Plenum Chamber required?

[blabs]

I am about to remodel my kitchen and have a question about whether I need what appears to be a large plenum chamber. Here is a description of the area:

There is a cold-air return grate at the top of the first floor wall that is about 6"x14". Straight down from there is an opening to the HVAC duct work in the basement. That opening is about the same 6"x14"... maybe a little smaller. Between these two openings is a large chamber in the shape of an 'L' created by multiple walls. The chamber volume is approx. 40 cubic feet and it connects to the basement duct work approx. 10 feet down from the HVAC unit.

I would like to move/remove the walls so that the chamber is effectively eliminated and the cold-air return is like all of the other cold-air returns (basically the space between studs and the length from floor to ceiling)

What purpose does this plenum chamber serve? Is it necessary for the efficient operation of my HVAC?

One additional detail... the previous owner had a hard time fitting their refrigerator next to this space. To solve their problem, they removed the drywall next to the refrigerator to create some additional width. The drywall removed was part of the wall that enclosed the plenum chamber. You can't tell by looking at it; however, if you move the frig it exposes the opening (this is how I know what's behind these walls).

Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Randy

[seatonheating]

All good questions to ask your local HVAC Contractor.

[genduct]

Sounds like what you already think, A lot of wasted space. You do need a thoughtful location for the return duct ( as opposed to return closet)

[genduct]

PS just thought of this, what is a return doing in the kitchen?
Not usually done

[udarrell]

PS just thought of this, what is a return doing in the kitchen?
Not usually done

It appears to be just the chamber feed in the kitchen wall, with a grille in another area.(?) Right, there should NOT be a RA grille in the kitchen or bathroom(s).

Pics would help...


blabs: There is a cold-air return grate at the top of the first floor wall (?) that is about 6"x14". Straight down from there is an opening to the HVAC duct work in the basement.

That opening is about the same 6"x14"... maybe a little smaller. Between these two openings is a large chamber in the shape of an 'L' created by multiple walls.

The chamber volume is approx. 40 cubic feet and it connects to the basement duct work approx. 10 feet down from the HVAC unit.

[genduct]

That rule gets a little blurry with the eating area right next to the kitchen and no walls to define what is what

[Todd S 2]

In the older homes it was not unusual to have a return in the kitchen.

Like I said, this was only done in older home (before) A/C.

You probably don't have enough return now, so you don't want to omit any.

Have someone come and add a big return somewhere else.