Supply And Return Air Ducts

Sketch at left courtesy carson dunlop associates.

Supply and return air ducts.

This air travels from your heating and cooling system through your ductwork and out of the supply vents. Supply vents and return vents. Ceiling jumper ducts can connect rooms to make this easier even leaving doors open plays an important role. Simply measure and cut to size using tin snips to match the supply opening of the air handler furnace or evaporator coil.

See the sketch at above left. Air ducts and vents are part of a building s heating ventilation and air conditioning hvac system. Duct board return air box. The duct board return air box is an r6 the duct board return air box is an r6 insulated box that installs traditionally in a ceiling.

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 return air ducts in an hvac system are especially liable to get taken for granted even though their part in heating and cooling your home is just as essential as supply ducts. A duct blaster test can be used to detect duct leakage and to confirm proper air flow at each duct supply outlet. Building cavity space alone should not be used as a supply or return air pathway.

The supply vents which push air through the duct work must be placed properly. What s the best location for return air ducts. Supply air from furnaces and air conditioners should be on outside walls. During hot weather you turn on the air conditioner and cooling coils inside the plenum image 4 then cool the air which is then distributed throughout the house.

If the supply ducts are in the floor then the return air should be located up high. Properly sizing and installing your air conditioning system are important in making sure your air conditioner operates efficiently according to the u s. One thing to remember is that you must have enough supply vents vents blowing air out and return vents vent sucking warm air back in the air conditioner. A person can be forgiven for not knowing much about their home s air duct system.

You need a load calculation to make sure the furnace is large enough to supply the new room. For the cavity to serve as a supply or return air pathway it must contain a sealed insulated duct made of approved duct materials. If your indoor air handler is the heart of the system the supply ducts are the arteries and the return ducts are the veins. Transfer grilles door undercuts and wall grilles are all acceptable means to allow air to flow around the house.

There are two types. You can easily spot your supply vents because they are the only ones you can feel conditioned air coming from. Can accept any. Ductwork too small or duct sizes mismatched between the air handler supply plenum return air plenum blower assembly cooling coil.

It plays a vital role in the home s forced air heating and cooling system performing its job quietly and without much attention. The conditioned air then re circulates back into the system as needed.