Having an air return vent in every room can increase the energy efficiency of a home by recirculating the air internally rather than drawing hot or cold air from outside. However, this can pose a slight staging problem since furniture and draperies should be kept clear of cold air return vents.
Return vents should be located in centralized rooms, such as larger living spaces or family rooms. These central locations allow return vents to efficiently pull air from the house and into the system. In most cases, you'll find return air vents located on a wall instead of the floor or ceiling.
Inadequate return air to a furnace will cause the heat exchanger to get hotter. Depending on the amount of air being restricted, this can cause the heat exchanger to crack and leak combustion gasses into the air flow. This happens far too commonly in residential units.
A cold air return is an essential part of your home's heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. Its primary function is to facilitate air circulation throughout your home so that each room remains evenly comfortable throughout the year.
One per room is ideal, but placing two or three in central locations can provide enough air circulation to maximize the energy efficiency of your HVAC and optimize indoor air quality, so your family stays healthy. If your home has multiple stories, you should have at least one return air vent per floor.
If there's not enough return air, your living room can be 10℉+ warmer or cooler than, for example, the bedrooms. Not enough return air in summer can cause rooms close to the central unit to be cooler and those farther from it to be warmer. In winter, rooms farther from the furnace can be too cool.
However, most HVAC contractors use a rule of thumb to determine the number of air vents needed. For example, for a standard residential HVAC unit, you'll generally need one supply vent and one return vent for every 100 to 150 square feet of living space.
Having an air return vent in every room can increase the energy efficiency of a home by recirculating the air internally rather than drawing hot or cold air from outside. However, this can pose a slight staging problem since furniture and draperies should be kept clear of cold air return vents.
Often the best location for the return is near the supply. You see the velocity of the air from the supply will will keep it from being pulled into the return.It can travel to the far side of the room,and be returned to almost where it left the supply.
Hot air rises and cool air sinks. Therefore, opening the right return vents in the summer and winter significantly improves the distribution of air by your forced-air system. You'll also enjoy more even heating and cooling throughout your home. In the summer, open your high returns and close the low ones.
WALL VENTILATION
This means all bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and utility rooms must have a vent installed in the wall or in the window. It is possible that this can come in the form of a window trickle vent or in a wall.
Return vents are usually larger than supply vents and are in large rooms in the home. The return vents in your home help equalize the pressure that changes as your HVAC system heats or cools your home. These vents should never be fully closed because closing them off restricts airflow and strains the system.
1. Openings shall not be located less than 10 feet (3048 mm) measured in any direction from an open combustion chamber or draft hood of another appliance located in the same room or space. 2. Return air shall not be taken from a hazardous or insanitary location or a refrigeration room as defined in this code.
So how much space does an air return vent need to work properly? Home Inspection Insider explains that an air return vent needs 6-12 inches of space in front of it, and recommends that you do not put large, bulky furniture like couches and bookshelves in front of an air return vent.
If these air return systems are obstructed, not only will you block the proper airflow and create stuffiness in the rooms of your house, but you will have uneven cooling or heating, lack of proper filtration, and potentially higher energy bills.
The Secret to Comfort is Balanced Airflow
The current Supply Air vent pressurizes the room, until (in many instances) the pressure inside the room slows the airflow coming from the Supply Air vent! When we install the Return Air vent, the pressure is alleviated. The Return Air vent balances the Supply Air vent.
Blocked or insufficient return air can lead to reduced airflow from your vents. Symptoms include weak airflow and uneven cooling or heating throughout your home, with some rooms feeling much cooler or warmer than others. Homeowners should regularly check vents for consistent airflow.
Adding a return air vent will cost homeowners $350 per vent on average, depending on the vent size and duct material. A professional can assess the right duct material you need for your home and can give you an accurate estimate.
The cold air returns are an essential part of an efficient and dependable HVAC system. It's a good idea to check them periodically to make sure they're not blocked and they're clean.
It is recommended that your home have several air return vents (also known as "air intakes," "cold air returns"). Ideally, you should have one in every room. The more the better!
The building codes do not allow “active” returns to be installed in closets.
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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.
Central AC Size Based On Your Home's Square Footage
1,400-1,600 square feet: A 24,000 BTUs (2 tons) AC unit is recommended. 1,600-1,800 square feet: Look for an AC unit with 27,000 BTUs (2.25 tons) for effective cooling. 1,800-2,000 square feet: A 30,000 BTUs (2.5 tons) unit is ideal for this square footage.