Air duct cleaning is a necessity. Which is better central air or forced air? Clear your vents – Supply and return vents should remain open and unencumbered by furniture, drapery, or other large objects. This duct does an excellent job of absorbing sound from the blower. This will be your jack studs. Now, it is time to learn how to install a cold air return duct between studs. How To Install A Cold Air Return Duct Between Studs. Unlike supply vents, return vents do not need to be cased in metal. The duct work should be placed through the opening you just created. Do cold air returns need to be insulated? Your home actually has two different kinds of air vents: supply registers and return registers. Return air ducts usually use ceiling joist spaces as the actual "duct," which then runs back toward the furnace. Without a return air duct, the air would not properly circulate and your energy costs would rise. You can use a metal trunk duct if you prefer, but Cavitys, joist space, chases, you … I would like to move it down to floor level using the cavity between the studs as the chase. If you haven’t had your ducts cleaned in a very long time, you should do so right now. Otherwise, the air is going to have another way to escape your home. The stud should be cut on the bottom and top lines. For a duct that is 12 inches wide, you should want to measure 7 inches on both sides from the centerline. Measure the centerline of the ductwork from the nearest parallel wall with a tape measure. The 20x10 return duct that had the stud in the middle where it goes through the wall will be replaced with a 14x14 return duct which fits between the studs. Cold air return is just that,.cold air returnig from the heated areas to be reheated again and sent out as supply air. Your money and health depend on it. Once you’ve done that, you should make a mark on the floor. You should have a piece for the top and a piece for the bottom. If you haven’t had your ducts cleaned in a very long time, you should do so right now. A person can be forgiven for not knowing much about their home’s air duct system. To understand why you need to know a little bit about how HVAC units work. To do that, you’ll need to use a reciprocating saw. You should take a look at the duct work and measure the centerline. There is a possibility that you’re not satisfied with your duct system. Take your time and follow the steps above to ensure that you get the best results. Your money and health depend on it. in. 101 Things Never To Do To Your House: Basement HVAC Cold Air … Place a mark on the floor in front of the wall that you need to run the ductwork through, measuring from the same wall that you used for the centerline of the duct. Metal Duct. This will make a major difference in the long run. If so, there is a good chance that you want to change things. All rights reserved © The Duct Kings. Once you’ve made the marks, it is time to cut the studs. All of that said, wallstack is mostly useless, because a properly designed return air system will almost always require much larger ducts than 3 1/4" x 14". From the bottom mark, you should make a top mark as well. Remember to insulate the duct to prevent problems in the future. Plan your cold-air return ducts to fit comfortably in this area. 100%  Customer Satisfaction With Every Job We Do, Proudly Serving The USA More than 45 Locations, Warrenty Given on Every Job We stand behind our work. You’ll want to use two pieces. Next, you should compare the marks with the wall studs. Relocating a cold air duct. If you have to move the duct over, do so in the basement but do not move it close to the hot air grills or you will create a short circuit and the hot air will just return to the furnace without going through the room. Here are 5 best places to install one: 1. If the cold air return requires the space behind the wallboard to be more than the width of a 2x4 stud (or if the space between the wallboards is not relatively sealed), I would suggest you find an inwall speaker with a built-in box. What is the difference between a vent and a return? This will help ensure that the studs remain sturdy. in. Check building codes to see if … Asked By: Bertilda Panduro | Last Updated: 24th March, 2020, If you are in the far north, or in the Southern US, the answer is simple.