Vents in the ceiling

Stuart_6

We are adding a second story to our 1950s brick rambler. I just visited the site and discovered that the HVAC contractor was installing the ducts in the new attic space with vents in the ceiling. It was a surprise to me since every other house I have ever lived in has had vents close to the floor. Are ceiling vents good practice? I worry about drafts and heated air staying in a layer at the top of the room. I was also surpised to see three vents per room rather than the traditional one. Or am I just being old fashioned?

Brad White_73

Heating or cooling, supply or return...

If principally for cooling you want them high, obviously. They will work OK for heating if the heat loss is relatively low, if the discharge air temperatures is also relatively low and if the returns at least are low. (How low can we go here? That is three in a row, a personal best right here!

Key is to have supply and return opposite; if one is high the other should be low. Low is great for heating but if used principally for cooling then your return should be high. Does that makes sense?

Three vents per room is better than one. I would not make a fuss about that; they may take one back.

As far as being old-fashioned, do you wear horn-rim glasses, wingtip shoes and plaid shirts? If not, don't worry about it.

Unknown

what kind of forced air system are you getting installed?

judging by the amount of outlets it kinda sounds like hi-velocity, in which more per room is normal and ceiling locations are ok because of the nature of hi-v temperature stratification is not so much of an issue.