Can a cold air return be used for ductwork?

The number and location of cold air returns are dependent on the square footage and the number and location of heat ducts. You need the system to be balanced, allowing the air to move from the furnace to the room, circulate in the room, and the colder air pushed out of the room back down to the furnace. If you re-purpose a cold air return in a room that will have it's doors closed, such as a bedroom, the heat will not be able to enter the room as much as you may need to maintain a comfortable temperature.

So, you can only take out a cold air return (which is also using duct work in most installations) if there is another way for the colder air in the room to find its way back to the furnace in the basement. This would be through other cold air returns in the house, or by traveling down to the basement through open air flow.

I'd say this may work in an open area of the house with enough other cold air returns, but create a problem for you in a bedroom or other enclosed space.

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John m is correct. I'd avoid any contractor that says you can you can eliminate part of a balanced system as they clearly don't understand the basics of HVAC. And there are alot who don't.