Black Friday, No Returns?
It's Friday... Black Friday to be exact. I usually try to find a home heating or home cooling post from a home inspector each Friday.
No Returns? Return Ducts that is...
James a home inspector in CT describes the problem of No Returns in HVAC. Thanks to James for allowing his post about return ducts to be Re-Blogged.
As we approach the holiday season, the words “no returns” can cause the holiday shopper more than a bit of trepidation. At this time of year, the gift receipt has almost as much significance as the gift itself. To buy or not to buy, becomes the question.
No returns when it comes to HVAC systems is never an option. With any forced air heating and cooling systems it is necessary to have return ducts back to furnace and or air handling unit. It is really a very simple concept, when forcing air into a confined space, in order for the air to move, it must have a way out as well as a way in. In other words recirculation.
The placement of all duct work is fairly well defined. With return air ducts, they can not be in installed for example, in closets or furnace rooms.
While inspecting a new home the other day, it appeared the third floor was originally a walk up attic, now finished. It had been made into one large room with what looked like a closet along one wall. This closet was also the furnace room. Entering the room and looking about a noticed a duct in the ceiling.
I immediately found that odd and stuck head back into the finished room, scanning the walls and ceiling. I kicked the unit on and checked the duct. Just as I thought, a return duct. Never mind that the location of the duct is against building codes, it’s also against good sense and best practice. With the door closed, the return air will have difficultly flowing under the small space at the bottom. Might explain why the closet door was wide open when I entered the room.
No returns when holiday shopping can be a temporary pain, but no returns on your HVAC system can make living in the home uncomfortable for a long time.
James Quarello
Connecticut Home Inspector
2010 - 2011 SNEC-ASHI President
NRSB #8SS0022
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC
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This post provided by Maureen McCabe of Real Living HER
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