wrote in message
oups.com...
I'm in the market for central air. I recently bought a 1,900 sq ft.
colonial with forced hot air for heat. I'm speaking with two reputable
local companies for the A/C service. Both have told me that my return
air is not adequate. I already knew this beforehand because I have a
single return duct running to the 1st floor (severely undersized) and
no return duct running to the 2nd floor. My question deals with how
each of these companies plans on remedying the situation.

Company A says they will branch off of the existing duct and add a new
return vent in another room on the 1st floor.

If the home is over 2000SF by code in most areas, its required to have two
anyway....at 1900...its close enough to justify one anyway.


Company B says it is necessary to run a new duct up to the 2nd floor in
order to get a return on the 2nd floor. They say this is necessary for
air flow and air quality reasons.

Without seeing your situation, and offering an opinion, this is the way to
go.
On ANY multi level home we install systems in, each floor gets at least ONE
return, sized properly and ran to allow for proper circulation.
If the home requires more than 2.5 tons of cooling, we normally suggest two
sep systems as well, since that is the ultimate in comfort for most, and
when sized correctly, can be cheaper to run long term than a single system.

Where do they plan on mounting the thermostat? Any zone controls?


Is it common to have only 1st floor returns in a multi-floor home?

Sadly...yes.
Most builders want CHEAP, and they want it NOW.
Most will go with the cheapest installers they can find, and many companies
will lower their rates to get that work, and in order to do that, you lose
something.


Thanks.
Grim