Derek Cole explains why newer homes over 1,600 sq ft need at least two air returns. Multiple returns improve airflow when doors are closed, route air through filters instead of attics, and should be sized and placed strategically, often one per side of the house near bedrooms.
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I'm Derek Cole, host of the Derek Cole Podcast, and we believe in taking the time to explain how things work for your air at home or your business. And we also believe you deserve clean air in that home. And that is why we founded the Healthy Home Challenge. It's a five day online video series with daily emails, worksheets and even quick action steps you can take to protect you, your family and your co workers. If you haven't joined us yet, you can sign up. It's free to free five day access. You can go to Simmons One Hour Comm. You'll see a link to learn more about indoor air. You've probably known for a while that you need better indoor air at home or at work. After all, we spend 90% of our time indoors these days. Your breakthrough awaits at Simmons One Hour Comm. Now let's get into today's episode. Please listen closely and maybe even take some notes so you can remember these insights of home comfort and energy savings. And share this episode with three of your friends because we all need to share better ways to be more comfortable at home. Be sure to tag me or DM me on Instagram Derek Mcole so I can say hi, thanks again for listening and let's begin.
So we had a question and the question was, you know, I'm moving to a, it's a bigger home. I'm moving to a new home and 1700 square feet and I have two returns. In my other house, I just had one return. So why do I have two returns? You know the terms where you put the filter in every month and check it. Right. Well, any home over 1600 square feet that's in this state, you have to have at least two returns in the home. Now that's for obviously newer homes and not, you know, existing or replacements for existing homes. Now, if you replace the DOE system, you have to have two returns, but if you replace the unit alone, you don't have to, you know, fix that. It's kind of, you know, it's kind of, you know, as is the way it was. So instead of a 1 return, you had to have 2 returns. And the reason is the house is big enough. And really when you go back, if, you know, I look back at my 20 plus years of doing this, I, I would always recommend multiple returns in this situation because I've never been to a home and thought, wow, there's way too many returns in here or this home has too many returns. That, that has never been the case. But what has been the case Is that the home does not have enough returns or the return does have. Is not big enough to. To handle the unit that is there. You know, you have a return. It's gonna. Usually when you have return, it's going to be on one side of the house. If you have two returns, usually it's because you can think of a house and kind of look at it on like a Google Earth mentality. The left side has one return, usually with the rooms. Bedrooms. The Raleigh set has the other return, usually with the bedrooms. And in the middle, you have a kitchen and a living room. The bigger the return and the more returns you have, the more you have in these different locations. It's a lot better if you have to close off a room or close a door because you want to make it as easy as possible for the air to get back to the unit. So the unit is blowing out the air. It needs to return the same amount of air into it. It's gonna.
It's gonna get there.
It needs. All right, so you want to make it as easy as possible for the air to get back to return and get through the filter versus the unit having to get air from in the attic or under house or wherever the unit is at. You want it to go through the filter and not be unconditioned air coming from the attic or to cross the base. Again, depending on where the air handler or with that unit is getting the air from. You want to control as much as you can. You know, having two returns is not a bad thing. I'm glad you have two returns because you need two returns for that size of home. If you have one return on one side of the house and the other 1600 square feet had to get back to this one return, it's going to be very difficult because you have these rooms closed off or that junk room that's always closed off, you close the door because you don't want anybody to see it. Well, that unit, that room has air going to the unit, but you want the air to come back out of that room. And it's hard to do that when the door is closed or the carpet is thick and the door is closed and there's not enough room for that air to come back. So, you know, most returns are needed for that size of the home. And again, air is just. Air is just like water. It's. It going to. It's going to travel the easiest place it can. But you want to do the best job you can of making it easy and making it come back to unit through the filter through the return so it's cleaned and conditioned there.
Okay I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Derek Cole Podcast. Tell some people about this episode. It's on each of us really, to spread the better ways to be healthier and more comfortable in our homes and workspaces. I'm asking you to be the dealer of positive and life changing messages in your circle of influence. Take a screenshot right now and share the screenshot and the link to this episode with three of your friends today. Share on social Media Use the hashtag Healthy Home. That's Healthy Home. We are always giving away shout outs prizes to our community. If you would like to help me personally then please rate and review on Apple podcast. Give us some stars. Leave a review because that stuff actually does help and I read all the comments. So my last thought for today please remember you deserve better air at home and greater comfort at home. Don't settle for being uncomfortable for your heating air every single month. We are so thankful for having you here in our community and be sure to go deeper with us at simmons1hour.com.
