Mysterious Metal Plate on Basement Ceiling?How do I lower a cold air return from the ceiling for a basement rental?Can I cut a hole in a 2“ x 8” joist that is less than 1/3 the height of the joist, leaves at least 2“ above and below the hole, but is 10” wide?Should I insulate my basement ceiling?What is This Metal Flashing and Hollow Space Where Top Plate Should beEfficiently heating an unfinished basement roomProblem with condensation on HVAC ducts inside houseOpen ceiling duct in finished basementJunction Box Blank Cover in HVAC DuctWhat is this mysterious filter and purpose?Should I insulate metal duct work in basement?

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Mysterious Metal Plate on Basement Ceiling?


How do I lower a cold air return from the ceiling for a basement rental?Can I cut a hole in a 2“ x 8” joist that is less than 1/3 the height of the joist, leaves at least 2“ above and below the hole, but is 10” wide?Should I insulate my basement ceiling?What is This Metal Flashing and Hollow Space Where Top Plate Should beEfficiently heating an unfinished basement roomProblem with condensation on HVAC ducts inside houseOpen ceiling duct in finished basementJunction Box Blank Cover in HVAC DuctWhat is this mysterious filter and purpose?Should I insulate metal duct work in basement?






.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;








1















There is a metal plate on the top of my basement's celing.



It is attached to the HVAC ducts, but doesn't appear to be a duct itself.



I'm interested in using the stud it is attached to hang an LED strip light that requires stud access.



Can I drill a pilot hole through the sheet metal to attach it to the joist? What is the purpose of the sheet metal?
PlatePlate 2










share|improve this question






















  • it's probably 1/4th of a duct...

    – dandavis
    8 hours ago

















1















There is a metal plate on the top of my basement's celing.



It is attached to the HVAC ducts, but doesn't appear to be a duct itself.



I'm interested in using the stud it is attached to hang an LED strip light that requires stud access.



Can I drill a pilot hole through the sheet metal to attach it to the joist? What is the purpose of the sheet metal?
PlatePlate 2










share|improve this question






















  • it's probably 1/4th of a duct...

    – dandavis
    8 hours ago













1












1








1








There is a metal plate on the top of my basement's celing.



It is attached to the HVAC ducts, but doesn't appear to be a duct itself.



I'm interested in using the stud it is attached to hang an LED strip light that requires stud access.



Can I drill a pilot hole through the sheet metal to attach it to the joist? What is the purpose of the sheet metal?
PlatePlate 2










share|improve this question














There is a metal plate on the top of my basement's celing.



It is attached to the HVAC ducts, but doesn't appear to be a duct itself.



I'm interested in using the stud it is attached to hang an LED strip light that requires stud access.



Can I drill a pilot hole through the sheet metal to attach it to the joist? What is the purpose of the sheet metal?
PlatePlate 2







hvac






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked 8 hours ago









Sarah SzaboSarah Szabo

2901 gold badge2 silver badges11 bronze badges




2901 gold badge2 silver badges11 bronze badges












  • it's probably 1/4th of a duct...

    – dandavis
    8 hours ago

















  • it's probably 1/4th of a duct...

    – dandavis
    8 hours ago
















it's probably 1/4th of a duct...

– dandavis
8 hours ago





it's probably 1/4th of a duct...

– dandavis
8 hours ago










1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes


















4














This appears that they used the channel between studs as a return air duct. Look at the duct that attaches to it and see if it is also a return air duct or if it goes to the return side of the air handler.



That said, drilling a small hole to hang something should be fine. Make sure you drill as close to the center of the stud as you can - you don't want a random hole in the return air duct if you can avoid it. If you have some kind of hole-drilling accident, a piece of aluminum duct tape or duct sealant should fix it.






share|improve this answer























  • Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

    – Sarah Szabo
    7 hours ago











  • I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

    – blacksmith37
    7 hours ago











  • I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

    – JPhi1618
    6 hours ago













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1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes








1 Answer
1






active

oldest

votes









active

oldest

votes






active

oldest

votes









4














This appears that they used the channel between studs as a return air duct. Look at the duct that attaches to it and see if it is also a return air duct or if it goes to the return side of the air handler.



That said, drilling a small hole to hang something should be fine. Make sure you drill as close to the center of the stud as you can - you don't want a random hole in the return air duct if you can avoid it. If you have some kind of hole-drilling accident, a piece of aluminum duct tape or duct sealant should fix it.






share|improve this answer























  • Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

    – Sarah Szabo
    7 hours ago











  • I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

    – blacksmith37
    7 hours ago











  • I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

    – JPhi1618
    6 hours ago















4














This appears that they used the channel between studs as a return air duct. Look at the duct that attaches to it and see if it is also a return air duct or if it goes to the return side of the air handler.



That said, drilling a small hole to hang something should be fine. Make sure you drill as close to the center of the stud as you can - you don't want a random hole in the return air duct if you can avoid it. If you have some kind of hole-drilling accident, a piece of aluminum duct tape or duct sealant should fix it.






share|improve this answer























  • Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

    – Sarah Szabo
    7 hours ago











  • I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

    – blacksmith37
    7 hours ago











  • I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

    – JPhi1618
    6 hours ago













4












4








4







This appears that they used the channel between studs as a return air duct. Look at the duct that attaches to it and see if it is also a return air duct or if it goes to the return side of the air handler.



That said, drilling a small hole to hang something should be fine. Make sure you drill as close to the center of the stud as you can - you don't want a random hole in the return air duct if you can avoid it. If you have some kind of hole-drilling accident, a piece of aluminum duct tape or duct sealant should fix it.






share|improve this answer













This appears that they used the channel between studs as a return air duct. Look at the duct that attaches to it and see if it is also a return air duct or if it goes to the return side of the air handler.



That said, drilling a small hole to hang something should be fine. Make sure you drill as close to the center of the stud as you can - you don't want a random hole in the return air duct if you can avoid it. If you have some kind of hole-drilling accident, a piece of aluminum duct tape or duct sealant should fix it.







share|improve this answer












share|improve this answer



share|improve this answer










answered 8 hours ago









JPhi1618JPhi1618

12.1k2 gold badges25 silver badges48 bronze badges




12.1k2 gold badges25 silver badges48 bronze badges












  • Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

    – Sarah Szabo
    7 hours ago











  • I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

    – blacksmith37
    7 hours ago











  • I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

    – JPhi1618
    6 hours ago

















  • Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

    – Sarah Szabo
    7 hours ago











  • I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

    – blacksmith37
    7 hours ago











  • I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

    – JPhi1618
    6 hours ago
















Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

– Sarah Szabo
7 hours ago





Is it a good thing that they used the joists as a return air duct? The upper story actually increases in temperature during days when the house is in full sunlight during the summer. Thanks for the answer! :)

– Sarah Szabo
7 hours ago













I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

– blacksmith37
7 hours ago





I used the same system years ago ; galvanized metal duct between joists . I used it to bring outside air in to the gas furnace in the basement.

– blacksmith37
7 hours ago













I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

– JPhi1618
6 hours ago





I think it’s pretty standard, but we don’t have basements where I live so I’m not sure exactly. I have seen return air running through floor joists and wall cavities in two story houses. The idea is that since the air is room temperature, you don’t need the insulation or sealing that a duct gives you.

– JPhi1618
6 hours ago

















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