cold air return in basement?

[bmargiotti]

greetings,
i inspected a house yesterday (c.1890 bungalow) and the cold air return was about 8 inches away from the furnace. old small, unfinished, cellar basement. the duct extended to about 5 inches to the floor. hot water tank was about 12-15 feet away. i didnt see anyplace upstairs where air could also be drawing from. ive seen a few lately.

im telling my clients and noting that maintenance may be required to maintain safe operation around other fuel burning appliances. i dont want to give the impression that these issues must be addressed ASAP, but we cant really expect sellers to modify these old systems. this obviously doesnt fly in modern building, but what are you all recommending on these 50 year old installations?

Thanks,
Bob

[Jay Moge]

i usualy state the fact first. weather or it functions properly, then inform them about it antiquety, modern advantages and so on. maybe even sight a few example in a "small talk" situation, and let them decide from there.

[David P. Valley]

Furnace returns can not be in the same room as the furnace. Recommend HVAC professional extend/install proper return ductwork into another room.

[Larry D. Kage]

Can you imagine how the poison is going to be distributed throughout the home if there is any CO leakage?

I just write it up as a potential safety hazard with repairs by a qualified HVAC contractor.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Hi. Bob,

Since you stated that you could not find the intake for that return duct, would it have been a remote chance that this was a make up air duct for combustion? Not knowing where the house is and how old the system is.

Mosts openended ducts that close to the floor, that I have seen were make-up air. Just a thought.

Marcel

[twheeler]

I would make a reference to a certified HVAC tech. to assess further.

[Jason A. Sieg, CMI]

I owned an old ranch house with forced air heat where the furnance sat on the slab foundation with the cold air return was butt-up to the craw space of the rest of the house. If you didn't have a filter in place creatures could climb right in to the furnance from the craw space. Their was no cold air return ducts at all. The biggest hastle was that in the winter when you wanted a warm house. The house was o.k. until the furnance kicked on then the floor would turn ice cold to about a foot from the floor. The air never circulated in the winter.

[David P. Valley]

Jason,

That house must have smelled pretty stale in the winter!

[bmargiotti]

Originally Posted by mcyr

Hi. Bob,

Since you stated that you could not find the intake for that return duct, would it have been a remote chance that this was a make up air duct for combustion? Not knowing where the house is and how old the system is.

Mosts openended ducts that close to the floor, that I have seen were make-up air. Just a thought.

Marcel

i actually thought of this when i first saw the system. but the ductwork didnt route directly back to the furnace. i should have tested to see if there was a draw when i fired it up.

i wish i had some photos. i dont bother with pictures, too much hassle and unnecessary. but im getting a new camera phone for these types of things i want to show you guys.

[Marcel R. Cyr]

Hi Bob; Being old fashion and such, what are the advantages of getting a camera phone, verses a ditgial camera.?

Marcel