Another cold air return question

[marotti]

We’re in the process of remodeling our second floor which is a large attic space (angled ceilings everywhere) in our 1940s cape code style home in Cincinnati, OH. It was previously a finished space that we used as our bedroom and would get quite hot in the summer. Winter is not an issue as it’s always toasty up there. The only return was on a wall at the bottom of the stairs.

The remodel will divide the space into 3 rooms with closeable doors: bath, bedroom and office. We’ll have 3 vents providing the air from a low wall in each room. With the remodel, the carpenters are planning to move the return close to the ceiling on the wall above the original return (in the new office). That should help, but I’ve got a few concerns.

1) Is one return enough? We obviously have the option of several openings, but what about one physical path out of upper floor. I think that’s all we are able to have so I hope so.
2) The bedroom & office share a wall. Can the return be cut into both sides of the wall to return air from both rooms efficiently?
3) Should I keep the lower return, seal it off or modify it with the type of vent that allows air to only escape from either the lower or upper returns at any given time?

Thanks for the advice.

Jason

[imeduc]

Id get a return out of each room up there. So you can play with it yes get the register with the big damper on the back 6"X14" put it down at the bottom and just the grill up high on the same stud space in the wall. If not you will have to cut the bottom of the door off about 2"or more up off the rugs. So air can get out.

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[Hube]

By your post, I can't determine if your asking about a heating or cooling type of return.
Since you say " in the winter its always toasty up there", then you obviously do not require any return in this area for the heating (winter)season.
If your meaning a return in the Cooling season (summer) mode then, yes, install r/a in the highest area of the rooms.
Also, if 1 return was suitable before you did this change, then 1 return will still be sufficient as the area is still the same (not larger)

[marotti]

Thanks for the replies.

Imeduc – I’ll make sure they put the big damper on the lower return.

Hube – You’re right, I’m most concerned about keeping it cooler in the summer. I’m not sure if one return will be enough because it could get quite hot (mid 80s) upstairs in the summer. Of course, I’m sure the poor position at the bottom of the stairs didn’t help much.

What do you guys think of question 2 in my original post? I’m talking about a hole that goes completely through the shared wall that would have a grill on both sides. It would be near the ceiling above the original return and serve to remove air from both the bedroom and office. It seems reasonable to me that it would do the trick, but I’m not an expert and I’m not sure if the returns need to be independent for some reason.

Thanks again for the feedback

Jason

[imeduc]

Dont go from room right into the other room. One stud space for one and another stud space for the other. Think that a room is a big balloon so if I want to put air in it I have to lets some out.

ED

My mistakes dont define me they inform me.

[marotti]

I probably didn't explain very well above. When I described the hole that would go through the wall, I didn't mean for it to let air travel between the rooms, but as a common entrance on either side of the wall to allow air to move into the stud space and out of the 2nd floor.

What if I only have the one stud space available as a return? Are you saying you can add a return to any stud space? When I follow the current return to where I expect it to come out in the basement (hard to tell since the ceiling is plastered), there's nothing there. I'm not even sure if there's supposed to be.

Sorry, I'm still confused but thanks for hanging in there with me.

Jason

[Hube]

Now that I know you want this return for chiefly the cooling season, yes, you should have one in each room, if possible.
A stud space of say, 3x14 will help some ,but generally this is only adequate for one, maybe two rooms. See if there are any other stud spaces that you will be able to make a clear route back to the unit.
High and low (in the same stud)return air registers (damper) are the best way to go.
Return air installation additions usually don't require too much in the way of material, but involve a lot of cutting of plates, girts, main trunk openings, etc. The main thing is to provide a size that will be large enough to "draw" air back to the unit. In this case, a return too large is better than a return too small. If too large it can be dampered down.