[texas_help]

I have 2 HVAC units. 1 for upstairs (2200 sq. ft) and 1 for downstairs (2300 sq. ft).

It was suggested to
Add to the Master Bedroom (15x17) down stairs a Return Air to Improve Air Flow and Air Balancing.

Also maybe for the 3 bedrooms upstairs, to add a Return Air to each of the upstairs bedrooms. The upstairs bedrooms face West and get a lot of heat.


Question:
1) Will adding Return Air in each of these bedrooms, make it cooler or warmer (depending on the season), by pulling the warmer or cooler air out of those rooms?
2) If we add 3 more return air to the upstairs (then there will be 4 return air total), is that efficient? Is it better to just add the return air in the room that which has more issues with the temperature? The rooms upstairs are 11x11, 11x12, 12x13 (this is the room that has the most issues).
3) The cost is $387 to add the return air flow to the master bedroom. The attic is above each of the bedrooms, so the return air is easy to install. Is this cost reasonable and will I get enough of a benefit by adding this? I have not gotten a cost for the upstairs bedrooms, but is this cost reasonable for those rooms also?

Also this is in Houston if that helps when determining if efficient.

Thanks for your help.

[M1386]

What are the btu's on your units? And where are your returns now?

[texas_help]

For downstairs, we are replacing we are putting a 4 ton. There are 2 bedrooms downstairs and the return air is in the hallway next to both of those bedrooms.

For upstairs we have a 4 ton, and we are not replacing it, the return air is also in the hallway, near 2 bedrooms, and we are considering putting the return air in a bedroom that is on the other side of the house.

Thanks!

[letmetellu]

Is there any chance that the doors to the bedrooms are closed when the AC or furnace is being used? If so the shut doors will hinder the return air getting to the grills that are in the hallway. If this is the case I think that more return air grills in the bed rooms would help.

[texas_help]

The doors are closed to the hallway. The hallway is very small, there is another door opening that is open to the living room, so there is a large area for air to be taken from.

Another question is that if you add a return from a bedroom, will this help when that bedroom is hotter or colder than the rest of the house? e.g. in the summer when it is hot, and the room is hotter than the rest of the house, will the return pull the hot air from that room and resulting with the room being cooler?

Same thing in the winter, if the room is cooler than the rest of the house, will the return pull the cool air from the room and resulting with the room being warmer?

[letmetellu]

The doors are closed to the hallway. The hallway is very small, there is another door opening that is open to the living room, so there is a large area for air to be taken from.

Another question is that if you add a return from a bedroom, will this help when that bedroom is hotter or colder than the rest of the house? e.g. in the summer when it is hot, and the room is hotter than the rest of the house, will the return pull the hot air from that room and resulting with the room being cooler?,

same thing in the winter, if the room is cooler than the rest of the house, will the return pull the cool air from the room and resulting with the room being warmer?

If the doors are closed to the bedrooms they will either be hotter or colder than the rest of the house that is getting air circulation, the grills in the hallway is taking air out of the hall and not the bedrooms.

[Joshdta]

What size is the rrtures you have now? They may be way undersised. Is the much gap between you bed room doors and the floor? Do you leave the doors open or closed. Lots of thing factor into no air movement.

[Joshdta]

We charge $215 or so per registar. Depending on how far the run is.What size is the supply registars to each room. The return may not be the issue