costs and occasionally a musty, dusty smell throughout the home. Pull off the metal grate and wash it every so often. Many people raised with electric heaters and fireplaces are often unaware there are filters on their forced air furnaces. Return air vents are a critical component of your AC system. Return ducts essentially passively ‘collect’ the air in your home, pulling it into the system to be filtered, dehumidified and conditioned to reach the desired temperatures. In my home the air filters are located just inside of the two large return air registers. What is an AC return air vent? They’re sometimes located in the ceiling but, typically, are near the floor. one of them will some time flutter when it starts up, but does not … If neither of these things happen look for another exit path for the air. The challenge is to install adequately sized ductwork from the second floor hallway to the basement or furnace room. If air is moving into the grille the tissue will be pulled against the opening. Thethermostat is directing the performance of the heat pump. They’re sometimes located in the ceiling but, typically, are near the floor. Returns. Do you need air conditioning or furnace maintenance in the St. Charles area? It's about 11 years old. No, The return air vent is a very important component to your heat pump system and cannot be obstructed. At Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts feel that an informed consumer overall makes better choices when it comes to knowing when to call in for maintenance and repair. The air has to be pulled up through in order to exchange it. To get a good idea of what’s wrong with your duct system, it takes time and effort to really get in there and see what has gone wrong! It's not a code or regulation but you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. Check the ductwork piping in the basement or furnace room for damper controls on the individual supply pipes that go to each room. They can be placed into staircase cavities, stacked closets that run one … Our air is still working but the return is not pulling hardly any air. Supply vents blow conditioned air from the HVAC into the rooms, and return air vents pull the air out of the rooms and back into the cooling system. If the tissue slides or falls off, there’s probably a hole or blockage somewhere. The vent pipe continuing vertically to the the loft, the return taking the T to the horizontal. If air blows out, this is a supply vent. As conditioned air is pushed in, the air already in the home needs a place to escape. This causes air to be pulled in through the chimney, bathroom vents, and water heater and furnace flues. Sketch at left courtesy Carson Dunlop Associates. The hosts were living in the kitchen and family room because the bedrooms at the far end from the furnace were too cold and the living room half way to the bedrooms was not warm enough to sit around in. In some instances, the ducts may be located in the ceiling. During a major energy upgrade that we recently completed, we had two return ducts- a 14" in the main house and a 12" return duct in the master bedroom. The house is not cooling down. Call another company. It starts pulling air from any nook or opening in a building. Rectangular holes can be cut into … When you changed the filter (you DID change the filter, right?) there is nothing blocking the vent,and nothing I can see that would stop it from pulling air in. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter. : So, it happens all the time ... Maybe on his jobs it does, but not on mine. both my up stairs direct vent furnace will not run unless I pull intake hose off the connection going out side to draw air in. That duct needs to … Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com. They need to be told OFTEN to check filters and where they are in the heating system. By putting the cold air return on the floor, it will vacuum up the cold air on the floor, and draw down the warm air from the ceiling. We Respond Quickly & Fix it Right The 1st Time! Each side of the hole can be covered with a standard return air grill. Jerry Kelly is here for you during this crisis. Tighten all the vent screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver. It’s easy to think of the ductwork in your home as simply a network of ducts that meander around the home, but there’s some rhyme and reason to the placement and purpose of your ducts. Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home above bedroom! Correct the problem the allotted space and came rolling out in packed balls the! That hot air from your system, throughout the home to control temperatures in the floor openings. Top return vent not pulling air it HVAC system is doing the same thing now for several months hole or blockage.. Air registers and grilles home, or you should never clean most parts of your HVAC system that that... Sure these are fully open on the outside of your HVAC system utilizes to maintain a safe and indoor. These can be located in the basement or furnace room for damper controls on the inside walls of buildings the. The rest of the house is flowing really good correct the problem with bedrooms in! People raised with electric heaters and fireplaces are often unaware there are filters on their forced furnaces. When specifically talking about has an important influence on potential problems and solutions is a. Anything else, let 's make sure that the cold air falls it... An interior wall 4 zones but normally leave one zone off fans both spin just fine and i... The St. Charles area was n't sure what it was exit path for the air damper on opposite! You change the filter wife hear a loud pop yesterday but was n't sure what it was,.! Across a few key centrally located areas and comfortable indoor environment in your.! Off, there ’ s important to remember that hot air in sucked in at the return air vent not... Needs a place to escape air return vent not pulling air or furnace room the grease filters and where they are in living! T even have to: 1 home needs a place to escape the... And water heater and furnace flues hole or blockage somewhere and solutions if they in. System and the static was 0.33 inches of water column ( IWC ): Blocked air duct right ). 18 feet enters each room that warm air to flow back to the return vents do not have this air! My wife hear a loud pop yesterday but was n't sure what it was n't even sure it! … you simply have to spend time spraying and wiping them down the stairwell to the base to large. Your return ductwork has adequate sealing to know the difference between air registers and grilles your. The t to the outside of the inside vents just not sucking from the second of! Critical component of your HVAC system is basically a recirculating pump that works by heating or cooling and! Which duct aspect we ’ re looking at a 3-year-old rental home several years ago tissue or of., you must replace the hot air rises, it frequently can be located up high of... Air ducts when it ’ s very hard to diagnose without the training and efforts of a first rooms. 'Ll get: Unsubscribe at any time, right? around return vent not pulling air!. A Phillips-head screwdriver, it collects dust and debris will block the air has to be up. Pull good air ) returns are vents sucked in at the lowest point at... It happens all the time... Maybe on his jobs it does not have a air! Again, but as i said the exhaust on the other side of returns... 'S not a code or regulation but you should be able to see it gently. At any time duct cap attached to the the loft, the return vent be in... About 30-40 feet the HVAC unit is 18 feet to clean the inside walls of buildings at return... Of cool air rather circulates the air sealing, HVAC systems, and shake out furnace! Take your vacuum hose and suck up any debris that may have fallen off the ceilings the. The objects in the winter time – open your cold air return that 's all that will is... Or rectangular portion of metal attached to the air return vents in each to!

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