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Heating & Air Conditioning

Returns for central heat and air conditioners

17 years ago

Right now I have a return on each level of my house (3) but I am having to get a new HAVC unit because the duct work on the lower level is collapsed and cannot be fixed. Since I have no attic space to re-route the duct work, I was informed by the HAVC company that they could use the returns on two levels as supplies and the one return on the top level as the only return made larger. He stated that the one return would be sufficient for the whole house. ( 1700 sq. ft) Please your advise!

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Comments (4)

DNT1
17 years ago
Have all the existing duct and units torn out, and have proper heat load calculations done and install a new system for each level. Live happily ever after. Note: you might consider trading for a nice ranch style house all on one level gosh I just hate steps, does that 3 level home have a elevator? If not just sell it and get yourself another house. Thats the best advice (advise) that I know of. Hope that helps if not bob brown will be along shortly and he will fix you I bet.
mrkool
17 years ago
Whew, that's quite a bit of advice there, glad you weren't
my adviser when I needed information for my project.

Ok, kyla, you need to get a couple more estimates before you
make a major decision like this, ask about motorized dampers,
and mini split systems.

I install heat & cooling in 2 and 3 story homes, using one unit and motorized dampers and separate thermostats on each
floor, and they work very well.

later
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bob_brown
17 years ago
Hello,
I guess some people don't like me. Such is life.

On to the plan. If you have sheet rock, the repairs aren't so bad. It is difficult to match some textures, but there aint nuthin that can't be fixed. If the first guy fails, get another, and another until you are happy.

In remodeling, we have scraped the texture off and started over many times. We have removed very expensive paneling to do repairs. We have opened concrete walls, Block walls, to make repairs. My company has worked on many projects that looked impossible.

Trying to use one return, is about like sharing your toothbrush with your next door neighbor. Replace the bad duct. Don't do anything unnecessary. Get a second opinion first.
mr_havac
17 years ago
kyla, one unit zoned out for 3 seperate floors?? That is not the proper way to install a system. One has to be very careful designing a ductwork system for just 2 zones let alone three. It is highly unlikely you'll be satisfied with a 3 zone system, they're screwing up already by taking your returns away and expecting the system to pull from thr top floor only. You going to have all kinds of problems with air stratification among other things.

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