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HVAC Air Returns

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adymax
Contributor

HVAC Air Returns

I know this is a mortgage forum but this is related to building a new home. In my area I see that every builder uses a through-the-wall transfer grille connecting the bedroom and the adjacent hallway for air flow instead of more costly way of having a return back to the HVAC unit.  Is this normal?   We want to build a house with Pulte and they use same grills which we are worried will transfer sound also. What the point of having a door and wall in bedroom if you have this giant hall   that transfers sound. Any of you live in such a house?

 

here is link about what I'm talking about:

 

http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/return-air-problems

 

I'm refering to these grills:

 

Message 1 of 7
6 REPLIES 6
Cloudlb
Regular Contributor

Re: HVAC Air Returns

I suggest Gardenweb forums for this kind of stuff (the "home" forums on that site). 

Message 2 of 7
adymax
Contributor

Re: HVAC Air Returns

Thanks. I try there but if you have any input on this please advice me. 

Message 3 of 7
H-Town_Tider
Established Member

Re: HVAC Air Returns

I wouldn't say it's normal necessarily, but it is done by some builders. The idea of the transfer grille is to minimize the pressure differential between the rooms and, in turn, make the HVAC unit work more efficiently. As you mention, this does come with the downside of noise transfer as it will definitely transfer noise both to and from the bedrooms.



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Message 4 of 7
Catacam
Frequent Contributor

Re: HVAC Air Returns

The only spot that we have this grill is between the laundry room and the hallway. Certainly not in our bedroom.

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Message 5 of 7
adymax
Contributor

Re: HVAC Air Returns

It really sucks that all builders use this cheap technique these days to cut costs. I’m really disappointed that we buy a brand new home with these, I’ll try to convince builder to do something about it but I think is a no go.  Here is a nice explanation from gardenweb forums, credits go to "energy_rater_la":

 

transfer grills above doors work best when the ceiling is
high enough to allow the transfer grills to be offset.
in hallway it would be to top of ceiling molding
in bedroom to top of door molding.
this allows the air from the room...when the door
is closed...to return to a centrally located return.
by offsetting them noise & light transfer is reduced.
put them back to back...both noise & light transfer.
if there isn't room above the door...the grills can be
set to side of door...as long as they are within the
same joist bay of the wall...and not blocked/covered
by furnishings.
another way to transfer the air is via jump ducts.
grill in ceiling of bedroom to hallway.
in attic...supply boxes for each grill & a duct
that 'jumps' from one to another.
more materials, more work inside attic than
involved in transfer grills.
the undercut of the door...just doesn't work for
return air pathway. put carpet on either floor
& it has less of a pathway. thus different
methods of return air pathway.
standard transfer grills are 6" wide by 12" length.
not huge, but enough to return air from bedroom
now in a master suite with 2 supplies in bedroom
2 in each closet & one in bath...you need to move
more air...jump duct with larger sized duct is used.

Message 6 of 7
Cloudlb
Regular Contributor

Re: HVAC Air Returns

glad Gardenwebs helped you -- just don't know anything about this myself

Message 7 of 7
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