I've noticed that my air return vent is just a big open cavity that I can actually crouch walk into. From what I gather, this looks like an old-school setup. I'm wondering if I should tackle the job of adding ducting to it, especially since it's not too far (about 10 feet) from the central air unit. I'm thinking of running the ducting overhead instead of along the floor, which will require a couple of turns to bring it down to floor level, around 3 feet high.
3 Answers
Using joist bays for return ducts is actually pretty standard. Unless you have specific worries beyond just it seeming outdated, it might be best to leave it as is for now. Just ensure it's sealed up well.
What’s your main goal with adding ducting? Are you looking to improve airflow or just trying to modernize that setup?
I’ve read that ducting could make the system more efficient overall. Plus, I was planning to clean it up anyway, which got me thinking about this possibility.
If you're considering ducting, I’d suggest using sheet metal and taping the seams. You can find pre-made pieces at places like Menards to make assembling them easier. It could really help with airflow.
Sounds good! I was leaning that way. Do you think I should test airflow before and after with an airflow meter?
Okay, that makes sense. I’ll leave it alone for now. I only considered it since I read that this method can be inefficient these days.