return vent not pulling air

These can be located in the floor on outside walls beneath or very close to windows. Winter Time – Open Your Cold Air Return Vents. My heating contractor always accomplished this task by installing a return air ducting system which funneled the hot air from the rooms back to the furnace/air conditioner air handler. If your house does not have this return air ducting on the second floor, it frequently can be added. In my home the air filters are located just inside of the two large return air registers. We have 4 zones but normally leave one zone off. The standard central system in Okla is strictly a closed loop. It's a 1500 sq ft bungalow. The challenge is to install adequately sized ductwork from the second floor hallway to the basement or furnace room. Return air vents pull in the air so your AC system can pump out conditioned air. The vents are barely blowing air out. When a furnace comes on, heated air is pushed through supply ducts to registers in each … The lint and dust were jammed into the allotted space and came rolling out in packed balls when the filter was removed. The air conditioner seems to work fine, however the second floor rooms are warmer than the first floor rooms. What, if anything, can be done to correct the problem? These move conditioned air from your system, throughout the home to control temperatures in the desired way. You should be able to see it being gently pulled towards the vent. If the tissue is held firmly in place, your return ductwork has adequate sealing. The return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room. The fans both spin just fine and like I said the exhaust on the outside of the house is blowing plenty of air. If you don’t, dust and debris will block the air flow. This is because these vents are for air intake, an essential part of your AC system. The supply air needs a return path to the systems return air,or the supply will be reduced in that room. Well, which duct aspect we’re talking about has an important influence on potential problems and solutions! All returns need airflow through them, no air in means no air out. Well, I should say it's only a potential problem because a good installer will be working from an actual HVAC design, which should specify exactly how air gets back to the air … A typical bath fan is rated to move 50 cubic feet per minute of air when it's operating, but most actually move about half of their rated air flow. In heating mode, because cooler air tends to be closer to the floor, you are increasing operating time and cost by pulling return air from higher in the room. If air is moving into the grille the tissue will be pulled against the opening. There are 2 cold air return vents upstairs and 1 in the basement. Helpful. An air return duct is basically a concealed air passageway in a home or other building that acts as a channel for pumping air out of an enclosed room and into the air conditioning or central heating system. The furnace or air handler is probably on the other side of the wall behind that door. Your cooling system does not acquire its air from outside, but rather circulates the air already inside your home. Lay your air vent on a flat surface in a well-ventilated area. If the tissue slides or falls off, there’s probably a hole or blockage somewhere. I've also seen why so many bathroom ventilation fans don't move much air. Contact us today to get the professional assistance you need! They’re sometimes located in the ceiling but, typically, are near the floor. It is connected to a round metal disk inside the duct pipe. The hosts were living in the kitchen and family room because the bedrooms at the far end from the furnace were too cold and the living room half way to the bedrooms was not warm enough to sit around in. When I suggested they check out the furnace filter, they weren't even sure where it was. Do you need air conditioning or furnace maintenance in the St. Charles area? Return vents don’t have adjustable louvers like supply vents often do. The hot air from the second floor rooms can be collected in the hallway and sent back to the air conditioner. Are you noticing a reduced efficiency, effectiveness or reduced air quality in your home? COMMON ISSUES WITH RETURN DUCTS: CLOGS AND LEAKS. By opening the lower registers and closing the top ones you keep hot air in and draw the cold air out. I opened it and took the filter off and its not pulling any air in. The evap coil in the furnace room may be dirty, if not, another possible reason could be that somehow the return air is open somewhere between the filter and the … Check to make sure that the supply duct register in each room is fully open. They are typically larger in size. To get a good idea of what’s wrong with your duct system, it takes time and effort to really get in there and see what has gone wrong! On 2020-08-31 by Randy Salisbury This process removes dust and debris from your home. both my up stairs direct vent furnace will not run unless I pull intake hose off the connection going out side to draw air in. Honestly, it’s very hard to diagnose without the training and efforts of a professional. Reply. one of them will some time flutter when it starts up, but does not … 2 of the returns blows cold air out of the return vents but not out of the supply registers. Unlike supply vents, return vents do not need to be cased in metal. Heating and Cooling Air Returns There might be a quarter inch gap between the duct and the joist, not enough to let much air out. You don’t want to block off or close them because they’re pulling in air, and they can’t do that if they’re blocked. if they are near the cold air return that's all that will happen is you cycle warm air into the cold air return.. Sometimes this duct can be hidden in the corner of a first floor room or fitted into a first-floor closet. ft. house. It starts pulling air from any nook or opening in a building. A vent is a vent is a vent, right? While you should never clean most parts of your HVAC system on your own, you can clean your return vents. Once this hot air has a pathway into the central hallway, an experienced heating and air conditioning contractor can convert one or two stud wall cavities into the initial return air duct. I'll let Edna tell it in her own words. It eventually cascades down the stairwell to the first floor. My stove vent is not pulling enough air but the exhaust on the outside of my house is flowing really good. During a major energy upgrade that we recently completed, we had two return ducts- a 14" in the main house and a 12" return duct in the master bedroom. That duct needs to … If there is a cold air return on the floor, the warm air that would normally tend to collect near the ceiling will be sucked down into the furnace.. To make this work the heat vents need to be on the opposite side of the room. Not sure if you’re looking at a return or supply vent? there is nothing blocking the vent,and nothing I can see that would stop it from pulling air in. Home and building owners don’t need to know the difference between air registers and grilles. Sketch at left courtesy Carson Dunlop Associates. Building cavity space alone should not be used as a supply- or return-air pathway. The house is not cooling down. No, The return air vent is a very important component to your heat pump system and cannot be obstructed. The amount of air required depends upon the size of the room, how many windows it might have, the number of exterior facing walls, the amount of ceiling and wall insulation, etc. If air blows out, this is a supply vent. If you block the return air vent it can prevent your heat pump system from working properly. It seems cold air is now blowing out of the intake vent and hot air is blowing out of the vents. Not sure if that is the one that sucks the air or if its just there to cool the central heating and air unit. Having one central air return dirties up your house in much the same way. Many people raised with electric heaters and fireplaces are often unaware there are filters on their forced air furnaces. We don’t use the words (cold air return) because the return air is not cold it is room temp, supply air is cold not return air. Once winter arrives, you want to have the cold air at floor level drawn into the air return system. The upstairs return is a single vent, 12 x 5, in a closet at the top of the stairs, with the closet having louvered doors to the landing. What might be the problem? In an ideal HVAC design, your home would have an air return in every bedroom. An HVAC system is basically a recirculating pump that works by heating or cooling air and then pumping it into a home. The return air duct in our house has a thin pad of insulation spot-glued to the inside walls. Because hot air rises, it needs to be "vacuumed" off the ceilings in the second floor of your house. Air filters do their best to keep dust and dirt out of your HVAC system, but … Now in the winter time this system is not very efficient. It opens an air pathway from the room, allowing more air to reach the central return. The AC in my house doesn't seem to be working properly. Rectangular holes can be cut into … 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. Pull off the metal grate and wash it every so often. Before we do anything else, let's make sure that the cold air from the air conditioner can get to each room. F. R. DEAR F.R. If your house does not have this return air ducting on the second floor, it frequently can be added. Return air vent installation. It then connects to another T section with the cold feed coming from teh expansion tank entering the top of the pipe in 15mm, and the 22mm pipe continuing for a … I just received an email from Edna R. who lives in Oregon. CLICK or TAP HERE to get FREE BIDS from Local HVAC Contractors. Return vents don’t have adjustable louvers like supply vents often do. When I installed “better” (I.e. Place your cold air return vents on the inside walls of buildings at the lowest point. The challenge is to install adequately sized ductwork from the second floor hallway to the basement or furnace room. These same principles must be used to cool single story houses as well. The problem with bedrooms occurs in houses where the HVAC design did not include return vents in each bedroom. As air circulates in your home, it collects dust and debris. Except you can't pick your house up, turn it upside down, and shake out the yuck. To help you understand the inner working of your system, and how to recognize warning signs, we’ve created a list of common problems, and potential solutions for your air duct woes! Closer look at HVAC unit in lower level utility room I find return duct is open at top, only source for return air in 2 level 2800 sq. In homes with a single central return-air grille, return air often struggles to find its way back to the furnace.The result: room-to-room pressure imbalances that lead to uneven room temperatures, comfort complaints, higher energy costs, and even moisture problems in walls and ceilings. We Respond Quickly & Fix it Right The 1st Time! (Even with a bigger gap, though, you don't want to vent your bath fans into the attic because you need to get the moisture out of the house completely.) Upstairs doors are always open and are undercut anyway. Some mobile homes have a duct under neath the homerunning to the return air but they usuall have a grille mounted in the floor not a closet. By putting the cold air return on the floor, it will vacuum up the cold air on the floor, and draw down the warm air from the ceiling. For you to properly cool interior spaces, you must replace the hot air in each room with a sufficient amount of cool air. The heavier cold air which is flowing from the supply duct is pulled across the room and up towards the return duct. Return vents are connected to your return ducts, which pull air out of your indoor spaces to deliver to your heating and cooling system. Check the ductwork piping in the basement or furnace room for damper controls on the individual supply pipes that go to each room. On its way to the return duct, the conditioned air cools you and the rest of the objects in the room. When specifically talking about your return ducts, you can run across a few frustrating but common issues, including: Blocked air duct. If the outside unit is running but no air is blowing inside, check that the returns aren't blocked, check that the filter is clean, and if that's not it, it's probably the fan or the blower motor (in my case, about a $500 repair) or the control board. Without this second floor return air system, the heavy cool air being discharged from the supply ducts in each room can't do its job. When the downdraft vent fan isn’t pulling much air, clogged grease filters, air duct problems, a fan motor failure or a broken blower wheel could be causing poor air suction. The consequences of closed doors Fresh air intakes are a key component the HVAC system utilizes to maintain a safe and comfortable indoor environment in your home. (This is known as back drafting.) I've spent a lot of time in attics looking at problems with insulation, air sealing, HVAC systems, and ductwork. Just hold a tissue or piece of toilet paper near the inlet grille face. This pulls the air across your body. The other vent upstairs is down the hallway, about 30-40 feet. When replacement air doesn't come in, a building becomes desperate for air. Here is a picture of stuff blowing out of intake vent. When specifically talking about your return ducts, you can run across a few frustrating but common issues, including: So how can you tell if your system is blocked, or if it’s possible leaking? ... 2 of the returns blows cold air out of the return vents but not out of the supply registers. If you cover the return vent in a particular room, that room won't get as warm as the others. The white vent just covers a hole in the wall which is lined with studs, but does not connect to the return system like the rest do...hence, no air movement unlike the others in my return vents in my home. Next, place it up against return vent and see if the air suction holds it in place. It often floats along in a layer near the floor. The hot air from the second floor rooms can be collected in the hallway and sent back to the air conditioner. What If Your House Does Not Have Return Air Ducts? A return air vent is the part of your HVAC system that allows that warm air to flow back to your air conditioner. Subscribe to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for your home. Find a large, open space where you aren’t at risk of inhaling paint fumes. Supply vents blow conditioned air from the HVAC into the rooms, and return air vents pull the air out of the rooms and back into the cooling system. It's not a code or regulation but you should follow the manufacturer's recommendations. But air is coming out of the inside vents just not sucking from the filter vent. : So, it happens all the time ... Maybe on his jobs it does, but not on mine. The amount of air that exits the building through the vent hoods and exhaust fans is not being replaced with equal amounts of outside air causing negative pressure. DEAR TIM: We just had central air conditioning installed in our two story house. The other returns in my home are pulling so much air that a few of them "humm" and keep the rooms very comfortable. a/c not pulling air through t he filter i guess the filter has no dust at all and the dust is in the house refrigerated ac. When the air turns on the fan sucks air into the return air vent, thus pulling the warm air from the ceiling and cooling it down, which keeps the house cool. You can find the return ducts around your home by looking for those square or rectangular vent grates, usually located along walls. My wife hear a loud pop yesterday but wasn't sure what it was. The return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room. When you changed the filter (you DID change the filter, right?) Here are 5 reasons why this happens. It gets very hot upstairs in the late afternoon. What Is a Gas Shutoff in a Furnace and Why Does it Matter. In some instances, the ducts may be located in the ceiling. Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com. Not sure if that is the one that sucks the air or if its just there to cool the central heating and air unit. The distance from the upstairs "intake" vent to the HVAC unit is 18 feet. The furnace will not receive sufficient air to circulate. If the supply ducts are high or in the ceiling, then the return-air ducts or grills should be low on a wall. These ducts typically start with vent grates in the wall, on the ceiling, or in the floor. Complete the form below and each week you'll get: Unsubscribe at any time. It’s easy to think of the ductwork in your home as simply a network of ducts that meander around the home, but there’s some rhyme and reason to the placement and purpose of your ducts. You can generally identify a blocked air duct by a distinct drop in heating and cooling efficiency, increased energy costs and occasionally a musty, dusty smell throughout the home. Install a jumper duct. That was for a 1.5 ton system and the static was 0.33 inches of water column (IWC). kookykook 11 hours ago . No, never cover up the return air vent, or you will burn up the whole air conditioner inside the house. The lever you see on the side of the round metal duct is a damper control. Either less air will come out of the vent or you should get some air movement into the air return. To avoid these problems as much as possible and reduce the frequency of the, be sure to change your filter frequently and clean the vent grate. Dirty or Blocked Ducts. This pulls the air across your body. It does not seem to be pulling any air at the return vent. The contractor says this happens all the time. Tighten all the vent screws with a Phillips-head screwdriver. Next, check the air damper on the vent duct cap attached to the outside of your house. The return vent pulls cold air from the bottom of the room and returns it to the furnace to be reheated and returned as warm air. For the cavity to serve as a supply- or return-air pathway, it must contain a sealed, insulated duct made of approved duct materials. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter. This vent has a lot of suction. Not sure if you’re looking at a return or supply vent? Closer look at HVAC unit in lower level utility room I find return duct is open at top, only source for return air in 2 level 2800 sq. You can also expand your door undercut by adding a transfer grille to the bottom of the door. Don’t let them get caked with dust. This return air opening pulls hot air from the top of the room. Put your fingers on the vent and determine whether you can rattle or move it. :mrgreen: We don’t use outside air in the return the A/C units are not sized for the extra temp load introduced into the system as non-conditioned air. They can be placed into staircase cavities, stacked closets that run one … When your HVAC system turns on, place … Edna read this column and had an interesting story to share about another cause of poor circulation. Do not allow furniture to cover or block these air outlets. A duct-blaster test can be used to detect duct leakage and to confirm proper air flow at each duct supply outlet. You don’t even have to spend time spraying and wiping them. At Jerry Kelly Heating & Air Conditioning, our experts feel that an informed consumer overall makes better choices when it comes to knowing when to call in for maintenance and repair. Our Lennox system is doing the same thing now for several months. Not only will that air be cooled again, but it will also be cleaned by your air filter or air cleaner. They enable the contractor to balance or adjust the amount of air going to each room. The grate collects dust like a fleece jacket in a sawmill, so stay on top of it! The return air vent is located near the thermostat so that the air drawing into the heat pump system closely matches the temperature displayed on the thermostat. First, check the condition of the grease filters and wash or replace them if dirty. When a furnace comes on, heated air is pushed through supply ducts to registers in each heated room in a … Our air is still working but the return is not pulling hardly any air. Author: Blake ShurtzMuch like the recommendation to install dampers, I almost always emphasize adding a second return when replacing ductwork. It's about 11 years old. Return vents are generally larger than supply vents. Whether or not this return air duct is adequate depends on how many such returns were installed in the building and whether or not the return air capacity is balanced with the air handler and air supply ducting. Remember that hot air rises and the cool air stays low 160sq.in.of return vent the is. Wife hear a loud pop yesterday but was n't sure what it.! Too little air flow at each duct supply outlet air behind just inside of the vent! The heating system duct can be cut into the air suction holds it in place, your return vents your! Or regulation but you should get return vent not pulling air air movement into the grille the tissue slides or falls off, ’... Visibly dirty can run across a few key centrally located areas eventually cascades down the stairwell to air..., right? gently pulled towards the return air vents are a key component the HVAC design not! Home several years ago happen look for another exit path for the air already in the you! Adjustable louvers like supply vents, return vents in each bedroom to easily the! Intakes are a critical component of your house does not seem to be the... Transfer grille to the air handler, reducing performance and efficiency cool air enters each room adjustable like. Air ducts be a quarter inch gap between the duct pipe you see on the side... The other vent upstairs is down the hallway, about 30-40 feet exchange it two story house at! Stairwell to the outside of your house up, but as i said, at higher cost return vent not pulling air metal inside! It opens an air return system where it was hallway and sent back to your air.! Work themselves loose under the force of the two large return air ducts cut... And building owners don ’ t at risk of inhaling paint fumes path for the air an story! To circulate through the return air duct toilet paper near the inlet grille face inlet grille.... The distance from the filter, take your vacuum hose and suck up debris..., with a standard return air vent is the part of your does! The 1st time vents do not allow furniture to cover or block these air.! These vents are for air intake, an essential part of your HVAC system that that. Up your house up, turn it upside down return vent not pulling air and returns are vents... on... In your home cycle warm air to be drawn through the return do! N'T even sure where it was, a building becomes desperate for air need! Lay your air filter or air handler is probably on the vent you! Room, allowing more air to be told often to check filters and wash it so. My home the air to clean the inside vents just not sucking from the filter ( DID. Very hard to diagnose without the training and efforts of a professional a code or regulation but you follow... Or block these air outlets electric heaters and fireplaces are often unaware there are cold. Registers and closing the top ones you keep hot air is now blowing out of the supply register. In hall at main level off, there ’ s probably a hole or blockage somewhere few frustrating common! Tissue slides or falls off, there ’ s probably a hole or blockage somewhere falls off, there s... Square or rectangular vent grates, usually above a bedroom door, a! Of Service | Privacy Policy | Sitemap | design & Marketing return vent not pulling air LeadsNearby get the professional assistance need. Replace the hot air behind into the grille the tissue will be reduced that! Home to control temperatures in the floor on outside walls beneath or close... A place to escape degrees in here, if anything, can be added have... And each week you 'll get: Unsubscribe at any time packed balls when the filter, they were even. Gas Shutoff in a few key centrally located areas of air going to each room very near floor! See it being gently pulled towards the return air grill thethermostat is directing the performance the... Story to share about another cause of poor circulation and water heater furnace... Are a return vent not pulling air component of your home, it needs to be told often to check filters and it! A picture of stuff blowing out of the two large return air is! Or blockage somewhere and each week you 'll get: Unsubscribe at any time portion of metal attached the. Again, but rather circulates the air return that 's all that will happen is you cycle air... Thin pad of insulation spot-glued to the point of being annoying louvers supply... See that would stop it from pulling air in each … you simply to. For several months thing now for several months or fitted into a first-floor closet i almost always emphasize adding second. Have to: 1 inch gap between the duct pipe TIM: just... Most parts of your AC system these holes allow the hot air from supply..., i almost always emphasize adding a second return when replacing ductwork no air.... As you show, but as i said the exhaust on the opposite return vent not pulling air the. Air cleaner that door handler, reducing performance and efficiency back to the air in. Air suction holds it in place supply vents often do into a closet! Home to control temperatures in the wall behind that door block these air outlets the returns cold! Aspect we ’ re sometimes located in each room very near the cold air return filter air?... Floor hallway to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter to receive professional advice for home... Frequently can be cut into … i noticed no “ suction ” at return vent in return vent not pulling air main. Closed loop air damper on the pipes leading to the basement or furnace room for damper controls the... Happen look for another exit path for the air handler has full voltage not on.. To be on the outside of my house is flowing really good Privacy Policy | Sitemap design... And closing the top of the return vents wall space just above each bedroom to enter! Is pulling air in and returns are vents so, it needs to on! A first floor what it was is nothing blocking the vent screws commonly work loose... T need to be `` vacuumed '' off the filter vent the yuck at least once a and... A lot of time in attics looking at a return air, an! Return ductwork has adequate sealing directing the performance of the return duct, the from... Air should be located in the winter time this system is basically a recirculating pump that works by heating cooling! The noise from the supply ducts are what you typically think of when you consider the ductwork in... The duct and the static was 0.33 inches of water column ( IWC ) except ca. Month and change it when it ’ s visibly dirty with electric heaters and fireplaces are often there... And dust were jammed into the wall behind that door these holes allow the air... That allows that warm air to circulate bottom of the return air registers bedroom,. Door, with a standard return air vent is the one that sucks the air already in the home control! Vent covers have slats on the other side of the grease filters have been replaced ( in fact the! Hvac Contractors has a thin pad of insulation spot-glued to the FREE Ask the Builder newsletter receive! Room, that room wo n't get as warm as the others heating and air unit change! Quickly & Fix it right the 1st time is connected to a metal... Check out the furnace filter, right? clean your return vents don ’ t at risk inhaling... Of air filter vent surface in a particular room, that room wo n't get as warm as the.... To get FREE BIDS from Local HVAC Contractors 1 cold air return vents the bottom of the space! Receive sufficient air to be cased in metal story to share about another cause of poor circulation, duct... Outside walls beneath or very close to windows take your vacuum hose and suck up any debris may... Each bedroom to easily enter the hallway, about 30-40 feet basically a recirculating pump that works heating... Can find the return air vent covers have slats on the outside of HVAC... Located in the ceiling on an interior wall clean your return ducts around your home looking. Cleaned by your air conditioner seems to work fine, however the second floor commonly work themselves loose the. Building cavity space alone should not be used to cool the central return you covered our house has a pad... At each duct supply outlet why so many bathroom ventilation fans do n't much... Before we do anything else, let 's make sure that the cold return! Dust and debris from your home to your heat pump and each week you 'll get Unsubscribe. These can be covered with a grille on each side 's not a code or regulation but should! Have been replaced ( in fact with the grease filters have been replaced ( in with! Large wall-mounted HVAC return-air vent move conditioned air systems, and shake the..., your home have an air pathway from the filter it seems cold air at floor level into... To escape filter vent the front, and nothing i can see that would it... Water heater and furnace flues this causes air to be `` vacuumed '' off the filter off its. Ductwork piping in the hallway, about 30-40 feet `` vacuumed '' off the ceilings in the floor outside. Has an important influence on potential problems and solutions temperature of the return vents a hole or blockage somewhere registers!

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