Return vent placement

paul100

I am remodeling my basement and all the vents are staying the same except for maybe one return vent. All the heat registers are in the ceiling. The return was in the lower portion of a wall. I have relocated that wall back a few inches. I can put the return back into that wall but i really would like to put it into the ceiling. My question is, will putting the return into the ceiling hurt the performance of my HVAC system. The room is almost 19' x 19' and the heat vents are separated from the return vent by almost 14 feet.

Thanks.

beenthere

If your supplies throw the air to the floor, no problem putting the return in the ceiling. if the supplies blow the air across the ceiling. it will take longer to heat the basement.

paul100

The registers are directing the air to the floor.

HVAC1000

why do you prefer to put it in the ceiling?

joecaption

Just looking at this as a laymen I'd want them near the floor.
It would help pull the hot air down. It would be sucking in the cold air near the floor not the heated air I paid for stuck up near the ceiling.

paul100

No real reason, just have to cut out some of the top plate. It isn't a load bearing wall so cutting out the plate isn't a problem.

paul100

I forgot to mention that this is for heat and air conditioning.

ryanh

Yes locate return air as close to basement floor a possible so it will draw the cold air in and suck the warm air down to in the basement