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Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 4
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I have a 10 year old forced air gas furnace. The Cold air return has a 4 inch connection directly to the outside of the house. This connection in direct without a valve to limit the air. During the winter the very cold air can enter without limitation. Can I close off or limit this air without affecting the furnace operation ?
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Joined: 6/13/2007
Posts: 779
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First, welcome to the forums.
Give us a little more info, like the make and model of the furnace. Is it a high efficiency model. Is the "cold air return" a return into the heated air plenum or is it a return to the combustion chamber? What part of the country are you located?
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Click to learn more about me The Wood Wizard
SE Wisconsin
Member since 2000
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Joined: 6/4/2008
Posts: 309
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First thought, you really don't want to reduce air supply to a gas furnace. Doing that could lead to little problems, death comes to mind! I am sure that one of the HVAC techs could explain it better, and probably will, but if that is the way the furnace is designed don't change it
Gregg M.
(Seabeck, WA)
18 years of fix'n
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Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 4
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The furnace is a Carrier, 100,000,80%. The outside air intake is connected to the heated air plenum duct. It is a 6 inch open duct without any control, so the majority of the return air is outside, I live in Michgan near Ann Arbor, so the outside temps can be very cold. Thank you for your responces....Joe B
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Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 4
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The furnace is a Carrier, 100,000,80%. The outside air intake is connected to the heated air plenum duct. It is a 6 inch open duct without any control, so the majority of the return air is outside, I live in Michgan near Ann Arbor, so the outside temps can be very cold. Thank you for your responces....Joe B
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Joined: 6/13/2007
Posts: 2209
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As usual I'm a bit corn-fused here. Is the outside air intake combustion air for the furnace burner? If so, why did they connect it to the return air duct back to the air handler unit? Describe the mechanical room and where is it in the house or garage. Is there a gas water heater in the area with the furnace?
ZIPPER 78212... Did you ever notice: The Roman Numerals for forty (40) are XL
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Joined: 1/25/2009
Posts: 730
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Da' Goofer wrote: The Cold air return has a 4 inch connection directly to the outside of the house. ************************************************************ And The outside air intake is connected to the heated air plenum duct. It is a 6 inch open duct without any control, so the majority of the return air is outside -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Da' Goofer, please help clarify what you are tring to say. How big is the duct? Where is it connected on the unit? Return air is from within the house to be reheated, and put back into the house. A heated air plenum, I would think is the heated air to the house. An outside air inlet would be for the combustion chamber. I know you have confused me, and I'm sure some others with what you have stated so far.
"I'll try almost anything at least once.
Mid-Hudson Valley Region, NY
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Joined: 6/14/2007
Posts: 1462
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I'm thinking that it might be very helpful if Da' Goofer would take a few pictures and attach them to a post.. Help eliminate a bunch of guess work and maybe some mis-understanding... Just a thought... Ez
There isn't any handyman problem that a judicious amount of money can't fix... Bradford county Pa.
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Joined: 11/5/2009
Posts: 3
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The 6'' hole that is on the cold air return is the make up air.They try to make houses very tight and with no extra "breathing"air , They say a 6'' hole is enough to let the house breathe. The furnace should be adjusted when installed for a certain temp raise, ( supply air temp - return air temp) with this hole that is ducted into your return air , your furnace should be in this area. If you want to test this the numbers should be on the same tag you got the size from. It will say temp raise (lets say) 30-65 degrees. put a thermometer in the return find a crack or drill a 1/4'' hole on the retrun right before your fan.. the filter rack works well. Then take a temp above your furnace. minus the two. ig in range you are good and shold not worry about your 6'' hole, unless it had no screen we don't wany any critters. Any ?'s shoot me a msg Woody
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Joined: 10/17/2007
Posts: 4
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THE OUTSIDE AIR INTAKE,GOES DIRECTLY IN THE COLD AIR RETURN TO THE FURNACE. IT DOESN'T CONNECT TOTHE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. tHE BASEMENT IS NOT FINISHED AND IS ABOUT 1700 SQFT WITH THE COLD AIR RETURN RUNNING ABOUT 45 FT FROM THE FURNACE TO THE WEST WALL WHERE THE OUTSIDE AIR DUCT IS CONNECTED.
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Joined: 7/24/2008
Posts: 7
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Hello to all. When I moved into my current house the cold air return has a grilled opening straight across from the furnace that is about 1.5' x 2.5'. One should there be one that large right there as it would seem to suck all the cold air return from there and not the rest of the house. Second I should be able to block that off and be OK??. Third someone told me that it won't hurt and atctually helps to manually run the fan most of the time. Some advice from would be helpful. Thanks, Gramps
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