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Home > Archive > Home Repair forum > May 2006 > Cold air return near the ground or ceiling?
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Cold air return near the ground or ceiling?
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| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-27, 5:21 pm |
| The developer is coming back to put in a cold air return grill of which
they had dry walled over. The contractor will check to see if the grill
can be installed near the ceiling or the ground (depending if the studs
have been sealed off half way up the wall - usually, cold air returns
are near the ground).
This is for the top floor of a 3 floor home. Here is my thinking.
Experts in this area, please chime in. To help remove more heat in the
top floor, I am tempted to ask teh contractor to install the grill
close to the ceiling. Aesthetically, it may not be as pleasing but
wouldn't this help in drawing away some of the heat in the summer time?
My furnace has a 2 stage motor but the original developer only hooked
it up to run on 1 stage. I am getting central A/C put in and their
installer thinks he can re-setup the wires so that it can utilize the 2
stage blower. SO... on the hot days, the cold air return will, in
theory, pull out more heat from teh top floor (as it is closer to the
ceiling). In the cold days, it will still pull away more heat but I am
thinking this is ok since the heat will be on anyways. By the way,
thermostat is on middle floor. On the not so hot days, I am thinking I
can run the blower to circulate air without using the A/C or furnace
heat. Our furnace actually pulls air from cold air returns inside the
home as well as a duct that draws air from the outside of the house.
Any thoughts, advanatges or disadvantages on whether we should install
the cold air return near the ceiling or ground (on the 3rd floor)?
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| affiliateian@gmail.com wrote:
> The developer is coming back to put in a cold air return grill of which
> they had dry walled over. The contractor will check to see if the grill
> can be installed near the ceiling or the ground (depending if the studs
> have been sealed off half way up the wall - usually, cold air returns
> are near the ground).
>
> This is for the top floor of a 3 floor home. Here is my thinking.
> Experts in this area, please chime in. To help remove more heat in the
> top floor, I am tempted to ask teh contractor to install the grill
> close to the ceiling. Aesthetically, it may not be as pleasing but
> wouldn't this help in drawing away some of the heat in the summer time?
>
> My furnace has a 2 stage motor but the original developer only hooked
> it up to run on 1 stage. I am getting central A/C put in and their
> installer thinks he can re-setup the wires so that it can utilize the 2
> stage blower. SO... on the hot days, the cold air return will, in
> theory, pull out more heat from teh top floor (as it is closer to the
> ceiling). In the cold days, it will still pull away more heat but I am
> thinking this is ok since the heat will be on anyways. By the way,
> thermostat is on middle floor. On the not so hot days, I am thinking I
> can run the blower to circulate air without using the A/C or furnace
> heat. Our furnace actually pulls air from cold air returns inside the
> home as well as a duct that draws air from the outside of the house.
>
> Any thoughts, advanatges or disadvantages on whether we should install
> the cold air return near the ceiling or ground (on the 3rd floor)?
>
I think it depends on the climate you're in, since "cold air return" is
a misnomer in the south during much of the year. In the north, I'd
place it low, but high in the south (assuming Northern Hemisphere).
--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
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| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-27, 6:21 pm |
| CJT, can you explain your reasoning. I need more info, newbie here.
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<affiliateian@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1148760726.483300.161220@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> The developer is coming back to put in a cold air return grill of which
> they had dry walled over. The contractor will check to see if the grill
> can be installed near the ceiling or the ground (depending if the studs
> have been sealed off half way up the wall - usually, cold air returns
> are near the ground).
>
> This is for the top floor of a 3 floor home. Here is my thinking.
> Experts in this area, please chime in. To help remove more heat in the
> top floor, I am tempted to ask teh contractor to install the grill
> close to the ceiling. Aesthetically, it may not be as pleasing but
> wouldn't this help in drawing away some of the heat in the summer time?
>
> My furnace has a 2 stage motor but the original developer only hooked
> it up to run on 1 stage. I am getting central A/C put in and their
> installer thinks he can re-setup the wires so that it can utilize the 2
> stage blower. SO... on the hot days, the cold air return will, in
> theory, pull out more heat from teh top floor (as it is closer to the
> ceiling). In the cold days, it will still pull away more heat but I am
> thinking this is ok since the heat will be on anyways. By the way,
> thermostat is on middle floor. On the not so hot days, I am thinking I
> can run the blower to circulate air without using the A/C or furnace
> heat. Our furnace actually pulls air from cold air returns inside the
> home as well as a duct that draws air from the outside of the house.
>
> Any thoughts, advanatges or disadvantages on whether we should install
> the cold air return near the ceiling or ground (on the 3rd floor)?
Y'know, I don't think it really matters where you put the fresh air
intake as far as efficiency goies. I think the difference would be very
minumal.
I would however, want the cold air intake near the basement where
there is a cooler temperature and will cool your house in summertime when
you have the furnace shut off and the fan on manual.
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| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-27, 6:21 pm |
| Also forgot to add, we have a cold air return in the basement. I am
thinking I want to disbale this so teh basement does not freeze when
the A/C is on in the summer months. Any feedback for this on top of my
original question in the first post?
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| affiliateian@gmail.com wrote:
> CJT, can you explain your reasoning. I need more info, newbie here.
>
In the south where it's hot much of the year, you want to pull away the
hottest air (near the top) to run through your A/C; winter isn't the
issue. In the north, where winter IS the issue, you want to draw off
the coldest air to feed to your furnace.
At least, that's my thinking on the subject. But I agree with the
other poster that it's probably not a huge issue. In either case,
the outlet of the AC/furnace will be significantly cooler/warmer
than the air in the room, so the location of the return should only
make a marginal difference.
--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form che...@prodigy.net.
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| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-27, 10:21 pm |
| Thanks for the reply. I read somewhere that the more humid air is alos
the part that rises and was hoping the higher cold air return would
pull out more moisture and heat from the top floor. So it sounds like
there isn't much of a difference whether it's close to the ground or
ceiling.
And based on your reply, it also sounds like that I should leave my
basement cold air intake as is for cases where I will run the blower
for air when the A/C or heat is not on. What about for times when the
A/C is on. Would the aold air return in the basement create a negative
pressure and draw cold air form the upper 2 floors to cool the basement
even more? Any thoughts on whether I should keep the cold air return in
the basement woudl ab greatly appreciated. One more thing, the basement
is an open design and there is a big gap under the door to teh furnace
room. Wouldn't this act like a codl air return?
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| udarrell 2006-05-27, 10:21 pm |
| affiliateian@gmail.com wrote:
>CJT, can you explain your reasoning. I need more info, newbie here.
>
>
Your furnace will be more efficient heating with the return air intakes
at the floor level.
Depending on where the supply air discharge diffusers are at, & airflow
rate and throw, near the ceiling can make a considerable difference in
the performance of the A/C mode.
If you could have it setup so you could switch from floor to ceiling on
the RA intakes it would be ideal. Some are doing that with new construction.
- udarrell - Darrell
--
Air Conditioning's Affordable Path to the "Human Comfort Zone Goal"
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditi...atent-heat.html
http://www.udarrell.com/ac-trouble-...subcooling.html
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Would the aold air return in the basement create a negative
> pressure and draw cold air form the upper 2 floors to cool the basement
> even more? Any thoughts on whether I should keep the cold air return in
> the basement woudl ab greatly appreciated. One more thing, the basement
> is an open design and there is a big gap under the door to teh furnace
> room. Wouldn't this act like a codl air return?
There could be a negative flow, but no great pressure...again, it would
be so small they you wouldn't notice. If your furnace is in a small room
where your fresh air intake is, yes the air would go under the door.
One thing that you don't adress is the registers. The cold air intake
isn't the only variable that can be changed or relied upon for cold and/or
heat comfort. You can open and close your registers or floor vents or walls
to regulate what air goes where. Depending on where you live they may be
needed to be adjusted every season or only once in the houses lifetime. You
can do a lot by adjusting your registers so I wouldn't get too worried about
the placement of the air intake. Hope that was of some help...Jimi
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| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-28, 7:21 pm |
| So it sounds like I can keep the basement air return and do some
blocking between seasons to see how this affects temperature among the
3 levels.
One last question. What is this backdraft danger for some instnaces
where air returns in teh basement can cause? Still can't wrap my head
around this yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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| dkarnes 2006-05-28, 8:21 pm |
| affiliateian@gmail.com wrote:
> So it sounds like I can keep the basement air return and do some
> blocking between seasons to see how this affects temperature among the
> 3 levels.
>
> One last question. What is this backdraft danger for some instnaces
> where air returns in teh basement can cause? Still can't wrap my head
> around this yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
>
i would not block any air return. unless you enlarge another return in
some other location. you have to do calculations on returns so you don't
put strain on the blower.
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| Stormin Mormon 2006-05-28, 11:21 pm |
| Heat rises. Cold sinks.
Where do you think you will find cold air?
--
Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..
<affiliateian@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1148760726.483300.161220@j33g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
The developer is coming back to put in a cold air return grill of
which
they had dry walled over. The contractor will check to see if the
grill
can be installed near the ceiling or the ground (depending if the
studs
have been sealed off half way up the wall - usually, cold air returns
are near the ground).
This is for the top floor of a 3 floor home. Here is my thinking.
Experts in this area, please chime in. To help remove more heat in the
top floor, I am tempted to ask teh contractor to install the grill
close to the ceiling. Aesthetically, it may not be as pleasing but
wouldn't this help in drawing away some of the heat in the summer
time?
My furnace has a 2 stage motor but the original developer only hooked
it up to run on 1 stage. I am getting central A/C put in and their
installer thinks he can re-setup the wires so that it can utilize the
2
stage blower. SO... on the hot days, the cold air return will, in
theory, pull out more heat from teh top floor (as it is closer to the
ceiling). In the cold days, it will still pull away more heat but I am
thinking this is ok since the heat will be on anyways. By the way,
thermostat is on middle floor. On the not so hot days, I am thinking I
can run the blower to circulate air without using the A/C or furnace
heat. Our furnace actually pulls air from cold air returns inside the
home as well as a duct that draws air from the outside of the house.
Any thoughts, advanatges or disadvantages on whether we should install
the cold air return near the ceiling or ground (on the 3rd floor)?
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| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-29, 12:21 am |
| Stormin Mormon wrote:
> Heat rises. Cold sinks.
>
> Where do you think you will find cold air?
>
> --
>
> Christopher A. Young
> You can't shout down a troll.
> You have to starve them.
Was that supposed to be a smart remark?
Just to clarify, the situation changes with the seasons. In the summer
months, the main goal would be to have the upper most air return draw
the most humid and heated air while in the winter months to maximize
the comfort of the entire home. From my research, many home owners have
indiacted that having a air returnin teh basement in teh summer with
central A/C actually makes the basement much cooler than it needs to
be. As another useful poster suggested, maybe keeping all 3 returns and
making adjustments to registers and returns to try and "balance" the
comfrot levels as much as possible with the changing seasons is the
best method. Again, I am a newbie at this and was looking for advice
and help. Not smart a$$ remarks with no further explanation... Mr T.,
have you been fed enough? <-- again, please see your own signature.
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| hallerb@aol.com 2006-05-29, 1:21 am |
| a long time ago a realtive had AC, back in the late 60s. He was
wealthy. first air condioning I had ever seen
Anyhow he had 2 sets of air returns with levers to close them off, one
high for AC season, one low for heating season. He would turn off the
unneeded one depending on the time of year.
Never saw another set up like that, I suspect furnaces today do a
better job of circulating air thus the multi speed blowers.
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| hallerb@aol.com 2006-05-29, 1:21 am |
| a long time ago a realtive had AC, back in the late 60s. He was
wealthy. first air condioning I had ever seen
Anyhow he had 2 sets of air returns with levers to close them off, one
high for AC season, one low for heating season. He would turn off the
unneeded one depending on the time of year.
Never saw another set up like that, I suspect furnaces today do a
better job of circulating air thus the multi speed blowers.
| |
| Doug Boulter 2006-05-30, 9:22 pm |
| affiliateian@gmail.com wrote on 27 May 2006:
> Also forgot to add, we have a cold air return in the basement. I
> am thinking I want to disbale this so teh basement does not
> freeze when the A/C is on in the summer months.
Actually, what you want to do in the summer is close (or partially
close) some of the basement supply vents so little cold air goes
into the basement. You want to leave the return open so the cool,
but humid basement air is drawn into the A/C system and
dehumidified.
--
Doug Boulter
To reply by e-mail, remove the obvious word from the e-mail address
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| JefCullen@gmail.com 2006-05-31, 1:21 am |
| Ceiling...I had a problem where the upstairs is warmer then the
downstairs when the a/c is on. The house was built w/ 1 return upstairs
on the floor. I've sence installed returns in the ceiling upstairs. It
made a huge dif. It the winter im going to cover the return so it
doesn't return the warm air. If I were you, I would put one high and
one low and close one depending on the season. If your return in the
basement is pulling too much air due to it not haveing much resistance,
it may be pulling less air from inside the living space. Not good
filiateian@gmail.com wrote:
> The developer is coming back to put in a cold air return grill of which
> they had dry walled over. The contractor will check to see if the grill
> can be installed near the ceiling or the ground (depending if the studs
> have been sealed off half way up the wall - usually, cold air returns
> are near the ground).
>
> This is for the top floor of a 3 floor home. Here is my thinking.
> Experts in this area, please chime in. To help remove more heat in the
> top floor, I am tempted to ask teh contractor to install the grill
> close to the ceiling. Aesthetically, it may not be as pleasing but
> wouldn't this help in drawing away some of the heat in the summer time?
>
> My furnace has a 2 stage motor but the original developer only hooked
> it up to run on 1 stage. I am getting central A/C put in and their
> installer thinks he can re-setup the wires so that it can utilize the 2
> stage blower. SO... on the hot days, the cold air return will, in
> theory, pull out more heat from teh top floor (as it is closer to the
> ceiling). In the cold days, it will still pull away more heat but I am
> thinking this is ok since the heat will be on anyways. By the way,
> thermostat is on middle floor. On the not so hot days, I am thinking I
> can run the blower to circulate air without using the A/C or furnace
> heat. Our furnace actually pulls air from cold air returns inside the
> home as well as a duct that draws air from the outside of the house.
>
> Any thoughts, advanatges or disadvantages on whether we should install
> the cold air return near the ceiling or ground (on the 3rd floor)?
| |
| affiliateian@gmail.com 2006-05-31, 3:21 am |
| JefCullen@gmail.com wrote:
> Ceiling...I had a problem where the upstairs is warmer then the
> downstairs when the a/c is on. The house was built w/ 1 return upstairs
> on the floor. I've sence installed returns in the ceiling upstairs. It
> made a huge dif. It the winter im going to cover the return so it
> doesn't return the warm air. If I were you, I would put one high and
> one low and close one depending on the season. If your return in the
> basement is pulling too much air due to it not haveing much resistance,
> it may be pulling less air from inside the living space. Not good
hmmm, that sounds like a good idea. Just curious. Do you have any other
returns besides the ones on your top floor?
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