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Heating & Air Conditioning

Return ducts on exterior walls in 1950's house

9 years ago

I had an estimate done today from a HVAC company. He noticed that all my returns were on the exterior walls and under windows, while supply ducts were interior walls. All the returns were at the baseboard level on the walls and supply ducts were 1 or 2 feet up the wall from the floor.

He first thought to leave the existing rigid ducting but thought at the end that it would be more efficient to replace the duct work.

What should I do with the duct? I am replacing all windows and doors and adding insulation in the attic.

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Comments (6)

bus_driver
9 years ago
HVAC is not my trade. Your duct installation is typical for the 1950s. Apparently it does comply with the latest codes. I had a 1953 house with that duct system changed from oil furnace (no AC) to heat pump. The existing duct sizes were adequate for the heat pump. Replacement ducts would have been flex type and would have involved patching the old cutouts and making new ones. So the existing sheet metal ducts were sealed and insulated on the exterior. The results are satisfactory. Less costly too.
ionized_gw
9 years ago
What new work is being estimated and why?

The two most important questions to ask right now are is it comfortable and is it efficient.
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stoveguyy
9 years ago
my folks house is identical. new gas furnace works same as old. feels the same. house is 900ft foundation. square box. simple to heat. has no crawl spaces or living space in odd nooks or L-shaped additions. not hard to heat/cool a box.
buckeye_11
Original Author
9 years ago
I was going to install a new furnace and they thought it would be more efficient to switch the returns with the supplies.

I haven't moved in and don't have a heat furnace to run to see how it would work. Just don't know if the cost of it would justify the ducts.

The old ducts do have asbestos tape on it so thats just another issue
mike_home
9 years ago
I think every duct and return placement has its pros and cons. It is never in the ideal spot.

The question I would have is how to you calculate the efficiency improvement of changing all the duct work?
ionized_gw
9 years ago
It sounds like OP's ducts are outside the drywall. That is certainly not ideal. If they can't be brought inside they should be well sealed if the walls are opened up. There are technologies for sealing ducts from the inside, but I don't know how effective they are. A number of years ago, before I forsook ducts, I think that the perception was good.

OP might want to get an energy rater in to test the home envelope and ducts to see if attention is warranted.

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