How do I know if my return air vent is working?
You can identify return vents by turning on the system fan and holding your hand or a piece of paper up. If the paper is pulled toward the vent or you feel a suction effect, it’s a return vent.
Why do you need to know about your return vents?
They work to keep your interior pressurized and the interior air clean as they feed air to the air handler. You should know how many return vents you have and where they’re located. When your HVAC system blows air into your home, that changes the air pressure inside. The excess air needs somewhere to go, and that spot is the return vent.
How to tell if your HVAC system is not getting enough return air?
There are several easy and amateur ways to check for an air conditioning or warm air heating system that is not getting enough return air. Visual inspection for inadequate return air: if there is only a single air return inlet, where is it located? Is the return isolated from some rooms in the building if the doors to those rooms are closed?
Where do you put HVAC return ducts in Your House?
HVAC Return Air Ducting – You Better Have One in Many Rooms “An HVAC return air duct should be in every room except a bathroom and kitchen. They should be on interior walls across the room from the supply ducts that should be washing exterior walls with conditioned air.”
Where does the air come from when the AC is on?
When you turn on your air conditioner, you hear the system start to blow air out of vents on or near the ceiling. These are called supply vents. However, the AC is not a magical box full of a never ending supply of cool air.
Why do I need a return air vent in my a / C?
A return air vent allows that warm air to flow back to your air conditioner. It’s best to have a return air duct in every room with a supply register. The more return air vents, the easier it is to balance the pressure in your home.
Where are the return vents in a house?
Homes built before central air was common often have retrofitted HVAC systems. When contractors first installed central air, they put in a single big return vent somewhere central in the house. This isn’t the most efficient system.
Why is the Return Vent bigger than the supply vent?
The excess air needs somewhere to go, and that spot is the return vent. The return vent is usually bigger than your supply vents because it’s how the air handler sucks air into the HVAC system. Homes built before central air was common often have retrofitted HVAC systems.
Where is the return air vent on a heat pump?
Which Vent is the Return Vent In most heat pump setups, the return air vent will be located near your home’s thermostat. The thermostat should be located as close to the center of the space as possible to create a balanced system. The return air vent will be located on the wall, in the ceiling, or in the floor on some older homes.