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.
Down Low: if you have your air return lower on your wall it will function better as a cold air return. This will allow your air return to draw in cold air as it sinks to the bottom of the room. Making it more efficient at recirculating this cold air through your furnace to repeat the heating cycle.
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.
If the return duct is too small or there are an inadequate number of return grilles, your HVAC system won't be able to return enough air to recirculate into the system. Again, it's like if you were breathing in through a straw while jogging.
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. An improperly sized return duct is one of the most common reasons for this (another being an AC or furnace issue).
A duct booster fan improves airflow in HVAC systems by pushing air through ducts, ensuring every room receives proper heating or cooling. It's akin to giving a gentle push-to-air movement. However, their effectiveness depends on proper installation and addressing any existing HVAC system issues.
If you prioritize heating, put the HVAC and vents in (or below) the floor. This principle works for return heating vents as well. Place returns for cooling in the ceiling where the warm air congregates and heating returns in or near the floor where the cold air congregates.
To resolve weak airflow issues, it is recommended to: check and replace air filters regularly. clear any obstructions near vents or registers. inspect and maintain the blower motor.
Common issues like leaks, disconnections, or obstructions within the ducts disrupt the flow of cooled air, causing rooms farther from the HVAC unit to suffer the most. In some cases, inadequate insulation of ducts can allow heat to infiltrate, further exacerbating the problem.
Additionally, due to its increased surface area, flex duct may impede airflow somewhat when compared with more streamlined rigid ducts. In some cases, an insulated flexible line may also be necessary if sound dampening or temperature stabilization are desired properties of a ventilation system.
The best fix for return-air problems is to install a return-air grille from each conditioned room in your home back to the furnace, A/C or heat pump. Air coming into the room is balanced with the amount returning, regardless of whether room doors are closed.
Cavities (or interstitial spaces) within walls are also sometimes used as supply- or return-air pathways.
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.
For maximum performance and minimum noise, the best location to install your In-Line Duct Fan™ is 6 - 10 feet from the register you wish to boost air to. To prevent air leaks use a good quality duct tape to seal seams in the ductwork after installing the In-Line Duct Fan™.
When it moves from a smaller to a larger duct, the velocity decreases. In both cases, the flow rate — the amount of air moving through the duct, in cubic feet per minute — stays the same.
Insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining a consistent temperature throughout your home. If your upstairs is warmer, the insulation there may not be as effective as it should be. Lastly, your HVAC system might not be distributing air evenly throughout your home, resulting in hot spots.
Ideal Thermostat Setting for Two-Story Houses
In the summer, set the top floor temperature to the actual setting you want and set the bottom floor two degrees lower. For example, if you set the AC to 68 degrees F upstairs, set the downstairs thermostat to 66 degrees F.
While furnaces can stop operating for complicated reasons, home owners should check a few usual suspects first behind a lack of hot blowing air: Electrical problems causing a loss of power. Blocked air vents and ducts restricting airflow. Improperly configured thermostat settings.
Low airflow can make your ears hurt in one room compared to another. Use a barometer to measure the pressure in the kitchen, living room, bedroom, and other rooms in the house. If you notice different pressure measurements throughout the house, this is a sign there's not enough return air.
While return vents don't always require filters, adding them provides additional filtration, improving indoor air quality and keeping dirt and debris out of your system.