Im looking at anyway to save a buck at the moment. Been reading about air distribution in houses. I've come to the conclusion that the vent/return configuration in my house is not optimal. I'm trying to determine if it is worth while to relocate the cold air returns. I have a tri-level house, 3 bedrooms and a bath upstairs, kitchen/diningroom and living room on the first floor. laundry, second bathroom, bedroom and family room downstairs. Currently there is 2 cold air returns. one at the bottom of the stairs between the second and first floor (8" duct), and one at the top of the stairs on the second floor (aprox 32"x18"). the temp varies greatly from area to area, the first floor is always cold (living room kitchen). the upstair bedrooms varie some 1 comfortable, 1 cold, 1 hot regardless of wether the vents are open or closed (all fed by individual 8" ducts- 1 per room). bathroom is always sauna hot. basement is always chilly but bearable. Im thinking that the return at the top of the stairs maybe drawing the warm air out of the first floor, making the first floor colder. the lack of returns in the upstairs bedrooms is stopping any heat distribution/air circulation from happening. probably need another return on the first floor but there is no way to add it due to first floor being on a slab (could go threw the attic but its a pain to route anything from the 2 story side to the 1 story side of the house). I could probably get one in if the benefits outway the trouble. I know its hard to make a determination without actually seeing the house, I can take pictures if needed. sorry for the long post, looking for a second opinion as I am by no means an hvac expert- just seems logical (but I could be completly wrong)
ktrim
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11,181 Posts
Try running the furnace fan continuously for a day and see if you get some change. It can make quite a difference in some houses in both balance and air quality. Add 1 return on the middle level.
Get an HVAC firm to do the calcs on the sizes and make sure that there is ample room under doors etc. for air movement from rooms to the return ducts.
Get an HVAC firm to do the calcs on the sizes and make sure that there is ample room under doors etc. for air movement from rooms to the return ducts.
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