No, returns shouldn't be placed in bathrooms. What's in the bathroom stays in the bathroom. :)

I'm not a code expert, but my instinct tells me it doesn't allow/call for them.

ThatÂs correct, and the percentage of return air is made up elsewhere in common areas. It is often not usual to have return airs in the kitchen also, making that up in the hallways, dining areas and great areas.

No returns in bathroom we would tell you why but this is a family show

Here is a link that might be useful: Air Conditioning and Heating Repair Made Easy

thanks all. ryanhughes, you made me laugh ("what happens in the bathroom....").

There SHOULD be returns in every room, especially ones like the bathroom that have the door closed much of the time. without returns, the room can become pressurized, therefore, pushing out the conditioned air through any holes, cracks, etc it can find. (when the room has neutral pressure, most of these openings to the outside don't effect efficiency) in turn, this causes heat/cold air loss, causing entire hvac system to loose efficiency. may not be noticeable, may be. And bathroom related smells/sounds should be taken car of with insulation and bath room vents. haha :)

Dont think so mullet, I mean gullet

Find a house with a return in the bathroom and you have one in a million

The exhaust fan serves as the return, expelling the moist and sometimes smelly air.

"There SHOULD be returns in every room, especially ones like the bathroom that have the door closed much of the time."

Bathrooms and kitchens are usually returned though extra air in adjoining spaces.
I cannot imagine the work trying to make sure that smells from these rooms ARE removed by vent fans while not allowing them to be directly removed by a return vent.

Maybe an electric damper that closes off the return whenever the bathroom light and fan are turned on.

"The exhaust fan serves as the return, expelling the moist and sometimes smelly air. "

Yep. And air can usually find a path out... under the doors, through window cracks, etc.