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Home > Archive > Heating and air conditioning > January 2006 > Return air duct question
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Return air duct question
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| RobertM 2006-01-28, 3:21 pm |
| I am having a contractor install a new central heat and a/c to replace
existing space heaters and window a/c. The entire job is just under
$6000. The contractor intends to use a single return duct which is
centrally located. He said he will put in a door vent to the adjoining
larger room, but he said it isn't necessary to use door vents in the
adjoining doors to the bedrooms and bathroom. Is this the best way? How
will the air get back to the return duct?
Bob
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| No it's not the best way. You should put a return in each room equal to the
supply duct capacity of that room. In an existing home, this can add a
considerable amount of labor to the job. In some homes it can be almost
impossible without spending thousands more. If you aren't willing to pay the
extra money, then you need to provide enough air flow out of the room that
went into it. Sometimes this can be done by putting a double grill above or
in the door, or cutting a couple of inches off the bottom of the door.
"RobertM" <reply@newsgroup.com> wrote in message
news:drgesh$dr5j$1@news3.infoave.net...
> I am having a contractor install a new central heat and a/c to replace
> existing space heaters and window a/c. The entire job is just under
> $6000. The contractor intends to use a single return duct which is
> centrally located. He said he will put in a door vent to the adjoining
> larger room, but he said it isn't necessary to use door vents in the
> adjoining doors to the bedrooms and bathroom. Is this the best way? How
> will the air get back to the return duct?
>
> Bob
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| RobertM 2006-01-28, 5:21 pm |
| Bob wrote:
> No it's not the best way. You should put a return in each room equal to the
> supply duct capacity of that room. In an existing home, this can add a
> considerable amount of labor to the job. In some homes it can be almost
> impossible without spending thousands more. If you aren't willing to pay the
> extra money, then you need to provide enough air flow out of the room that
> went into it. Sometimes this can be done by putting a double grill above or
> in the door, or cutting a couple of inches off the bottom of the door.
>
> "RobertM" <reply@newsgroup.com> wrote in message
> news:drgesh$dr5j$1@news3.infoave.net...
>
>
Yes, it's an older home and it's going to be a challenge for him to put
the supply ducts in, so I can see the contractor's logic in wanting a
centrally located return duct. I can easily put louvers in the remaining
doors. However, I should probably tell him what I'm going to do, as it
may affect airflow that he might not have taken into consideration.
Thanks,
Bob
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| On Sat, 28 Jan 2006 15:02:41 -0500, "Bob" <bobb25@comcast.net> wrote:
>No it's not the best way. You should put a return in each room equal to the
>supply duct capacity of that room. In an existing home, this can add a
>considerable amount of labor to the job. In some homes it can be almost
>impossible without spending thousands more. If you aren't willing to pay the
>extra money, then you need to provide enough air flow out of the room that
>went into it. Sometimes this can be done by putting a double grill above or
>in the door, or cutting a couple of inches off the bottom of the door.
>
Spoken by a true hack, Bob.
Double grille and cutting off doors................
Cheap Hack. Your true colors are shinning through.
Bubba
>"RobertM" <reply@newsgroup.com> wrote in message
>news:drgesh$dr5j$1@news3.infoave.net...
>
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| If you're going to put louvers in the doors, you should make sure they are
heavy duty, or they will dent up easily. It's usually preferable to cut a
couple of inches off the bottom of the door. Some people don't even notice
it. Even if you have hollow core doors, it's very easy to do. Talk to your
contractor either way to see what he says.
P.S. If anyone on this newsgroup give you crap, just put them in your kill
file.
"RobertM" <reply@newsgroup.com> wrote in message
news:drgjfk$dtrn$1@news3.infoave.net...
> Bob wrote:
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> Yes, it's an older home and it's going to be a challenge for him to put
> the supply ducts in, so I can see the contractor's logic in wanting a
> centrally located return duct. I can easily put louvers in the remaining
> doors. However, I should probably tell him what I'm going to do, as it
> may affect airflow that he might not have taken into consideration.
>
> Thanks,
> Bob
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| RobertM 2006-01-28, 6:21 pm |
| Bob wrote:
> If you're going to put louvers in the doors, you should make sure they are
> heavy duty, or they will dent up easily. It's usually preferable to cut a
> couple of inches off the bottom of the door. Some people don't even notice
> it. Even if you have hollow core doors, it's very easy to do. Talk to your
> contractor either way to see what he says.
> P.S. If anyone on this newsgroup give you crap, just put them in your kill
> file.
>
I found some heavy duty louvers for $44 per pair. I figure if I'm going
to spend $6000 on a heating system, I'm not going to go cheap when it
comes to a few accessories. I feel comfortable with this contractor even
though it's somewhat obvious that he's more at ease with new
construction than with an oddly built older home. He is licensed,
insured, and approved by the TVA. All of his subcontractors are also
licensed. I might mention here that the total area is under 1000 sq ft,
so that no doubt was part of his decision on how to do the return.
In regard to people giving crap on newsgroups, I worked as a programmer
as far back as the days of DOS, so I'm familiar with computers and
newsgroups. There are many helpful people and also the ones who unleash
a torrent of obscenities. I have a large killfile.
Bob
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| CBHVAC 2006-01-29, 2:21 am |
|
"RobertM" <reply@newsgroup.com> wrote in message
news:drgesh$dr5j$1@news3.infoave.net...
>I am having a contractor install a new central heat and a/c to replace
>existing space heaters and window a/c. The entire job is just under $6000.
>The contractor intends to use a single return duct which is centrally
>located. He said he will put in a door vent to the adjoining larger room,
>but he said it isn't necessary to use door vents in the adjoining doors to
>the bedrooms and bathroom. Is this the best way? How will the air get back
>to the return duct?
No..the BEST way would be to run at least a single return in each room...but
ask yourself..if thats the BEST way, why isnt it done on EVERY installation?
We cant see yours from here, and a single return on a home under 2000SF
should be more than fine.
Air is fluid...unless you have automotive grade seals on each rooms doors,
you should be fine.
>
> Bob
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| RobertM 2006-01-29, 9:21 am |
| CBHVAC wrote:
> "RobertM" <reply@newsgroup.com> wrote in message
> news:drgesh$dr5j$1@news3.infoave.net...
>
> No..the BEST way would be to run at least a single return in each room...but
> ask yourself..if thats the BEST way, why isnt it done on EVERY installation?
> We cant see yours from here, and a single return on a home under 2000SF
> should be more than fine.
> Air is fluid...unless you have automotive grade seals on each rooms doors,
> you should be fine.
>
>
>
Thank you,
Bob
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| PrecisionMechanical 2006-01-30, 3:21 am |
|
"Bob" <bobb25@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:OtadnQRwDuPDU0beRVn-pw@comcast.com...
> No it's not the best way. You should put a return in each room equal to
the
> supply duct capacity of that room. In an existing home, this can add a
> considerable amount of labor to the job. In some homes it can be almost
> impossible without spending thousands more. If you aren't willing to pay
the
> extra money, then you need to provide enough air flow out of the room that
> went into it. Sometimes this can be done by putting a double grill above
or
> in the door, or cutting a couple of inches off the bottom of the door.
>
Bob offers this "door cutting" service to his "customers", I suspect....
--
SVL
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