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Open air returns in attic

Jimbellar | Posted in Energy Efficiency and Durability on

I have two open air return in the attic. I’m wonder exactly what they are for?

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Replies

  1. GBA Editor
    Martin Holladay | | #1

    Jim,
    It's hard to say without investigation. Go up in the attic and shout (or sing) into the duct. Ask a family member to walk through the house and listen for your shout or singing, so you can figure out where the duct terminates.

    I've heard of some builders pulling combustion air for a mechanical room from the attic. The duct simply terminates somewhere in the mechanical room -- at a grille or as an open duct -- to provide combustion air for a furnace, boiler, or water heater.

  2. user-2310254 | | #2

    Do you have any rooms with huge dust bunnies? ;)

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