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Return to the Heating & Air Conditioning Forum | Post a Follow-Up

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can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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Posted by bludog1 (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 16, 09 at 13:54

I have a 4,600 square foot house in the mountains of
Colorado it is 3 floors. I rent the first floor a walk out
basement about 1,500 square feet> my renter is complaining about the noise and wants me to cover the cool air return vent on the maim floor it is by my tv. My question is will this be a problem there is only one other cool air return on the top floor which is quite a bit smaller than the one in question. Would this be a problem would the furnace still work properly?
Thanks for any help
Connie

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RE: can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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The short answer is yes, it will have an adverse impact on the proper operation. To what degree depends on a several factors. I will mention the 2 most negative impacts. The most serious would be that enough air most likely would not pass over the heat exchanger causing it to overheat. The major problem with that happening is it could cause the heat exchanger to crack. The high limit would kick the burner off and then as the exchanger cooled, would allow the burner to come back on. This would continue until the house was at temperature which would take much longer to achieve. The other issue is you can only get as much warm air into the rooms as you take out. Restricting the return ducts would also prevent the home from heating or would take it much longer to heat. If the temperature outside is very low, it is conceivable the furnace may run continuously for hours and still not heat the home.

As mentioned, there are other issues but in my opinion, these issues are the most major reasons for not blocking the return vents.

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RE: can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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The prior reply is on target.

Your home has a large sq.ft. area, & needs all the Return-Air you can provide the system.

Better figure other ways to address the noise.

Below is a link for sizing duct systems along with the Return-Air filter rack areas. - udarrell

Here is a link that might be useful: Sizing the Duct System

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RE: can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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Thanks for your help I didn't think that would be a workable solution. I guess I will have to turn off tv off by 10 or get a new renter.

Thanks again
Connie

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RE: can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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A personal listening device would enable your viewing/listening while silencing the TV speakers. Unfortunately, many of those devices are junk.

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RE: can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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Could cause more problems than it's worth. Many systems already have less return air than they need.

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RE: can a cool air return be covered will this cause a problem

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If the issue is transmitted noise, you might be able to get away with building some form of noise barrier that won't impede airflow. Something as simple as lining the interior of the return duct will have a minimal reduction in airflow, if any, while preventing the sound waves from being transmitted as easily as they are currently.

  
 

 

 


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