Larger Return

[hamster2021]

We have a room in our house that is always hotter than other rooms.

It tends to get the most sun and has a lot of windows.

We recently had an A/C contractor come out and he said his company could take out the 12"x12" Return in the room and replace it with 14"x14" Return. At first, that didn't sound like a much bigger return, but I guess it would be going from 144 sq inches to 196 sq inches.

It is kind of costly, but if it makes the room cooler, would be worth it to our family.

Has anyone had experience with increasing the size of their A/C Return, and any idea if this would make a big difference?

Thank you very much!

 

[AC Power]

Yes, it would work. The fan coil will pull more hot air that room, recycle it through the evaporator coil, cool it, then introduce it back into the room again. This cycle happens everywhere in your house, but in this case by increasing return air CFM, air exchange is increased.

However, try this first to confirm: Put a towel over one (1) other return air intake in the house, any one. Now, your fan coil (furnace) is going to pull more air down ALL the remaining return air intakes, including the target "hot" room. Observe the room's temp. If this "towel" procedure pulls down the temp in the "hot" room, your AC tech's suggestion is correct.