Air Return From Finished Attic
Insulate your finished attic properly choose your insulation.
Air return from finished attic. A return air temp b outside air temp c airflow across evaporator coil d return air leaks from attic if you measure supply and return temperatures at the grille and at the air handler you can get an good idea of where your biggest losses are occurring. To effectively ventilate your roof create a 1 in. Unlike supply vents return vents do not need to be cased in metal. It s much better to place it low to suck out the cold stratified air.
I installed these return air pathways in my condo three years ago and that video shows the one in our guest bedroom where the positive pressure created by the lack of a return air pathway was the worst. Additionally this is a great time to have your ducts cleaned so they facilitate reliable air flow. The return vent pulls cold air from the bottom of the room and returns it to the furnace to be reheated and returned as warm air. Cool air in hot air out attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents.
If the supply ducts are high or in the ceiling then the return air ducts or grills should be low on a wall. If the supply ducts are in the floor then the return air should be located up high. While none of these spaces makes an acceptable air pathway on its own some building cavities such as floor joists can make acceptable duct chases to contain an insulated air sealed metal or flex supply or return duct. Air handler platforms used as return air plenums can draw air from vented attics and crawlspaces through other connected framing cavities.
I also included a fresh air return with motorized damper to bring in outside air. The return air vent openings need to be on the opposite side of the room so the conditioned air is pulled across the room. Install air chutes before installing insulation. Place your cold air return vents on the inside walls of buildings at the lowest point.
It is close to the furnace and actually on an adjacent wall. At 21c i d guess you have a lot of leaks on the return side. I finished our basement with a cold air return located near the floor. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under.
It made a huge difference dropping the pressure in the bedroom relative to the hallway from about 6 7 pascals pa to about 1 7 pa. To add heat and air conditioning to your attic you must have enough ductwork.