The earliest HVAC systems featured a large, single return vent placed somewhere in the middle of the home, but this is not the most effective system. Instead, there should be at least one return vent in every room, with two or three being ideal.
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.
Can You Have Too Much Return Air? Too much return air coming through your system isn't much of an issue because the fans and ductwork working to get that air back into the system only pull with so much force to make the HVAC system work correctly.
Up High: having an air return higher up on a wall will be better at sucking in hot air that rises. Making it more efficient at transferring this hot air back into your system to repeat the cooling cycle. Down Low: if you have your air return lower on your wall it will function better as a cold air return.
Today, it is recommended to have one or multiple air vents in each room of your home or business to optimize air flow and reduce the cost of energy spent on cooling your home or office. So, what are air vents and how do they help your HVAC system run better?
The number of air vents a house needs typically depends on its size and the number of floors. 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.
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. If you notice a significant drop in air pressure or uneven temperatures, it could indicate return air issues.
Return registers can be large and centrally located in your home, or they can be in every room. HVAC professionals recommend that each room have a cold air return vent to help with flow and temperature control. These vents are typically found on an interior wall.
Most homes across the U.S. have forced air systems and in newer homes there will be cold air return vents placed at both the ceiling and the floor of many rooms. Having two air return vents allows you to seasonally control which air is returning to the HVAC system. In older homes, this may not be an option.
Due in large part to the short cycling issues mentioned above, components on an oversized heating and/or air conditioning systems are more likely to fail sooner than those on a properly sized system. As a result, you may end up having to replace your HVAC system sooner than expected.
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.
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.
Maintenance Needs
Return vent filters, if used, also need regular replacement to avoid airflow issues. By properly maintaining both types of filters, you can get great airflow, reduce strain on your HVAC system, and rest easy knowing you have cleaner air.
What size air conditioner do I need for a 1500 square foot home? You would need about 3 tons (36,000 BTU's) to cool a house of this size. While you can calculate the square footage on your own, one of our trained air conditioning professionals may be the better choice to perform a BTU calculation on your home.
Many HVAC companies offer financing to their customers to streamline the HVAC replacement process and paying for it. Banks and credit unions may approve you for a personal loan, home equity line of credit, or a home improvement loan where loan proceeds are used specifically to make the upgrades your home demands.
Federal Tax Credits
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) of 2022 makes tax credits available on high-efficiency HVAC units through 2032. It allows you to deduct 30 percent of the purchase and installation costs and caps the amount you can write off: Air conditioners, furnaces, boilers, and water heaters max out at $600.
The short answer is yes, it's more cost-effective to keep your air conditioner on all day. However, don't take this as a green light to crank it up to the max 24/7! There's a smart way to go about it, which we'll delve into in a moment. So, why is it cheaper to leave your AC on?
What Happens When Return Vents Are Blocked? The system will have to work harder to take in air, ultimately pulling it in through minute cracks in the home's exterior. The HVAC system's parts may wear out sooner than they should, and ultimately, malfunction and fail.
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.
The building codes do not allow “active” returns to be installed in closets.
More Air Is Blowing In Rooms Near the AC Unit
A telltale symptom of an undersized return air duct is if the room closest to the air conditioner has more airflow than rooms farther away from it. That's because air pressure is high near the unit. But the farther you go, the lower it is.
We've seen how it can create safety hazards, mess with your home's heating and cooling, and even damage your bed. Blocked vents can cause fire risks, poor air quality, uneven temperatures, and moisture buildup. Instead of covering vents, try rearranging your furniture or using vent deflectors to direct airflow.
By installing more return vents throughout your home, they can trap the air and remove it, improving air circulation. A drawback with this method is that your ductwork needs enough space to support additional vents. Smaller homes that can't add more vents need to pursue other options.