A return air component is often considered an afterthought for most facilities. However, these air grilles do more than just pull existing air back into an HVAC system’s air ducts. They play a significant role in air-volume control, brand identity, and even contaminant protection.
What’s more, return air grilles are now available with customizations that cover more of a facility’s initiatives and priorities than anyone would expect. This is because HVAC isn’t just a utility running in the background. Today’s HVAC marketplace strives to meet as many needs as effectively as possible.
HVAC systems are absolutely essential for many industries’ performance, as well as the health of stakeholders who set foot in a building. Find out more below about the hard work return air grilles do in today’s HVAC marketplace.
How Do Return Air Grilles Function as Part of an HVAC System
Return air grilles are responsible for regulating the flow of air back into an HVAC system after filtered air comes through the supplies. Return air grilles have various configurations for slatting, so that the air is controlled at a desired rate.
For example, there are large-slatted returns for handling massive volumes of air, and there are grilles with perforations so that air can slowly and carefully make its way back into the system. These characteristics are dependent on the air pressure in the room, which varies according to a facility’s air distribution needs.
Therefore, return air grilles are also responsible for maintaining air pressure, even if they don’t appear to be as sophisticated as other HVAC components, such as fan filter units, supply grills, or HEPA and ULPA filters.
Most manufacturers of air distribution products today design their return air grilles for more than just function. Industries that require exceptional HVAC products know that the appearance of their environment for all customers, clients, and technicians matters.
Return air grilles can be manufactured to suit a business’ overall brand appearance and identity, as well as to make a difference for workers. It is well known that our environments affect the way we perform in the workplace, and all external HVAC components can work in tandem to contribute to a facility’s design experience.
With this in mind, selecting return air products is no longer at the bottom of the list, but part of a comprehensive solution for air quality and aesthetics.
How Can Your Facility Customize Their Return Air Grilles?
Like most air distribution systems, return air grilles can be customized to further enhance their capabilities and appearance. For example, return air grilles are now manufactured with an anti-corrosion stainless steel to ensure their long-term durability.
Additionally, certain return air grilles can handle a significant amount of air while also blocking the view of the duct behind the grille. Most facilities don’t want visitors – or employees – to see the unsightly view of metal ducts, so return air grilles continue offering their special hybrid of form and function by concealing a building’s undesirable elements.
If contamination protection is a priority, these products can also be coated with an antimicrobial finish. While a wide variety of return air grilles are on the market today, you may not be able to find ones whose slatting is sufficient for your facility’s air volume control. In that case, the spacing of slats – and even how they are angled – can be customized with the right manufacturer.
Where Do Facilities Find Superior Return Air Grilles and Other Custom HVAC Products?
If indoor air quality is essential to your manufacturing, research, or healthcare priorities, knowing where to look for superior HVAC products is an important part of your mission. It is important to remember that high-quality products yield high-quality results.
You likely have compliance-related and company-wide initiatives to tackle, from health and safety to brand considerations, as well as ensuring energy-efficiency. But where should you look to find an HVAC firm that can meet all these needs with their air distribution products?
It is easy to separate the excellent HVAC component manufacturers from inferior businesses by vetting their website. First, look for experience. If the company has been innovating for decades, it’s likely that they can deliver an outstanding product. Also, look at the kinds of projects they’ve been involved with in the past.
You can consider a company based on the trust they’ve earned. If their portfolio is made up of a wide variety of high-profile facilities, you know that they are an excellent manufacturer and can be trusted to deliver premier indoor air quality solutions for your business.