Make your basement warmer by adding a cold air return vent

This basement gets very cold in the Winter, so after speaking with an HVAC contractor in my area they suggested I add a return air vent to suck some of the cold air out of the room. My initial thought was to add a supply vent to get some heat as currently there are no supply vents in this finished basement. The HVAC contractor's logic is to suck out the cold air first and see how it impacts the room.
So, in this video I add/install a return air vent using a 6 inch take off into a 3x register box. I install my box directly onto the drywall and use the space between to studs as my return box. I finish by installing a return air vent.
I placed the vent at the bottom of the wall since cold air sits at the bottom of the room.
Hope this helps you with your project. Please consider subscribing.
Thank you
p.s. total cost was under $20.
Disclaimer: these videos are for information purposes only. They are not meant to induce action; therefore, you agree and understand that you make your own decisions and absorb all risks associated with said decisions/actions. You further agree to hold True Grit Development, LLC, it’s members and anyone affiliated with True Grit Development, LLC harmless from any damage or loss.

[@canuckfixit7722]

This makes total sense and all the other comments below Re mold are simply uninformed nonsense. The coldest air is in the basement all year round, especially in the summer when the A/C has been running. Builders as a minimum add a basement cold air return but leave it somewhere in the floor joist space overhead. Not effective. I installed something just like this in my old house in Markham and tied into the existing overhead return and removed the old baffle as I wanted it to work all the time. The idea is to pickup cold air from the lowest possible location and this is how you do it. Moving the pickup to floor level also prevents heat from being sucked back into the return air system which is not efficient. However, adding a cold air return in the basement where one already exists will diminish return air pickup elsewhere in the house which means less hot air being pulled from upstairs in the summer. You may have to ensure that there is a sufficient gap under the basement door to provide makeup air. Here's a related YT video that explains what is happening: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2mZmmyFZqmAeLs

[@olswole3658]

Nice work 👍🙌

[@mikimiki195]

This is awesome video I think I will use 10” pipe from return side under my stairs to grille/mash. I was gonna build whole square box I don’t think it will be necessary after watching this video Thanks a lot 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@shanemiller285]

Nice idea looks like it would work just fine bud as long as it didn't mold inside of the drywall between the 2 x 4 cavity if got the same problem bud my basement work shop maybe a 16x20 gave or take it's the very coldest place nice on a hot day lol I'm gonna do the same but love to take that air to the 2 floor it doesn't have that good of air flow up the very poor believe I'll do this kinda like you did thanks hope that worked out great for you guys

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Hey bud, mold shouldn’t grow inside the 2x4 stud cavity as this is a return intake. I would not recommend doing this for a air flow though. If you’re looking to supply air to an area, you should definitely use hvac duct, make sense? Hope your project goes smoothly. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@liftingafterdark3241]

Just found your video as I have a cold basement office. I like the idea of adding a return vent, but would like to know how it worked? Did you notice the room being any warmer?

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Sorry, your comment was in my “held for review” folder. Yes, but not a huge difference, I plan to cut out for a vent too just haven’t gotten around it yet. The concept certainly works as I also had another licensed HVAC professional look at it while they were at my house. Their only comment was that it would work better if I had it open directly to the room and not through the stud cavity. Reason being too many turns and that makes the suction weaker. So, if you’re planning to do this, try to plan it so your collar/punch out is as close to the return grille as possible. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@carmelom269]

I think you should have ripped out the dry wall covering the studs, so you could then spay foam insulation to seal gaps where drywall touches studs, then you could have inserted a custom sheet metal tube to connect your top and bottom returns, then cover with a fresh sheet of drywall, tape, plaster, and paint.

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

No doubt sealing everything makes for better suction, but didn’t really wanted to be a big job. For this one I wanted something quick and something many ppl can DIY. As you know finishing drywall is not easy. Good tips man, appreciate it. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@jeffsmith3132]

You say to keep it low but should be relevant to the location of the supply vent. If the supply vent is low the return duct should be high and vice versa and always in the opposite side of the room so as to suck air across the room.

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Correct. In my case there isn’t a supply vent. If I had a supply vent, I would do what you said. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@ThrabenValiant]

How are you going to keep the moisture from accumulating in that space in the wall? And would there be a way to drop ductwork into that space?

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Hi, there shouldn’t be any moisture build up as this is a return vent and not a supply vent, so I am not introducing cold air into the cavity. You can certainly put in a slim duct in there, but that is not necessary. In fact, if you look around your home, unscrew your return vent from the wall, you will see there is no duct in the wall cavity. Hope this answers your question. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@MianAShah]

It would be useful to share if this worked and achived the result. Also did it affect your bill at all?

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Sorry, your comment was in my “held for review” folder. Yes, but not a huge difference, I plan to cut out for a vent too just haven’t gotten around it yet. The concept certainly works as I also had another licensed HVAC professional look at it while they were at my house. Their only comment was that it would work better if I had it open directly to the room and not through the stud cavity. Reason being too many turns and that makes the suction weaker. So, if you’re planning to do this, try to plan it so your collar/punch out is as close to the return grille as possible. Hope this helps. As far as my bill goes it didn’t effect it b/c I don’t have a vent out in my basement only this return. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@This0y]

I had an inspection and they require me to install a return air vent. Is this method will pass the reinspection? Thank you!

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Sorry, your comment was held in my review section for some reason. You probably already had your reinspection and I hope it all worked out for you. To answer the question, yes you can install a return anywhere in your house as far as I know by simply connecting to the main return duct of your HVAC system. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@cathybeda1205]

What recommendations would you suggest to find a qualified company in Toronto Canada to look at my property heating and ventilation system?

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Hi, I am sorry I am in the states! I am sure you can use Facebook for good recommendations, good luck! Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@sapreaper]

How about a return vent in an unfinished basement? Just to get air circulated?

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Sorry, your comment was in my “held for review”. Don’t have experience with that honestly, but I would assume you need a vent-in to take air out through a return? Unless you have a drafty basement? Let me know what you end up doing and whether it worked for you.

[@ECarbonFiber]

Adding a return vent in the basement can be a really bad thing! If you have a gas water heater in the basement, it can backdraft from the flue and circulate carbon monoxide through the house. Most houses have leaky ductwork, the return can cause a negative pressure in the basement. Especially with the basement door closed.

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

You may be correct as I am not an HVAC licensed individual, but this return installation was advised by a licensed HVAC individual. In my case, the return is no where near my gas water heater, but I do get what you’re saying. As far as the negative pressure, I have no idea. Thanks for watching.

[@faridjahed]

Did it make a difference in making your basement warmer

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Sorry, your comment was in my “held for review” folder. Yes, but not a huge difference, I plan to cut out for a vent too just haven’t gotten around it yet. The concept certainly works as I also had another licensed HVAC professional look at it while they were at my house. Their only comment was that it would work better if I had it open directly to the room and not through the stud cavity. Reason being too many turns and that makes the suction weaker. So, if you’re planning to do this, try to plan it so your collar/punch out is as close to the return grille as possible. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼

[@kw7006]

Did it work, is your basement warmer?

[@TrueGritDevelopment]

Sorry, your comment was in my “held for review” folder. Yes, but not a huge difference, I plan to cut out for a vent too just haven’t gotten around it yet. The concept certainly works as I also had another licensed HVAC professional look at it while they were at my house. Their only comment was that it would work better if I had it open directly to the room and not through the stud cavity. Reason being too many turns and that makes the suction weaker. So, if you’re planning to do this, try to plan it so your collar/punch out is as close to the return grille as possible. Hope this helps. Thanks for watching and supporting ✊🏼