Supply air refers to the conditioned air that is pushed into a room by the HVAC system, while return air is the air that is pulled back into the system to be heated or cooled again. Supply air is typically cooler or warmer depending on the season, while return air is the air that has already circulated in the room.
Return air vents in a typical HVAC system are usually located on the walls or ceilings of a room, allowing air to flow back into the system for heating or cooling.
The purpose of a basement cold air return in a heating and cooling system is to circulate and return cold air from the basement back to the furnace or air conditioner for re-heating or re-cooling. This helps maintain a balanced temperature throughout the home and improves the overall efficiency of the system.
Somewhere between the return air grille in the home and the return air duct connection on the furnace.
This is a ventilation system question. The return air path is the route (usually through ducting but could be through some other route such as a window or vent) that the air takes. Typically a building ventilation system would have both supply and extract systems. The return air path is this.
Cold air return grills in a heating and cooling system help improve air circulation, maintain consistent temperatures, and increase energy efficiency by allowing the system to operate more effectively.
Air flow in an HVAC system is always circular. In the return air grills and out the supply registers. If the unit is upstairs and the ductwork goes down stairs then the supply would travel down and the return would travel up.
Not unless you have a fresh air duct connected to the return air system.
It is a vital part of the system as it is where the air from the supply registers goes. It's the circulation that enables you to have a cool home.
Return air risers are vertical ducts in a building's HVAC system that facilitate the return of air from various floors back to the air handling unit. They help maintain proper airflow and air circulation by allowing the heated or cooled air to return efficiently for reconditioning. Properly designed return air risers are crucial for maintaining indoor air quality and energy efficiency in multi-story buildings.
You actually "need" only one cold air return for a forced hot air/AC system to function; however, one cold air return per level or floor improves the efficiency of the sytem.
The purpose of a cold air return in the basement is to circulate air back to the furnace for heating or cooling. It helps maintain proper air flow and temperature balance throughout the home by allowing the return of cold air to be reheated or cooled, contributing to the overall ventilation system's efficiency and effectiveness.