Air return vents are often located near the center of a home, generally with one return air vent per floor. This allows the air to circulate efficiently throughout the home and back to the HVAC system. Return air vents are usually found in the lower wall of a room or hallway.
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.
Cold air return vents should typically be placed lower on the walls or the floor since cold air naturally sinks. This placement helps capture the cooler air faster and more efficiently, allowing it to be recirculated through the HVAC system for heating or cooling.
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.
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.
Two locations where a cold air return should be installed: Open area of wall and low to the ground. Which of the following is a law of thermodynamics: Heat moves toward a place with lower intensity.
Cons Of Ceiling Vents
Remember, heat rises, so if it starts at the ceiling, it has nowhere to go but up. Exposes HVAC system to unconditioned spaces – Attics tend to be dusty and prone to extreme temperatures, adding wear and tear to the equipment and increasing heat transfer loss.
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.
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.
In fact, when installing return ducts it is always advisable to avoid putting them in bathrooms or kitchens. This would just simply cause the heating and air system to circulate cooking odors and moisture throughout the system.
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.
The building codes do not allow “active” returns to be installed in closets.
Choose a central location in each room where a return air vent is located, and avoid putting them in small, enclosed spaces. If you have a combined heating and cooling system and need to decide between placing the return vents high or low, consider your climate.
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.
But you don't need to have an opening in each bedroom connected to a duct that carries air all the way back to the system. You just need to have a way to get the air from the closed bedroom back out to the hallway. One way to provide a return-air pathway is to use the gaps around the bedroom door.
According to the Department of Energy1, 78° Fahrenheit is the sweet spot for air conditioners to balance energy savings and comfort when people are at home and need cooling.
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.
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.
In most cases, they are positioned away from windows and exterior doors to avoid drawing in outdoor air directly. In multi-story homes, you'll find cold air returns both upstairs and downstairs to maintain balanced air pressure and efficient circulation throughout the house.
Instead, there should be at least one return vent in every room, with two or three being ideal. If your house has only one return vent, this is not a problem — make sure to keep the doors open in every room so the air can circulate properly. Make sure there are no furniture, draperies, rugs, etc. blocking return vents.
Insufficient return air can lead to higher energy bills. When your HVAC system doesn't receive enough return air, it must work harder to maintain the desired temperature, increasing energy consumption. Homeowners might notice a spike in utility costs without a corresponding increase in usage.
Quality HVAC ductwork has a maximum lifespan of 25 years. However, many systems start to show serious signs of wear after just 10 to 15 years.
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.
Floor vents are often ideal for colder climates, distributing warm air efficiently, while ceiling vents excel in cooling setups for warmer regions like ours. Each type offers specific benefits based on your HVAC needs, home layout, and seasonality.