Cold Air Return Duct - in Furnace Room?


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Old 12-14-18, 07:12 PM
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Cold Air Return Duct - in Furnace Room?

Our house was built in 1975. Our basement furnace room has a 4" cold air return duct branching out from the cold air return plenum, and I capped off this duct years ago as I thought it wasn't needed (see pic).


There is a 5" warm air vent pipe about 3 feet away from the cap I installed...

I want to cover up this ceiling with paneling but I'm wondering if this duct should be open. Comments?
 

Last edited by Howitzer; 12-14-18 at 09:48 PM.
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Old 12-16-18, 04:23 AM
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Any room or area you want to heat or at least maintain some heat in, needs a return air duct plus at least 1 supply duct. Every basement should have at least 1 supply and 1 return to move and exchange some of it"s air for temperature and quality.
 
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Old 12-16-18, 07:34 AM
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Thanks for replying! Our furnace room is in the north-west corner of our basement. Years ago, I installed a cold air return in the approximate centre of our basement which is apart of our main area rumpus room. So I do have a cold area return vent in our basement.

I just find it odd that a cold air return duct is installed in the ceiling joists where there isn't much circulation and where warm air would collect (warm air rises).
 
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Old 12-16-18, 07:39 AM
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Should I remove the cap that I installed?
 
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Old 12-31-18, 06:01 AM
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If you are looking to make the basement area warmer say to use as living space. doing it right will need a lot more ducts or outlets. As an example, go upstairs and count the number of warm air and cold air registers/grills. That is how many you need to heat that floor correctly. That is probably how many registers/grills you will need on each floor including the basement. Remember, you can't heat the basement like a normal floor unless you have enough supplies and returns . And some of the returns must be at floor level to remove the cooler air that lurks there. (cold air falls and warm air rises)
 
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Old 04-29-19, 11:57 AM
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I am warming up this old post (I hope this is ok)... Should I post a picture of my ducting setup?
 
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Old 04-29-19, 12:21 PM
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Picture!

See attached picture. I hope it is clear enough.

Name:  ducting.jpg
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Last edited by PJmax; 04-29-19 at 02:52 PM. Reason: resized picture
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Old 04-29-19, 02:49 PM
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It's your thread..... you can refresh it any time.

I see your cold air ducting with cap. Is that connected to the furnace return ?
What is that large round connection/duct to the right ?
 
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Old 04-29-19, 04:17 PM
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Yes the capped pipe connects to the cold air plenum.

If you referring to the silver-grey pipe in the bottom right corner of the picture? It's the chimney/exhaust pipe for our gas water heater.
 

Last edited by Howitzer; 04-29-19 at 04:45 PM.
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Old 05-05-19, 11:22 AM
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PJmax (Pete) - any comments?
 
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Old 05-31-19, 08:21 PM
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cold air duct?

You have a RETURN AIR and a SUPPLY AIR. The return air sucks air from your living area and filters it as it goes back through you furnace/cooling coil. As the air leaves the furnace/cooling coil, that is then the supply air.
Now using this description, is this pipe connected to your return air or your supply air duct?
 
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Old 05-31-19, 09:28 PM
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Generally speaking, you don't put a return in the same room as the furnace or a gas water heater so as to not take the chance of lowering the pressure in the rooms and creating any kind of backdraft on the chimney.
 
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Old 06-01-19, 09:24 PM
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Hey Jerr_Bear! The pipe is attached to the return air plenum...
 
 

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