Through the hole cut through the floor.
How to install a cold air return floor grille.
Homes will either have multiple small grilles throughout or a single large grille installed in either ceilings or walls.
The vent cover or grille usually contains a removable filter and is sized to fit between ceiling joists spaced a standard 24.
Grilles the function of a grille is to pull air from a room to return it to the heating or cooling system.
There are zero return registers upstairs 3 bedrooms and 1 bath.
That said i am looking at installing central air before summer hits.
This should give you a hole into the basement.
First building codes in many areas require that the cold air return line gets external insulation and therefore you will need to leave a gap for the insulation around the duct return line.
Thankfully our climate is pretty temperate here.
Cut a hole low in the drywall where you want to put your return air grille.
It differs from a register because it does not have a damper to control airflow.
The main floor has 3 supply and 3 return registers all on the floor but the supply is interior and returns are under windows along the exterior.
Size the hole appropriately to the grille size.
Warm air rises and the return will direct that air to the cooler.