Should return air vents be open or closed in winter?

Author: Davonte Senger  |  Last update: Friday, May 2, 2025

Should Return Air Vents Be Open Or Closed In Winter? Once again, NEVER close a return air vent. If you have operable cold air SUPPLY vents in your home, you can close upper supply air vents and keep lower return air vents open in the winter to keep your home cozy while allowing your heating system to work efficiently.

Should return vents be open or closed in winter?

Conversely, in the Winter heating season, you will want to pull the coldest air back to the furnace to be warmed and create circulation. In these months, you'll want the lower air return open and the upper air return closed.

What happens if I close a return vent?

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.

What are the rules for return air ducts?

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.

Which vents to open in winter?

Here's what to do:
  • In colder months, close supply vents in higher locations, like up by ceilings, while opening lower ones on floors or close to baseboards. ...
  • In warmer months, do the opposite — open the supply vents in higher locations and close the ones placed lower.

Rising heating costs: Can you save money by closing vents in unused rooms?

Should cold air return vents go up or down?

When it comes to cooling your home, return vents are best installed near the ceiling so they can draw in any hot air that has risen. Supply vents should also be placed high on the wall for better distribution of cold air throughout the room.

Should vents under a house be open or closed in winter?

Closing crawl space vents in the winter is a good idea, especially if you have plumbing or air ducts in the crawl space. Unfortunately, just closing or covering crawl space vents for the winter isn't the cure-all for cold floors, frozen pipes, and pests.

What is the purpose of return air vents?

As conditioned air is pushed in, the air already in the home needs a place to escape. Return air vents serve this purpose by helping to pull in the air and putting it back into the system. This is what maintains proper air pressure in a home.

What is the code for return air?

Return air openings for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems shall comply with all of the following: 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.

What happens if you block the return air duct?

Reduced efficiency: Your HVAC system will work less efficiently if you block a return air vent. This will make the units use more energy and will raise your utility costs.

Why is air blowing out of my return vent?

Dirty filters, leaky ducts, and poor insulation can cause cold return vents. Leaky ducts often cause cold air to blow even after cranking the heat up. 20-30% of air, especially hot air, is lost because of leaky ducts. Cracked, holey ductwork needs sealing or replacement.

Should cold air return be high or low?

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.

Can you have too much return air?

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.

Should you close off unused rooms in the winter?

Closing vents in individual rooms will not help your energy cost, but actually hurt your system. “Closing vents puts a strain on the system, which in turn causes the system to work harder,” Martin says.

How to tell if return air is working?

Common Issues with Return Ducts: Clogs and Leaks

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.

What are the symptoms of not enough return air?

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.

What is the return code 77?

Merchants who receive a chargeback for a transaction placed with a Visa card may encounter reason code 77, which indicates an improperly processed transaction that the cardholder does not believe they should be responsible for paying. The actual underlying cause of this chargeback is usually merchant error.

How cold should return air be?

Ideally, there should be a temperature differential of around 14° to 20° Fahrenheit between the incoming air and the air being blown out by your air conditioner. This means that if the air entering the system is 75°F, the air coming out of the vent should be between 55°F and 61°F.

Should you put air filters in your return vents?

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.

What is the most common reason for low refrigerant charge?

A low level of refrigerant is normally the result of leaks within the air conditioning system, which usually originate from a fitting, faulty valve or the evaporator coil itself. Since the chemical blend typically evaporates as it leaks out, any dripping will hardly be noticeable.

What happens if you don't have a return air vent?

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.

Which vents should be closed in winter?

If you have a top/bottom return vent setup, close the top vents in the winter months. Closing the top vents will make your system draw in air from the bottom vents that are at the low point in the room where cold air settles.

Is a crawl space warmer than outside?

If it's 35 degrees outside in the Winter, then the air temperature is 35 degrees in your crawl space under your home… it's like you are living on top of an ice cube. Install Vanity Vents and raise/lower your crawl space air temperature by about 20 degrees.

Why do old houses have air vents?

It's important to remember that static vents serve a purpose, especially in older homes. They provide ventilation to indoor spaces, help regulate indoor temperatures and prevent the build-up of excess moisture in wall cavities and rooms which can lead to mould outbreaks and damage to building materials.

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