On Jul 10, 7:24*pm, Sam Takoy wrote:
Hi,

My central AC unit is on the 3rd floor and we get no relief on the first
floor. The only intake is in the ceiling of the second floor and the
HVAC specialist tells me that that's the problem. His proposed solution
is a second AC system for the first floor.

I'm thinking: why not take one of the outlet ducts and convert them to
an intake? Crazy enough to work?

Thanks,

Sam

Without knowing more it's difficult to provide advice for this one.
Where are you located? Is this an older house or a new house? Does
the system provide heat as well as cool? Was the system originally
sized to service the whole house? Did it ever cool the bottom floor?
Does it have zone controls or is it just one thermostat?

Generally if the house has a fairly open floor plan having one return
on the 2nd floor is not automatically a bad thing. There should be
dampers on the unit that would allow you to cut back the air going to
the upper floors forcing more air to the bottom. If the system
provides heat and cooling you will need to adjust the dampers at the
beginning of each summer and winter.