Hello everyone
We live in a ~4000 sq. ft. house but this is between a first floor and a full-sized basement. The area is the same on each 'floor.' So ~2000 for each floor. It is like 3994 really.
Anyway there is a 30x24 Cold Air Return on the 1st floor and a 14x14 in the basement BUT the unit is located is in a separate room in the basement from the finished area which has no Cold Air Return. The unit in the basement has a 14x14 Cold Air return. There is a standard sized interior door between the 2 locations which I keep open. It stays warm in the unfinished area but it is noticeably cooler in the finished area by 2-3 degrees.
I have sealed around all openings (doors/windows) and taken temp measurements around them. I am sure my tool is not the correct one for taking these measurements but it is consistent in what it reads vs my thermostat and our 2 outdoor weather station readings. So it is at least in the ballpark.
I am wondering if we get someone out here to install another Cold Air Return if that could help or just be a waste of money.
The unit we have is a Bryant 915SA60100521. The panel shows 2 model #s: this model # and the same one with a -B on the end. From what I can tell in the Product Data for this model it is 5 (or maybe 6 ton unit). I got this tonnage info from a pdf doc that I cannot post since I am new.
So if I have it right, there is a total of 916 sq. in. to Cold Air Return area. 30x24=720 sq. in. upstairs and 14x14=196 sq. in. in the basement.
I saw a thread where Cooked noted:
"I think 500 sq inches per ton is the standard. Measure the return air grille openings and multiply by .80 to get the free area."
Does this mean if my unit is a 5 ton unit, there can be up to 5x500=2500 sq. in. of total Return Air vents/ducts?
Thanks for reading if you made it this far and for any advice on the duct/grill size that might work.
It would be nice to be able to shut that door to cut down on noise and also be warm in the main area
It isn't horrible but I play music and record there and my digits need some heat in order to slay those frets!
Brian
We live in a ~4000 sq. ft. house but this is between a first floor and a full-sized basement. The area is the same on each 'floor.' So ~2000 for each floor. It is like 3994 really.
Anyway there is a 30x24 Cold Air Return on the 1st floor and a 14x14 in the basement BUT the unit is located is in a separate room in the basement from the finished area which has no Cold Air Return. The unit in the basement has a 14x14 Cold Air return. There is a standard sized interior door between the 2 locations which I keep open. It stays warm in the unfinished area but it is noticeably cooler in the finished area by 2-3 degrees.
I have sealed around all openings (doors/windows) and taken temp measurements around them. I am sure my tool is not the correct one for taking these measurements but it is consistent in what it reads vs my thermostat and our 2 outdoor weather station readings. So it is at least in the ballpark.
I am wondering if we get someone out here to install another Cold Air Return if that could help or just be a waste of money.
The unit we have is a Bryant 915SA60100521. The panel shows 2 model #s: this model # and the same one with a -B on the end. From what I can tell in the Product Data for this model it is 5 (or maybe 6 ton unit). I got this tonnage info from a pdf doc that I cannot post since I am new.
So if I have it right, there is a total of 916 sq. in. to Cold Air Return area. 30x24=720 sq. in. upstairs and 14x14=196 sq. in. in the basement.
I saw a thread where Cooked noted:
"I think 500 sq inches per ton is the standard. Measure the return air grille openings and multiply by .80 to get the free area."
Does this mean if my unit is a 5 ton unit, there can be up to 5x500=2500 sq. in. of total Return Air vents/ducts?
Thanks for reading if you made it this far and for any advice on the duct/grill size that might work.
It would be nice to be able to shut that door to cut down on noise and also be warm in the main area
It isn't horrible but I play music and record there and my digits need some heat in order to slay those frets!Brian
