Can You Have a Heater Duct & Return Air in a Garage?

Heating Systems

• A home’s heating ducts and vents operate within a two-part air transfer system. One part of the system supplies warm air to different rooms of the house, while the other part removes cold air from the home environment. For many heating units, the supply side of the system consists of a vent in most every room. The return side of the system usually operates off of one centrally located return vent. In effect, a home heating system works by conditioning and re-conditioning the air flows that move through the vent and duct system.

Closed-Air System

• The ducts and vents that run off of a home heating unit are meant to function within a closed-air system. In effect, a closed-air system recycles a home’s air supply over and over again. The closed-air environment makes it possible for heating system to operate off of one centrally located return vent. As garages are oftentimes closed off from the rest of the house, home owners looking to generate heat in a garage space must install a vent and return duct in order to maintain a closed-air system.

Air Leaks

• It’s not uncommon for a garage location to have gaps and leaks along garage door seams and wall surfaces. Unless a garage space has been insulated like the remainder of the house, its easier for outside air flows, or drafts to seep inside. As a result, installing a heater duct and return air vent in a garage that’s poorly insulated will make a home heating system work that much harder. The presence of air leaks eliminates the closed-air system effect, meaning a heating unit ends up conditioning the air that seeps in from the outside. To prevent this from happening, homeowners looking to install a duct and vent within a garage area should ensure walls, doors, windows and ceilings are well insulated.

Considerations

• Within a home heating system, a centrally located return air vent coordinates warm air delivery and helps maintain thermostat levels by constantly removing cold air molecules from the area. To do this, return air vents must have open access to the room’s air supply. Keeping return air vents unimpeded by furniture and vent slats clear of dirt and debris helps ensure return vents function properly. These same measures should be taken when installing and maintaining a return air vent in a garage location.