Cold Air Return

I have a cold air return in my front room (room size is 11x15), in addition to the hot air duct which is on the opposite side of the room. There are also returns in the basement, kitchen,and bedroom. When the heat comes on, there is a draft since the cold air return is taking a large volume of air back to the furnace. Can I safely close the vent in this room, without comprising the system?

Thanks for your help.

 

A person should NOT block off a return. By doing that, the system can't breath, so that will lead to heat exchanger failer.


WHere is the return? Wall, or near floor?

Maybe the fan is set too high, and can be turn down (Depends on some model)


Type of heating system? Gas? Heat Pump?

 

WHere is the return? Wall, or near floor? On the Floor at the back wall.

Maybe the fan is set too high, and can be turn down (Depends on some model)


Type of heating system? Gas? Heat Pump? Type of system is Nat. Gas.

 

How old is the home?


If you have alot of older windows in the living room, yes you are going to feel the cool draft of the cold air being carried away.

Do you have supply vents under the windows now, and not being blocked?

 

The house was built in 1900, recently remodled. Warm air supply vent is not blocked, and is located under the front window. Cool air return is on the back wall, and has a adjustible vent. I do not have central A/C installed. Furnace is a York Diamond 80, 1-2 years old I think. Filter is changed every 90 days, and I use pleated filters.

 

I'm guessing that thi large return used to be the sole return on the original furnace and the others were probablt added along the way. I would not block it off completly and if you choose to restrict it get a couple of thermometers with the metal probes and put 1 in the supply duct a few feet off the furnace and 1 in the return duct a few feet before the furnace. "You will have to drill a small hole to put the thermometers in the duct." Note the temprature differance as is then when you restrict it down maybe in 1/2 watch the supply temp and if the delta-t goes above 40º open it back up some.

I would also like to let you know that a return in the kitchen is a no no.

 

!900 year built: Play with the cold air return there like Matt said for sure and see what happens.Close it down just a little at a time. Ill bet that they used all the old heat registers on the inside wall as cold air returns and cut in the new heat registers on the outside walls years back when the first duct work was put in. I know we did all the time. So the cold air registers should be over sized. This new furnace 2 years old was just put on tthe duct work that was there ill bet. Also we dont take cold airs out of baths and kitchen anymore. like Matt said thats A NO NO ED

 

Thanks for your help. The cold air return in the kitchen is built in under the cabinet against the wall. Should I turn this off, as it has a dampnr.

 

If it works in the kitchen and its there Id let it be. More so if your wife is a good cook. It takes the smells through the home. Another way to just check out what the cold air is doing. With the blower running take and pull the blower door open. If its hard to open or it pulls the door back in right away from you. You need more cold air return from the duct and cold air grills. ED