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    Fiechtner's Avatar
    Fiechtner Posts: 1, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Nov 10, 2008, 04:29 PM
    Furniture in front of cold air return
    Can I place furniture in front of a cold air return?
    Clough's Avatar
    Clough Posts: 26,677, Reputation: 1649
    Uber Member
    		  
    #2

    Nov 10, 2008, 06:31 PM

    Hi, Fiechtner!

    It would be preferable not to block a cold air return if you would like your heating system to operate properly. I'm sure that someone who knows more about this subject would be able to explain more as to why it's important to keep them uncovered and how they function, though.

    Thanks!
    MarkwithaK's Avatar
    MarkwithaK Posts: 955, Reputation: 107
    Senior Member
    		  
    #3

    Nov 10, 2008, 07:08 PM

    You should try to keep all vents clear. Supply and returns. If you block off the return then you reduce the amount of available return air, especially if you have a central return. This reduction in return air can starve your system and cause the furnace/air handler to overheat.
    mygirlsdad77's Avatar
    mygirlsdad77 Posts: 5,713, Reputation: 339
    Plumbing Expert
    		  
    #4

    Nov 10, 2008, 07:13 PM

    Should be okay as long as you are not putting the furniture directly up against the return(blocking its cfms) Just make sure that your return is not blocked from intake airflow.
    dac122's Avatar
    dac122 Posts: 463, Reputation: 17
    Full Member
    		  
    #5

    Nov 11, 2008, 07:07 AM

    The answer I generally give is 'no', but without knowing how much return air you have in your house, or how much you'll be blocking the return its impossible to tell from here.

    If you have just enough return air or not enough return air for your system now, blocking it off even a little will affect comfort and cost. If you have more than enough return air then blocking off one return will not matter. One way to determine how much you're affecting your system is add up all your return's cross-sectional area (including this one) and then subtract this one off as a percentage of your total return area.

    Remember all that supply air must come from somewhere.
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