Installing extra return air vents fixed my home's hot spots

During a home reno, I noticed some rooms were always warmer. I added two return vents high on the walls. This helped pull air back to the system better. Now the whole house feels more comfortable.

3 comments

3 Comments

parker_brown591d ago

My buddy's ranch house in Austin always had hot spots in the west-facing rooms. He added high return vents last year. Did you measure the temperature difference before and after? Like with a cheap thermometer from the hardware store? I'm wondering if the improvement is mostly felt or if there's actual data. Also, did it affect your energy bills at all?

mark_lee752d ago

Putting them high on the walls is interesting. Why did you pick that spot instead of down low? Did it help more with the cooling or just with general air movement in those rooms?

luna_kim402d ago

In my experience, adding a return vent up high made a big difference in my bedroom that was always too warm. Heat rises, so putting it near the ceiling helps pull that stuck hot air back to the AC unit. It mostly helped with cooling, but the better air flow made the whole room feel less stuffy too. Your mileage may vary, but in my case, it balanced the temperature without needing to adjust the thermostat. I used a basic grill cover and connected it to the existing ductwork, which was pretty straightforward. Take this with a grain of salt, but it's worth trying if you have similar hot spots.