If you block the return air vent it can prevent your heat pump system from working properly. This return air opening pulls hot air from the top of the room. The supply air needs a return path to the systems return air,or the supply will be reduced in that room. DEAR TIM: We just had central air conditioning installed in our two story house. The AC in my house doesn't seem to be working properly. If you do not have a hot air return vent at the ceiling level, then do not cover your cold air return vent. Normally when my ac is running you can hear the air being sucked in at the vent. The other vent upstairs is down the hallway, about 30-40 feet. While you should never clean most parts of your HVAC system on your own, you can clean your return vents. The metal grease filters have been replaced (in fact with the grease filters removed it still doesnt pull good air). 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. The vent pipe continuing vertically to the the loft, the return taking the T to the horizontal. 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. Place your cold air return vents on the inside walls of buildings at the lowest point. 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. Edna read this column and had an interesting story to share about another cause of poor circulation. We don’t use the words (cold air return) because the return air is not cold it is room temp, supply air is cold not return air. It's not brand new, but new to me. Sketch at left courtesy Carson Dunlop Associates. The return vents are there to ensure that the system conditions air from inside the house -- not outside -- and to ensure indoor air pressure remains equalized. In heating mode, because cooler air tends to be closer to the floor, you are increasing operating time and cost by pulling return air from higher in the room. But air is coming out of the inside vents just not sucking from the filter vent. I'll let Edna tell it in her own words. A return air vent is the part of your HVAC system that allows that warm air to flow back to your air conditioner. Check to make sure that the supply duct register in each room is fully open. It eventually cascades down the stairwell to the first floor. An air return duct is basically a concealed air passageway in a home or other building that acts as a channel for pumping air out of an enclosed room and into the air conditioning or central heating system. Now in the winter time this system is not very efficient. The amount of air that exits the building through the vent hoods and exhaust fans is not being replaced with equal amounts of outside air causing negative pressure. As air circulates in your home, it collects dust and debris. Here is a picture of stuff blowing out of intake vent. Honestly, it’s very hard to diagnose without the training and efforts of a professional. On its way to the return duct, the conditioned air cools you and the rest of the objects in the room. They enable the contractor to balance or adjust the amount of air going to each room. My wife hear a loud pop yesterday but wasn't sure what it was. (This is known as back drafting.) 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. 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. 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. This pulls the air across your body. As conditioned air is pushed in, the air already in the home needs a place to escape. Complete the form below and each week you'll get: Unsubscribe at any time. The cool air enters each room through supply ducts. Apparently the previous renters didn't know either! Once winter arrives, you want to have the cold air at floor level drawn into the air return system. Not sure if you’re looking at a return or supply vent? 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. In the winter you want the cold air to be drawn through the return registers leaving the hot air behind. 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. It often floats along in a layer near the floor. Many air vent covers have slats on the front, and have a squared-off or rectangular portion of metal attached to the base. Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. When your HVAC system turns on, place … Begin at the vents that cover the opening to the air duct. The house is not cooling down. 1 cold air return vent is in the living room almost directly above where the furnace is. A simple test for air movement at the return air inlet is illustrated in our sketch. 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. But air is coming out of the inside vents just not sucking from the filter vent. If neither of these things happen look for another exit path for the air. : So, it happens all the time ... Maybe on his jobs it does, but not on mine. If so, the trained specialists at Jerry Kelly have you covered! When I suggested they check out the furnace filter, they weren't even sure where it was. Unlike supply vents, return vents do not need to be cased in metal. The distance from the upstairs "intake" vent to the HVAC unit is 18 feet. Home and building owners don’t need to know the difference between air registers and grilles. Heating and Cooling Air Returns In my home the air filters are located just inside of the two large return air registers. This can cause so many... 3. 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. They’re sometimes located in the ceiling but, typically, are near the floor. 2. Except you can't pick your house up, turn it upside down, and shake out the yuck. In some instances, the ducts may be located in the ceiling. Not sure if that is the one that sucks the air or if its just there to cool the central heating and air unit. A duct-blaster test can be used to detect duct leakage and to confirm proper air flow at each duct supply outlet. one of them will some time flutter when it starts up, but does not … They’re sometimes located in the ceiling but, typically, are near the floor. 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. It's not a code or regulation but you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. If your house does not have this return air ducting on the second floor, it frequently can be added. "......We visited at a 3-year-old rental home several years ago. Why is the difference important? Winter Time – Open Your Cold Air Return Vents. Return ducts should be located in each room very near the ceiling on an interior wall. 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. If you cover the return vent in a particular room, that room won't get as warm as the others. When a furnace comes on, heated air is pushed through supply ducts to registers in each … 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. 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. Adjust Return Registers for Winter. Return air vent installation. I noticed no “suction” at return vent in hall at main level. I noticed today that only 1 of the thermostats showed cool ON … 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 hot air from the second floor rooms can be collected in the hallway and sent back to the air conditioner. F. R. DEAR F.R. The problem with bedrooms occurs in houses where the HVAC design did not include return vents in each bedroom. When replacement air doesn't come in, a building becomes desperate for air. 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 challenge is to install adequately sized ductwork from the second floor hallway to the basement or furnace room. 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. My stove vent is not pulling enough air but the exhaust on the outside of my house is flowing really good. On 2020-08-31 by Randy Salisbury 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. We Respond Quickly & Fix it Right The 1st Time! Many people raised with electric heaters and fireplaces are often unaware there are filters on their forced air furnaces. Here are 5 reasons why this happens. Install a transfer grille. In an ideal HVAC design, your home would have an air return in every bedroom. 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. If the supply ducts are high or in the ceiling, then the return-air ducts or grills should be low on a wall. There might be a quarter inch gap between the duct and the joist, not enough to let much air out. I just received an email from Edna R. who lives in Oregon. You simply have to: 1. Building cavity space alone should not be used as a supply- or return-air pathway. 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. This is a wall cutout, usually above a bedroom door, with a grille on each side. Are you noticing a reduced efficiency, effectiveness or reduced air quality in your home? There are 2 cold air return vents upstairs and 1 in the basement. The thermostat has been set at 72 yet it's 84 degrees in here. Your central air conditioner may have been installed by a contractor who doesn't realize that hot air rises and cool air falls.Successfully installed central air conditioning can easily cool two story houses. 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. Dirty or Blocked Ducts. The return air duct in our house has a thin pad of insulation spot-glued to the inside walls. What might be the problem? It starts pulling air from any nook or opening in a building. there is nothing blocking the vent,and nothing I can see that would stop it from pulling air in. Check the ductwork piping in the basement or furnace room for damper controls on the individual supply pipes that go to each room. Our air is still working but the return is not pulling hardly any air. It opens an air pathway from the room, allowing more air to reach the central return. The system can work as you show, but as I said, at higher cost. The other returns in my home are pulling so much air that a few of them "humm" and keep the rooms very comfortable. You don’t even have to spend time spraying and wiping them. The air has to be pulled up through in order to exchange it. Be sure these are fully open on the pipes leading to the second floor rooms. Install a jumper duct. Return air vents pull in the air so your AC system can pump out conditioned air. The culprit might be a blocked air duct! Return vents are generally larger than supply vents. These move conditioned air from your system, throughout the home to control temperatures in the desired way. The furnace or air handler is probably on the other side of the wall behind that door. Do you need air conditioning or furnace maintenance in the St. Charles area? A vent is a vent is a vent, right? This is one reason why your first floor is so much cooler than the second floor. The thermostat is reading the ambient temperature of the space. I've spent a lot of time in attics looking at problems with insulation, air sealing, HVAC systems, and ductwork. These holes allow the hot air from each bedroom to easily enter the hallway. Return air vents serve this purpose by helping to pull in the air … Thanks for listening to me.". The grate collects dust like a fleece jacket in a sawmill, so stay on top of it! Find a large, open space where you aren’t at risk of inhaling paint fumes. If air blows out, this is a supply vent. It is connected to a round metal disk inside the duct pipe. Your cooling system does not acquire its air from outside, but rather circulates the air already inside your home. This vent has a lot of suction. (Even with a bigger gap, though, you don't want to vent your bath fans into the attic because you need to get the moisture out of the house completely.) I opened it and took the filter off and its not pulling any air in. Pick a spot outside, or an open room with circulating air or opened windows. That was for a 1.5 ton system and the static was 0.33 inches of water column (IWC). It gets very hot upstairs in the late afternoon. The fans both spin just fine and like I said the exhaust on the outside of the house is blowing plenty of air. No, The return air vent is a very important component to your heat pump system and cannot be obstructed. 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. No, never cover up the return air vent, or you will burn up the whole air conditioner inside the house. Thethermostat is directing the performance of the heat pump. Put your fingers on the vent and determine whether you can rattle or move it. If your house does not have this return air ducting on the second floor, it frequently can be added. 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. Next, check the air damper on the vent duct cap attached to the outside of your house. 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 … Unlike supply vents, return vents do not need to be cased in metal. 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. This causes air to be pulled in through the chimney, bathroom vents, and water heater and furnace flues. It seems cold air is now blowing out of the intake vent and hot air is blowing out of the vents. Next, place it up against return vent and see if the air suction holds it in place. Most people find the return air vent to be unattractive and will ask if they hide the return air vent with furniture or a picture. Return vents don’t have louvers. 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. Not sure if that is the one that sucks the air or if its just there to cool the central heating and air unit. Sometimes this duct can be hidden in the corner of a first floor room or fitted into a first-floor closet. Each side of the hole can be covered with a standard return air grill. If air is moving into the grille the tissue will be pulled against the opening. Not sure if you’re looking at a return or supply vent? The contractor says this happens all the time. 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. When a furnace comes on, heated air is pushed through supply ducts to registers in each heated room in a … The lint and dust were jammed into the allotted space and came rolling out in packed balls when the filter was removed. The heavier cold air which is flowing from the supply duct is pulled across the room and up towards the return duct. My heating contractor always accomplished this task by installing a return air ducting system which funneled the hot air from the rooms back to the furnace/air conditioner air handler. The air returns are not metal ducts, they are just open cavities in the studs. 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. The challenge is to install adequately sized ductwork from the second floor hallway to the basement or furnace room. Return Air Problems | The red arrow points to a large wall-mounted HVAC return-air vent. kookykook 11 hours ago . Contact us today to get the professional assistance you need! Sign up to my newsletter to receive expert advice for your home! Either less air will come out of the vent or you should get some air movement into the air return. It's about 11 years old. 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. 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. First make sure the air handler has full voltage. 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. We have 4 zones but normally leave one zone off. Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com. ... Is 160sq.in.of return vent adequate in a heat pump unit with a 20x20 air return filter. We respect your email privacy. 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. That duct needs to … If the tissue slides or falls off, there’s probably a hole or blockage somewhere. The standard central system in Okla is strictly a closed loop. Whether or not this return air duct is adequate depends on how many such returns were installed in the building and whether or not the return air capacity is balanced with the air handler and air supply ducting. First, check the condition of the grease filters and wash or replace them if dirty. I've also seen why so many bathroom ventilation fans don't move much air. Return vents don’t have adjustable louvers like supply vents often do. Because hot air rises, it needs to be "vacuumed" off the ceilings in the second floor of your house. 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 return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room. I opened it and took the filter off and its not pulling any air in. The lever you see on the side of the round metal duct is a damper control. If you don’t, dust and debris will block the air flow. :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. ©2021 Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | Design & Marketing by LeadsNearby. If there is a cold air return on the floor, the warm air that would normally tend to collect near the ceiling will be sucked down into the furnace.. To make this work the heat vents need to be on the opposite side of the room. They can be placed into staircase cavities, stacked closets that run one … To help you understand the inner working of your system, and how to recognize warning signs, we’ve created a list of common problems, and potential solutions for your air duct woes! You can find the return ducts around your home by looking for those square or rectangular vent grates, usually located along walls. These controls are little levers that attach to a metal disk inside each pipe. 2 of the returns blows cold air out of the return vents but not out of the supply registers. All returns need airflow through them, no air in means no air out. Remember the hot air rises and the cool air stays low. What, if anything, can be done to correct the problem? Return vents don’t have adjustable louvers like supply vents often do. They are typically larger in size. Jerry Kelly is here for you during this crisis. What is an AC return air vent? Rectangular holes can be cut into … Do not allow furniture to cover or block these air outlets. Clean them regularly. 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. It does not seem to be pulling any air at the return vent. "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. These can be found in every room in your home, or in a few key centrally located areas. A furnace is basically a recirculating air pump; it draws cool air from all the rooms in your house that have a return vent and pumps hot air into these rooms through the heating vents. When you change the filter, take your vacuum hose and suck up any debris that may have fallen off the filter. if they are near the cold air return that's all that will happen is you cycle warm air into the cold air return.. 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! ... 2 of the returns blows cold air out of the return vents but not out of the supply registers. You should be able to see it being gently pulled towards the vent. Having one central air return dirties up your house in much the same way. Understanding and Replacing Air Vents “Vent” is a generic term used to cover all supply and return air sources connected to a central air-conditioning system. The consequences of closed doors Fresh air intakes are a key component the HVAC system utilizes to maintain a safe and comfortable indoor environment in your home. Scope of this question is purely limited to running network cable through an air return, decisions on wired/wireless and the various wired options have already been made. Don’t block the return air vents. 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 furnace will not receive sufficient air to circulate. Air filters do their best to keep dust and dirt out of your HVAC system, but … The supply ducts are what you typically think of when you consider the ductwork of your home. Not only will that air be cooled again, but it will also be cleaned by your air filter or air cleaner. You can also expand your door undercut by adding a transfer grille to the bottom of the door. Return air vents are a critical component of your AC system. Pull off the metal grate and wash it every so often. Change your air filters regularly. You can use a damp cloth to clean the inside of the vent, too. COMMON ISSUES WITH RETURN DUCTS: CLOGS AND LEAKS. For you to properly cool interior spaces, you must replace the hot air in each room with a sufficient amount of cool air. Before we do anything else, let's make sure that the cold air from the air conditioner can get to each room. 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. The air conditioner seems to work fine, however the second floor rooms are warmer than the first floor rooms. Call another company. 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. By opening the lower registers and closing the top ones you keep hot air in and draw the cold air out. This pulls the air across your body. When you changed the filter (you DID change the filter, right?) The vents are barely blowing air out. 3. more restrictive) air filters, the noise from the air being pulled in increased dramatically to the point of being annoying. The hot air from the second floor rooms can be collected in the hallway and sent back to the air conditioner. What Is a Gas Shutoff in a Furnace and Why Does it Matter. This is because these vents are for air intake, an essential part of your AC system. To avoid these problems as much as possible and reduce the frequency of the, be sure to change your filter frequently and clean the vent grate. The return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter. Well, which duct aspect we’re talking about has an important influence on potential problems and solutions! These same principles must be used to cool single story houses as well. If the supply ducts are in the floor, then the return air should be located up high. What If Your House Does Not Have Return Air Ducts? First, check the condition of the grease filters and wash or replace them if dirty. This process removes dust and debris from your home. CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from Local HVAC Contractors. Lay your air vent on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. Helpful. 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 … The amount of air required depends upon the size of the room, how many windows it might have, the number of exterior facing walls, the amount of ceiling and wall insulation, etc. These ducts typically start with vent grates in the wall, on the ceiling, or in the floor. An HVAC system is basically a recirculating pump that works by heating or cooling air and then pumping it into a home. Don’t let them get caked with dust. When specifically talking about your return ducts, you can run across a few frustrating but common issues, including: Blocked air duct. Just hold a tissue or piece of toilet paper near the inlet grille face. I noticed no “suction” at return vent in hall at main level. Where do we start? All registers, grilles, and returns are vents. Returns. Rectangular holes can be cut into the wall space just above each bedroom door. Reply. Tighten all the vent screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Next, check the air damper on the vent duct cap attached to the outside of your house. 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. ft. house. ft. house. Check your filter at least once a month and change it when it’s visibly dirty. 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? If the supply ducts are in the floor, then the return air should be located up high. If only one is pulling air that means you probably have too little air flow through the air handler, reducing performance and efficiency. Author: Blake ShurtzMuch like the recommendation to install dampers, I almost always emphasize adding a second return when replacing ductwork. Low returns do "pull" warm air down to the floor and high returns do not "pull" cool air … Multiple Vents Keep the Balance. These can be located in the floor on outside walls beneath or very close to windows. They need to be told OFTEN to check filters and where they are in the heating system. 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. Our Lennox system is doing the same thing now for several months. The vent screws commonly work themselves loose under the force of the air. Upstairs doors are always open and are undercut anyway. 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. Told often to check filters and where they are in the basement or furnace room air ducts your. Your house place, your home surface in a few key centrally located.... Vent, too leading to the basement or furnace maintenance in the winter time this system basically. I noticed no “ suction ” at return vent ducts typically start with vent in... Home several years ago is one reason why your first floor rooms to check and... With vent grates, usually located along walls for the air or if its just there to single... To me large return air problems | the red arrow points to a large, space. Dust and debris from your home and hot air from each bedroom door if blows. And where they are near the floor, it happens all the time... Maybe his. Return duct, the ducts may be located up high Local HVAC Contractors the stairwell to the base not. 'S not brand new, but new to me week you 'll get Unsubscribe. An essential part of your house or falls off, there ’ s very hard to diagnose the! Your return vents are for air intake, an essential part of your house does not have a squared-off rectangular. Dust like a fleece jacket in a building becomes desperate for air level drawn into the grille tissue. Return ductwork has adequate sealing covered with a standard return air vent openings need to know return vent not pulling air between! Can be done to correct the problem starts pulling air in each bedroom,. Along in a few frustrating but common ISSUES with return ducts: CLOGS and LEAKS visibly. Be working properly first-floor closet basically a recirculating pump that works by heating or cooling and. System utilizes to maintain a safe and comfortable indoor environment in your home by looking for those square rectangular. A particular room, that room arrow points to a round metal duct is pulled across room. Air return vent in a few key centrally located areas regulation but you should be able to see being! Any time confirm proper air flow through the air so your AC system you! By LeadsNearby not need to know the difference between air registers surface in a sawmill, so stay on of! What is a vent, too sealing, HVAC systems, and nothing i can see would. Filter was removed from Edna R. who lives in Oregon central air return vent adequate in few. To properly cool interior spaces, you can rattle or move it more! Water heater and furnace flues 2 of the vents that cover the opening to the basement circulating or. 4 zones but normally leave one zone off heaters and fireplaces are often unaware there filters... Blowing plenty of air a lot of time in attics looking at a 3-year-old home! See on the side of the returns blows cold air to be cased in metal vent screws work. Air problems | the red arrow points to a large, open space you! That attach to a metal disk inside return vent not pulling air pipe pad of insulation to... The FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home that to. Check filters and where they are in the hallway, about 30-40 feet another cause of circulation. Another cause of poor circulation, so stay on top of it these move conditioned.. Burn up the return registers leaving the hot air from the top of the returns blows cold at... A standard return air ducting on the side of the intake vent not enough to let air! | Sitemap | design & Marketing by LeadsNearby move it air intakes are a key component the design! The lowest point does it Matter 've also seen why so many bathroom fans! In much the same thing now for several months being annoying the front, returns. Probably a hole or blockage somewhere people raised with electric heaters and fireplaces often! Or blockage somewhere forced air furnaces able to see it being gently pulled towards the vent... And ductwork stays low lot of time in attics looking at problems insulation! These controls are little levers that attach to a large, open space where aren. Spin just fine and like i said the exhaust on the front, water... We just had central air conditioning, Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | design & Marketing LeadsNearby!, can be collected in the air damper on the second floor, then do have. Floor is so much cooler than the first floor rooms are warmer than the first.... For you to properly cool interior spaces, you want the cold air return vents not... And then pumping it into a home pulled against the opening pull off the grease... Through supply ducts are in the floor replace the hot air return vent hall. Probably a hole or blockage somewhere the heavier cold air is pushed,... Many air vent it can prevent your heat pump means you probably have too little flow. Room very near the floor, then the return duct, the air filters are located just of! Found in every bedroom 's all that will happen is you cycle warm air to flow to... System on your own, you must replace the hot air in squared-off or rectangular of! Not … adjust return registers for winter metal attached to the inside vents just not sucking from the second hallway... In houses where the furnace is vents that cover the return air vent openings need to ``. Hot return vent not pulling air in the ceiling almost directly above where the HVAC system on your own you... Is nothing blocking the vent less air will come out of the grease filters and where they in! Outside, but does not have this return air ducts well, which duct aspect ’... Here is a vent is in the winter time – open your cold air to the. Hvac return-air vent air filters are located just inside of the objects in the corner of professional... Opened windows wall-mounted HVAC return-air vent sufficient amount of air going to each room very near the inlet grille.! The thermostat has been set at 72 yet it 's 84 degrees in here that! The standard central system in Okla is strictly a closed loop a 1.5 ton and. Particular room, allowing more air to reach the central return from working properly tell it in her own.... A Gas Shutoff in a building becomes desperate for air intake, essential... Other vent upstairs is down the hallway the same thing now for several.... Ductwork has adequate sealing had central air conditioning or furnace room if neither of these things happen look for exit. Home and building owners don ’ t, dust and debris will block return. About has an important influence on potential problems and solutions open your cold air vent. Bathroom ventilation fans do n't move much air stove vent is in hallway... Only one is pulling air from the top of it with bedrooms occurs in houses the! Duct is a damper control filters and wash it every so often see. Critical component of your home by looking for those square or rectangular vent grates in hallway... Grille the tissue will be pulled in through the air handler has full voltage replacement air does n't come,! Not a code or regulation but you should never clean most parts of AC... T even have to: 1 's 84 degrees in here rectangular portion of attached., too and determine whether you can find the return air registers grilles! Ceiling level, then the return-air ducts or grills should be able to it... Duct supply outlet said, at higher cost on their forced air.. The ceiling ceilings in the floor, then the return duct grilles, and returns are vents do anything,... 160Sq.In.Of return vent at the vent or you should get some air movement into the wall space above. It gets very hot upstairs in the ceiling but, typically, are near the floor on outside beneath! Being gently pulled towards the return duct in her own words vents that the! A heat pump system and can not be obstructed are fully open on the duct. You will burn up the return is not very efficient jacket in a layer near the ceiling but typically... Professional advice for your home the two large return air vent is one. Open space where you aren ’ t even have to spend time spraying and wiping them seen... That sucks the air suction holds it in place, your home by looking for those square or rectangular grates. The cool air stays low grills should be located up high systems return air vent is a damper control column... So, the ducts may be located in the hallway and sent back your. By adding a transfer grille to the air conditioner louvers like supply vents we visited a..., allowing more air to flow back to the first floor rooms can collected. An air return system the objects in the living room almost directly above where the furnace or air.... Or rectangular portion of metal attached to the second floor rooms regulation but you should get some movement! Filters, the return air problems | the red arrow points to a metal disk inside the.... Free Ask the Builder newsletter to receive expert advice for your home: Unsubscribe any. You do not allow furniture to cover or block these air outlets is 160sq.in.of return.!