In an effort to keep the house circa appropriate, the owner really hates the idea of punching a hole in a wall for an air return. She has suggested putting the air return in a first floor hallway closet. Something tells me this isn’t a good idea but frankly I don’t know much about this end of things. Advice?
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Replies
A return in the hall may work, but forget putting one in the closet. The name of the game in HVAC is free air circulation between the supply and return. Anything that obstructs that flow (i.e. closed doors) seriously reduces the effeciency of the system.
"Closet", as in a small space sealed off from the rest of the area with a CLOSED door? If so, how's the air going to get to the duct? Ahh, louvered door on the closet you say? That would work, if the closet is not too packed, but everything stored in the closet would have a perpetual coating of dust.
The HVAC systems in the restored houses in Williamsburg always fascinated me. They have come up with really clever ways to move air without using readily apparent vents. One trick they have is to use an otherwise unused fireplace as a return. Any chance this would work for you?
Mike Hennessy
Pittsburgh, PA