wrote in message
oups.com...
I have a home with a basement. We had it built in 1999. The HVAC
(gas) sits right next to the gas water heater. This utility room is
around 20' x 8' with a tight door, located in the basement. There
are two cold air returns on the 1st floor.

The HVAC metal ducting that goes into the attic for the cold air
returns has two large holes in it with vents, right beside the gas
water heater. If I remove the grills and cover up these so they
can't get air, the duct work at that location gets sucked in slightly
due to the negative air pressure (I think I'm saying this right.)

I read in a Popular Mechanics that you don't want cold air returns
near the furnace. I know nothing about this stuff. Are these vents
cold air returns? Is this an issue? Should I have these vents closed
off and another cold air return piped to the hallway?


YES

Return air is prohibited to be pulled from an equipment room by IMC.
Seal them off and add a new return to the hallway.

You need to make sure you still have adequate airflow after your changes.