Should I have a cold air return in the basement?

Hot air heating systems function best if there is at least one cold air return on each floor of the house. Essentially, that allows the warm air to circulate better. The basement is no exception to the rule.

Should I add a return in basement?





Every house should have proper air return throughout the house including the basement. Believe it or not, every room, including the basement should be the same temperature.

How do you circulate cool basement air with a hot house?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: We made a decent hole inside this furnace cold air return. Now what happens is you can see the air filter. We're taking cold damp air off the floor. We're filtering it.

How do I run a cold air return in my basement?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So what I've done here is I've cut in an elbow. Into the existing cold air return. It comes down to this pipe here sucking air in this cavity. From the floor. So when the furnace kicks on.

How many cold air returns do you need?

How many cold air returns do I need? Ideally you want a cold air return register in every major room in your home. This would not include bathrooms and closets, but bedrooms, living rooms, etc. Older homes might only have just one or two on each floor.

How do you install a return air vent in a basement?





Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: You've got to make sure that you know where you're doing this. So I'm putting it in right here as you can see I've put out the measurements from the inside of this vent. I can open and shut it.

Do you need a cold air return in every room?

While it is a myth that air return grilles are required in each and every room in the house, it is definitely necessary to have more than one of these grilles installed at strategic places in the house. The most important place to have these would be the bedroom.

What happens if there is not enough return air?

If there is not enough return air available, your HVAC system will not heat or cool properly. They must be properly sized — Return air ducts must be large enough to carry a sufficient amount of expended air back to your furnace, air conditioner, or heat pump.

Where should a return air vent be located?

Return air vents are generally located near the center of the homes. Older and newer homes often have one register per floor, but homes built from 1960-1990 may have a cold return air vent in each room.

How much does it cost to add a return vent?



A return air drop replacement will run around $300-$400, including installation. In rare cases where a second drop needs to be added, the cost can be up to twice that amount. Sometimes, one or two individual duct runs need to be modified or added, for situations like the room addition we mentioned earlier.

What does a cold air return do?

The Purpose of Your Cold Air Returns



The return registers draw stale air into the ductwork, where it’s pulled through the filter to capture dust and debris and then delivered back to the HVAC equipment for reconditioning.

How much return air do I need?

Having a number of return vents (preferably one in every room, but also 2 or three is far better than just one) creates regular air pressure. If you have one return vent, your house is great. Maintain the doors to every room open so air can properly flow.

Can you have too many cold air returns?



To answer your question, no, you normally cannot supply too much return air. If installed in a certain fashion, with bedroom doors closed, it is possible to put a single room or two under negative pressure but that won’t affect the amount of heat entering the room substantially.

How many AC returns should you have?

Your Home Might Not Have Enough Return Vents



Having several return vents (ideally one in every room, but even two or three is better than just one) creates consistent air pressure. If you have one return vent, your home is fine. Keep the doors to each room open so air can properly circulate.

How do you increase return air flow?

5 Ways to Improve Airflow in Your Home

  1. Check Vents and Registers. One of the simplest things you can do to increase airflow in your home is to check the vents and registers in each room. …
  2. Turn on Ceiling Fans. …
  3. Schedule HVAC Maintenance. …
  4. Consider Duct Cleaning. …
  5. Invest in a Ventilator.


How big should my return air be?



A return air grill should be sized for an air speed of 300-500 FPM(feet per minute).

How do you install a cold air return duct?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: But for supply you can't have wires and pipes of them going through the line. So here we have framed out through this Bay right behind the furnace. It's going to go up into the floor base.