HVAC pros: Does this room have 2 return/0 supply? Cold winter!

[Daniel R.]

Hi all- I wanted to ask if I’m missing something obvious, or if there’s something that can be done to fix my troubles.  I have a second floor bedroom in a colonial style home (with a third floor full attic that’s not insulated).  The summers seem to be a little warmer on my second floor,  but winters are extra chilly in one of the 3 bedrooms on the second floor. Am I incorrect in saying that this bedroom has 2 return vents and no supply blowing in warm air?  Is there a new vent with a damper I can install to get warm air to flow in (and cool air in the summer)?  Thank you for your insight!

[Jaysen Medhurst]

@Daniel R., looks like your photos didn't properly post.

[Christpher Schuebel]

Put a Kleenex on or next to the vent while the furnace or ac is running. That should help you determine if it's a supply or return vent. Most likely your supply will be on an exterior wall where the need for conditioned air greatest and your return will be on the opposite side of the room or space in an effort to get the air to move across the space. Hope this helps 

[Mike Reynolds]

Originally posted by @Daniel R.:

Hi all- I wanted to ask if I’m missing something obvious, or if there’s something that can be done to fix my troubles.  I have a second floor bedroom in a colonial style home (with a third floor full attic that’s not insulated).  The summers seem to be a little warmer on my second floor,  but winters are extra chilly in one of the 3 bedrooms on the second floor. Am I incorrect in saying that this bedroom has 2 return vents and no supply blowing in warm air?  Is there a new vent with a damper I can install to get warm air to flow in (and cool air in the summer)?  Thank you for your insight!

 From the two icons listed they look like two 4 way supply diffusers. 

Seriously though, You may not even have a return in that room. How long ago was it installed? Many older construction had only supply and the return was channeled from the gap at the bottom of the doors if they were closed. Like was mentioned use the tissue paper test. Thing to consider is even if one doesn't blow may not mean it is not a supply. It could just be dampered off to restrict airflow. There is just not a great answer unless you can examine it closer.  Get an HVAC guy to look at it. 

ETA: do they both look alike or is one like a grid? 

[Daniel R.]

@Jaysen Medhurst @Christpher Schuebel @Mike Reynolds thank you all for your input!  I am uploading the pictures yet again, so hopefully they display properly this time.  Thanks!

[Jim Adrian]

My old house had the returns under the window which is backwards.  while the supplies vents where near the middle / interior of the house.    Best way is with a tissue test.  You may need the ducts cleaned.  

[Pat L.]

From our experience very few of the older pre '50's homes had upper floor return air ducts.

& the heating ducts were usually as close to the chase where they came up with no regard for 'under the window' positioning.