AC return duct

	AC return duct

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Subject

Author

Date

AC return duct

nmbexcuse

05-22-2008

Re: AC return duct

ransley

05-22-2008

Lou

Red Green

If you were Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options

Posted by on May 22, 2008, 2:29 pm

On one side of my house there is an AC serving 4 bedrooms with a
bathroom in the middle. The AC handler is located up in the attic
inside the bathroom.

This bathroom has a lower ceiling than other rooms in the house.

I recently took down the sheetrock and noticed that this lower ceiling
is an "add on", it was built and attached to the joists. After taking
down the insulation and everything it is clear to me now the one
single reason to build this lower ceiling is to accomodate a 16"
insulated coiled duct from one side of the house to the other side of
the handler.

There are altogether five returns, one in each room, and one in the
hallway, and seven supplies (one in each of the 4 rooms, one in each
of the three baths). The returns from two rooms on one side of the
bath came together and then dropped into the lower part of the ceiling
and go past the AC handler from below and then merge with the return
ducts from the other two rooms on the opposite side.

So I am thinking, why do I need five returns? Many houses have only
one return, so if I completely eliminate the return from one side of
the house, I could eliminate that duct, and hence I can eliminate the
lowered ceiling.

The AC guy says I could do that, and still have three returns on the
other side, but I may feel a slight difference in temperature on one
side. But he also said he is hesitant to remove that duct because
it's 1970 sheet metal we are talking about and once you break it you
may be opening a can of worms. These foam sprayed insulation on sheet
metal may just disintegrate.

Any comments on the pros/cons of removing the returns from one side?

Thanks,

MC

Posted by ransley on May 22, 2008, 5:27 pm

On May 22, 1:29=A0pm, nmbexc...@hotmail.com wrote:

> On one side of my house there is an AC serving 4 bedrooms with a

> bathroom in the middle. =A0The AC handler is located up in the attic

> inside the bathroom.

> This bathroom has a lower ceiling than other rooms in the house.

> I recently took down the sheetrock and noticed that this lower ceiling

> is an "add on", it was built and attached to the joists. =A0After taking

> down the insulation and everything it is clear to me now the one

> single reason to build this lower ceiling is to accomodate a 16"

> insulated coiled duct from one side of the house to the other side of

> the handler.

> There are altogether five returns, one in each room, and one in the

> hallway, and seven supplies (one in each of the 4 rooms, one in each

> of the three baths). =A0The returns from two rooms on one side of the

> bath came together and then dropped into the lower part of the ceiling

> and go past the AC handler from below and then merge with the return

> ducts from the other two rooms on the opposite side.

> So I am thinking, why do I need five returns? =A0Many houses have only

> one return, so if I completely eliminate the return from one side of

> the house, I could eliminate that duct, and hence I can eliminate the

> lowered ceiling.

> The AC guy says I could do that, and still have three returns on the

> other side, but I may feel a slight difference in temperature on one

> side. =A0But he also said he is hesitant to remove that duct because

> it's 1970 sheet metal we are talking about and once you break it you

> may be opening a can of worms. =A0These foam sprayed insulation on sheet

> metal may just disintegrate.

> Any comments on the pros/cons of removing the returns from one side?

> Thanks,

> MC

I dont think much of your ac guy and im not one, removing returns will
affect you especialy with the Ac on, it was well thought out and
balanced and I bet works now, instead of 16" round replace the
section in the bath with rectangular duct it may only need to be 3-4"
with the correct width, you could maybe raise the ceiling a foot. I
dont understand why it would be more trouble than gaining a higher
ceiling and keeping a balanced system or what the big deal is he is
worried about, I think you need someone better.

Posted by Lou on May 22, 2008, 6:09 pm

> On May 22, 1:29 pm, nmbexc...@hotmail.com wrote:

> > On one side of my house there is an AC serving 4 bedrooms with a

> > bathroom in the middle. The AC handler is located up in the attic

> > inside the bathroom.

> > This bathroom has a lower ceiling than other rooms in the house.

> > I recently took down the sheetrock and noticed that this lower ceiling

> > is an "add on", it was built and attached to the joists. After taking

> > down the insulation and everything it is clear to me now the one

> > single reason to build this lower ceiling is to accomodate a 16"

> > insulated coiled duct from one side of the house to the other side of

> > the handler.

> > There are altogether five returns, one in each room, and one in the

> > hallway, and seven supplies (one in each of the 4 rooms, one in each

> > of the three baths). The returns from two rooms on one side of the

> > bath came together and then dropped into the lower part of the ceiling

> > and go past the AC handler from below and then merge with the return

> > ducts from the other two rooms on the opposite side.

> > So I am thinking, why do I need five returns? Many houses have only

> > one return, so if I completely eliminate the return from one side of

> > the house, I could eliminate that duct, and hence I can eliminate the

> > lowered ceiling.

> > The AC guy says I could do that, and still have three returns on the

> > other side, but I may feel a slight difference in temperature on one

> > side. But he also said he is hesitant to remove that duct because

> > it's 1970 sheet metal we are talking about and once you break it you

> > may be opening a can of worms. These foam sprayed insulation on sheet

> > metal may just disintegrate.

> > Any comments on the pros/cons of removing the returns from one side?

> > Thanks,

> > MC

If this is an add on, it was added on for a reason. It must have been
needed, but
that doesn't mean you can't find another route to put a new run
unless your just plain
out of space. Anytime you can at least maintain returns you should.
Removing a return
will just start other problems.
Lou

Posted by Red Green on May 23, 2008, 12:39 am

27g2000hsf.googlegroups.com:

> On one side of my house there is an AC serving 4 bedrooms with a

> bathroom in the middle. The AC handler is located up in the attic

> inside the bathroom.

> This bathroom has a lower ceiling than other rooms in the house.

> I recently took down the sheetrock and noticed that this lower ceiling

> is an "add on", it was built and attached to the joists. After taking

> down the insulation and everything it is clear to me now the one

> single reason to build this lower ceiling is to accomodate a 16"

> insulated coiled duct from one side of the house to the other side of

> the handler.

> There are altogether five returns, one in each room, and one in the

> hallway, and seven supplies (one in each of the 4 rooms, one in each

> of the three baths). The returns from two rooms on one side of the

> bath came together and then dropped into the lower part of the ceiling

> and go past the AC handler from below and then merge with the return

> ducts from the other two rooms on the opposite side.

> So I am thinking, why do I need five returns? Many houses have only

> one return, so if I completely eliminate the return from one side of

> the house, I could eliminate that duct, and hence I can eliminate the

> lowered ceiling.

> The AC guy says I could do that, and still have three returns on the

> other side, but I may feel a slight difference in temperature on one

> side. But he also said he is hesitant to remove that duct because

> it's 1970 sheet metal we are talking about and once you break it you

> may be opening a can of worms. These foam sprayed insulation on sheet

> metal may just disintegrate.

> Any comments on the pros/cons of removing the returns from one side?

> Thanks,

> MC

Each coil is designed to have a specific amout of air going over it per
unit time. The return & ducts both affect this. Change it and the system
becomes imbalanced and less efficient as well as the possibility of the
AC to having to work harder, if it can.

I am not an AC guy. But a week ago a 25yr company owner is where I got
that info from.

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