Cold Air Return Duct Design

Cold air returns in order for your ductwork system to operate properly the furnace must have a consistent source of air that is cycled back into the unit.

Cold air return duct design.

This duct does an excellent job of absorbing sound from the blower. In addition we offer take offs elbows round duct pipe and register boots that can be connected to the starting ductwork and run to each room. More product details close. This pulls the air across your body.

We offer the starting ductwork for furnaces and air handlers called supply air plenums and return air plenums. The problem with bedrooms occurs in houses where the hvac design did not include return vents in each bedroom. To maintain balanced air pressure and air movement your duct system needs return vents for air in the room to be pulled back into the hvac system. Running a metal cold air return duct between studs requires knowledge of both hvac systems and the components involved in framing.

After you install the duct through the studs you will need to add framing around the top and bottom of the ductwork to allow for a wall finish such as drywall. These ducts draw air into your system from the interior of your home or from outside. The flexible design allows for connection of a new or existing side air return on either side based on the placement of the reinforced sheet metal panel of the return air box assembly. Plus the knock down design simplifies transporting to the job by taking up very little space.

For each cubic foot of air that is pumped out into your home the same amount must be drawn back in so the process can start over. If airflow isn t balanced which is the case in a massive percentage of houses then your home isn t heating up evenly or efficiently. If you need a longer duct add either another sec tion of the unico return duct or a length of plastic core flex duct between the unit and the unico return duct. The return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room.

It s important that roughly the same amount of air moves through supply ducts as return ducts in order to maintain neutral air pressure in rooms. Not providing enough returns is a common ductwork design flaw that leads to comfort complaints. The furnace or air handler ahu in the drawing below pulls air through the return ducts conditions that air and then sends it through the supply ducts back into the house. Ductwork design mistake 5.

Placement and design of return air ducts and vents is a crucial factor in how efficiently and effectively conditioned air will circulate in your home. If the supply ducts are in the floor then the return air should be located up high. Cold air returns bring this unconditioned air back to the furnace. First building codes in many areas require that the cold air return line gets external insulation and therefore you will need to leave a gap for the insulation around the duct return line.

6 tips for good ductwork design. Supply air from furnaces and air conditioners should be on outside walls. With a few materials and just a little work you can modify cold air return ducts for significantly better balance.