I currently have a multi level house with a swamp cooler. I am getting central air put in next week. I am concerned because I don't have a cold air return on the top level and I am curious how this will effect cooling upstairs. I have a cold air return at the bottom of the stairs and in a family room. Does anyone have any thoughts as to how this is going to effect cooling as well as any easy fix solutions without tearing out sheetrock to run a cold air return upstairs?

-Matt

Heat rises, if you can't remove the heat from a area its trying to cool it makes makes it hard to cool it. Try to find away to get a return air upstairs. If you don't it will be hot all the time upstairs in the cooling season.

I currently have a multi level house with a swamp cooler. I am getting central air put in next week. I am concerned because I don't have a cold air return on the top level and I am curious how this will effect cooling upstairs. I have a cold air return at the bottom of the stairs and in a family room. Does anyone have any thoughts as to how this is going to effect cooling as well as any easy fix solutions without tearing out sheetrock to run a cold air return upstairs?

-Matt
Will a attic fan do the job to remove the hot air or do I still need a return upstairs? If I put in a return should I put it up high or down by the floor boards?

In reality, in a hot air HVAC system there should be one return plenum and returns located near the floor and near the ceiling which can be turned on and off. For heating, you open the lower return (cold return) and close the top. For cooling, you do the reverse, open the top (Hot air return) and close the bottom.

Bathrooms and laundry rooms don't get them. Kitchens usually don't get them because the returns distribute smells.