Replies

1. 
   rez | Mar 29, 2009 07:16pm | #1

   Greetings cirino,

   This post, in response to your question, will bump the thread through the 'recent discussion' listing again which will increase it's viewing.

   Perhaps it will catch someone's attention that can help you with advice.

   Cheers

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2. 
   Davo304 | Apr 01, 2009 08:52am | #2

   Believe it or not, depending on room size, and other matters, you don't always have to provide return air registers for every room. You may need to size one room a little larger and that may suffice; eliminating the worry about snaking another line over into the other bedroom.

   You could also reconfigure a return air thru your new header/beam. It would be a box beam configuration and your bedroom tie-ins  located above the beam would remain in place. Your header beam would be a little wider but this option could work. All depends on the "look" you are after.

    

   Also, it may be possible to run new return air lines via a "chase" wall built on the interior side of your exterior walls; rather than running the duct work inside them. It would change the look of your room, so you would have to determine if this would look OK.

   You really need to call on an HVAC person and let them see the property and give you an opinion as to what your course of action should be.

    

   Davo

    

1. 
   cirino | Apr 01, 2009 04:36pm | #3

   Hey Davo304, Thanks for your imput! A box header is not an option in this case.

   It is ,however,looking like a chase built on the interior of the exterior wall will be built.

   Thanks cirino

3. 
   rdesigns | Apr 01, 2009 05:53pm | #4

   Without knowing a lot of the specifics of your situation, there are still some general comments that can help you arrive at a solution:

   With the exception of bathrooms, every room that has a supply air register and a door that separates it from other spaces should have a return air pathway. "Return air pathway", however, does not have to mean a return air duct. You can transfer air from one room, say a bedroom, to another room that has a central return by means of transfer grilles. You can use a "high-low" arrangement where you use the stud space between rooms with one of the grilles high on one side of the wall and other grille low on the other side of the wall. This helps reduce "cross-talk" between rooms.

   Or, in the case of two different floor levels, you can transfer the air with grilles between the two floors, grilles which can also be offset from one another, if needed, by using a joist space to channel the air.

   The main thing is to be sure that the cross-sectional area of the return duct or path is at least 50% bigger than the total cross-sectional area of the supplies that are being returned. You don't want to waste the furnace blower's power, or static pressure, on returns. You want good airflow and velocity on the supplies to achieve good throw at the registers and good air mixing, or entrainment, of the room air. Returns simply relieve the pressure created by the supplies, if the the system is performing right.