Heating Return behind tub?? Help!

19 years ago

Hi, I'm hoping someone can give us a little help with an interesting set-up in our bath. We are in the process of having our 1950's bath remodeled. When they took out the old tub and tile, right behind the tile backer between two studs was a return for our heating/air system. There was no duct at all. The air was funneled between the tile backer and drywall from the hallway right behind it. Does this need metal duct work installed or would plastic sheeting between the studs and directly behind the Durashield do the trick? I don't want air blowing directly against the Durashield and into the house. Please clue me in! I may need to call in the Heating Co. quickly- Thanks for any info!

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Comments (6)

jeffnette
19 years ago
Using the wall cavity is common practice for return air....no duct required. I don't think I would put in plastic sheeting either, could make it more of a problem with condensation etc...just put it back the way it was and I think you will be just fine...
vamom3
Original Author
19 years ago
Hi, Thanks for the help! It just seems strange (to me)that there would be no duct work. I was a little concerned about the air blowing against the Densshield. Thanks again-
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CJ Mechanical of North jersey llc.
19 years ago
maybe the return was for the hallway and it was covered over by mistake.I would simply cut in a 14x 6 in the hallway place a grill over the hole.
jtinsc
19 years ago
This used to be a common practice, not anymore. The return will pull dirty, unconditioned air from your attic(fiberglass insulation) or crawl space(yuck). This will make your system work all that much harder. Plactic will just not do the job. I would recommend you get HVAC company out to duct it prperly, since the bath is already torn up.
pjb999
19 years ago
Well I don't know...if the return's within the wall, why would it necessarily draw from attic or subfloor? Between the studs and the ceiling and floor plate, each pair of studs is basically a box, and the drywall should seal from the top and bottom (ok, of course there'll be leaks.)

If it does appear to go right up the wall, all you have to do is put a dwang/noggin (blocking) above where the vent'll be, and it'll stop it from drawing air down...easy as that.

I know returns are now lined with that ductboard etc, but mine aren't (25+yo house) to no ill effect, don't forget returns'll be on interior walls and unlike ducts where conditioned air might be coming from, there'll be no cause for condensation in or around a return, so it shouldn't be an issue IMHO.

As for the durashield, would that be like tyvec paper, and therefore on an outside wall?

I suppose ductboard would be the other way to do it and if op was worried about a return within a bathroom wall, put ductboard on the wet/bathroom side.
jeffnette
19 years ago
As I said before, using the wall cavity between the studs is common practice. It is being done on new homes everyday! Duct is only required in supply air, not return air. If it was drawing air from the attic I think you would know by seeing insulation, etc. falling in the cavity space. It has been working for all these years without problems, I wouldn't worry about it!