Quote:
Originally Posted by redpoint5
I've got a 2-level house that has a single air handler in the basement level, as well as an air return on each level. The temperature in the basement level is 70 degrees while upstairs it's 80. Would it be a bad idea to block the upstairs return, forcing hot air down the stairwell into the basement return to get the air to mix? I'd also want to close the downstairs registers.
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The protocol is to leave the returns alone,and add adjustable and lockable dampers behind the diffusers on the supply side.Intake ducts can collapse with a restriction,not so for the pressure side.
Systems which are engineered will spec out the design flow volume which can be directly measured with traversing of the actual duct with a pitot-tube and manometer/magnehelic,or at the face of the diffusers with an average of velometer readings,based upon the manufacturers criteria.
You're just trying to choke down an overflow condition until the entire space is at a uniform temp.By having the dampers behind the diffusers,you won't be accelerating the flow beyond 1,200 feet/minute,where things begin to get noisy.
Once its adjusted you shouldn't ever have to touch it again.