A cold air return brings air from a room back to the furnace of a central air system.
While initially air is drawn by the furnace directly outside, most of the air is usually drawn from the rooms within the home.
This allows for the recycling of air in the system, which can save money. Here are some benefits of a cold air return:
- If air is taken from a room back to the furnace, the air is probably close to the temperature to which the thermostat is set. This means that the furnace may only need to heat or cool the air a few degrees. Your furnace will use much less energy, which saves you money.
- Cold air returns can keep temperatures throughout the home consistent. If they are placed well, there will be no hot or cold spots. This will leave you feeling comfortable. Further, this will also eliminate cold basements or hot second floors.
- Cold air returns keep air circulating throughout the home, allowing you to close your windows. An efficient central air system will prevent your house from seeming stuffy or musty.
- Your furnace will not have to run as often. Due to the circulation of previously heated or cooled air, your furnace will not have to work as hard to heat or cool your home. This can save you money as well as lengthen the life of your furnace.
- With enough cold air returns, your AC unit will run very efficiently. By placing cold air returns on the top and bottom of your walls you can control the flow of air according to the season. In the winter you can keep the bottom return open and close the top. This will prevent heated air from returning to the furnace. In the summer, if you close the bottom return and keep the top open the opposite happens: the hot air in the room will be sucked out and the cool air will remain.
Cold air returns are valuable energy and money savers. With appropriate placement and use you will find your home is much more comfortable and affordable to heat and cool.
