My present upflow gas furnace is located in the garage and the tract builder in its wisdom located the return under the platform that the furnace sits on. The return grill is down low on the wall in the family room next to the kitchen.
I understand that it was a cheap way of not having to run return ducting but when it runs it's noisy with no way to really change that. I will assume that my new
soon-to-be- installed furnace will be quieter but I think it will still be noisy and I'd love to not have to hear it.
My contractor suggested that he can relocate the return to the hall ceiling about 15 feet away, run an insulated duct through the attic to drop down in the garage next to the furnace using a “cold drop”, and let the return go into the side of the new furnace. He says that being more centrally located it will even out the air distribution better also.
He tells me that this is quite normal but the idea of cutting a hole into a very expensive appliance is a bit unsettling. He also says that he can, if there is enough height clearance, sit the furnace on a metal box and let the air go into the bottom of the furnace so he doesn't have to cut anything.
Is it okay to cut into the side of a furnace?
Any warranty issues?
Is there a difference or preference between the air returning to the side or the bottom? Any flow or noise advantages?
I appreciate any opinions.
I understand that it was a cheap way of not having to run return ducting but when it runs it's noisy with no way to really change that. I will assume that my new
soon-to-be- installed furnace will be quieter but I think it will still be noisy and I'd love to not have to hear it.
My contractor suggested that he can relocate the return to the hall ceiling about 15 feet away, run an insulated duct through the attic to drop down in the garage next to the furnace using a “cold drop”, and let the return go into the side of the new furnace. He says that being more centrally located it will even out the air distribution better also.
He tells me that this is quite normal but the idea of cutting a hole into a very expensive appliance is a bit unsettling. He also says that he can, if there is enough height clearance, sit the furnace on a metal box and let the air go into the bottom of the furnace so he doesn't have to cut anything.
Is it okay to cut into the side of a furnace?
Any warranty issues?
Is there a difference or preference between the air returning to the side or the bottom? Any flow or noise advantages?
I appreciate any opinions.
source https://hvac-talk.com/vbb/showthread.php?2223282-Upflow-Return-Air-at-Bottom-or-Side-of-Furnace&goto=newpost
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