Cold air return in bathroom

[Larry King]

Inspected 36 year old trailer modified/updated interior with additions added on. Tax records indicated single dwelling. One addition approximately 8 years old had cold air return in bathroom wall. Need suggestions on comments on return being in bathroom. Any help with wording would be appreciated.
Thanks

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Where was the thermostat? How far away? Was there more than one return?

[Christopher Currins]

Please be advised that the return air location at ****** bath may intermittently affect the aroma of the air quality at other locations within this structure. My advice is to consult with your qualified HVAC specialist about relocating this return grill outside of the bathroom and sealing the original grill location.

[Larry King]

There were 2 units. The one in question served the new addition of the master bedroom and bathroom. The thermostat was located in the master bedroom. The air handler was located on the other side of the wall in a closet and there was only one return.

[Kevin Luce]

Write up what you see, inform them of possible consequences and recommend a heating company.

Return air is improperly installed in bathroom. This can result in premature rusting (high humidity and hair spray are two examples) in furnace and likely reduce the performance of the air conditioner due to the presents of high moisture - especially when taking a shower. Recommend having a heating company make corrections.

Nobody should install return air registers in bathrooms, kitchens or garages.

Note: We are all adults. If you don't like part or all of the wording above, don't use it.

[David A. Andersen]

what is your point?

Return air system should be installed at locations where the highest adverse comfort condition exists. In this case it would be the bathroom were high latent heat is an excessive heat load.

do you want to draw the excessively damp air through the entire house out to the living room or the other returned exists?

You want to remove it as soon as is created if it is a high load on the HVAC system.

[Stephen W. Stanczyk]

Originally Posted by ccurrins

Please be advised that the return air location at ****** bath may intermittently affect the aroma of the air quality at other locations within this structure.

I guess this would be the modern, whole house version of playing "pup tent" with the wife?

[Joe Funderburk, CMI]

Originally Posted by dandersen

what is your point?

Return air system should be installed at locations where the highest adverse comfort condition exists. In this case it would be the bathroom were high latent heat is an excessive heat load.

do you want to draw the excessively damp air through the entire house out to the living room or the other returned exists?

You want to remove it as soon as is created if it is a high load on the HVAC system.

David, if that's the case, why don't all homes have an air return in the bathroom and kitchen?

[Bob Elliott]

Originally Posted by jfunderburk

David, if that's the case, why don't all homes have an air return in the bathroom and kitchen?

I think you are not interpreting him correctly.

[David A. Andersen]

the kitchen is generally open to the living room where the main returns are located (big house).

The volume of air in the bathroom is too small for the size of the return in most cases.

With the increase in size of homes being built today, the master bathroom and bedroom are the secondary return air locations opted for.

Technically, there should be a return in every room if isolated from the main open part of the house.

my point, is that I don't understand his point as to why this should be considered inappropriate being located in a bathroom. I do not have sufficient information, it may in fact be incorrect. I don't know, I guess you don't either.

[Tim Spargo]

In the McMansions of today... there are returns all over the place, bedrooms, lofts etc..

This is a great improvement over the two story homes with a single return at ground level that were built just a decade ago.

If they (the buyer/agent/seller) wonder why I comment about this type of construction in April or October, they no longer wonder why in the height of summer AND winter as the return location sucks in these types of homes. And moving it is many times not much fun either.

[Wayne B. Wilson]

what about the good old days when they had return air in every room. Ah but that was when it was done right.

[Matt Berman, CMI]

irc states in section m1602.2 prohibited sources for return air part 4 a closet,bathroom,toilet room kitchen,garage,mechanical room,furnace room or other dwelling

[David A. Andersen]

Yup, now go do your IRC code inspection.
It's not our job! '

If the code boy let it be there during construction, what issue do you report that would be an issue?

Do you know system design?

Do you know how this house is set up? I don't...

[Brian A. MacNeish]

Originally Posted by wwilson3

what about the good old days when they had return air in every room. Ah but that was when it was done right.

Wayne:

I'm from the Maritimes where a full system of returns is never installed in houses. (Well, I've never seen one)

1989- Went to a week long conference of international IAQ professionals in Toronto. Stayed with my ex-HI partner's sister in Missisauga- her home was a late 60's larger bungalow. Went into my bedroom and saw 3 floor registers! Had to immediately go to the unfinished basement to see ducting arrangements. Every major room had 2/3 supplies and a return. It was standard at the time of construction........before home building headed to the bottom of the gutter.