Should you cover your return air vent when cooling a room?
When you cover your return air vent, you are removing these steps. The system can’t remove the warm air, and your AC isn’t able to cool the room properly. Not only will blocking a return air vent prevent you from having a comfortable room, but it can also cause several serious issues. Harm to your HVAC system is probably the biggest concern.
How can I make my return air vent look better?
One inexpensive and very simple solution to add a bit of style to your return air vent is to purchase a magnetic decorative cover. These magnetic covers hide the bland look of a vent by camouflaging it with a decorative magnet of the same size. Decorative magnets have ample holes in the design to allow for ample air flow.
Is it all in the details when it comes to vent covers?
The phrase, “it’s all in the details”, comes to mind, when you see a vent cover, which isn’t pretty or doesn’t match your space style. this air return cover was made of a decorative metal radiator screen, read the full tutorial to find out how to make one. DIY decorative air retrun vent cover (via www.simplicityinthesouth.com)
What is a return air vent?
These vents suck in air from your home and filter it back into the system. A return air vent is usually slightly bigger than the air vents that push out the air. One way to know if your air vent is a return vent is that a return air vent does not ever blow out air. If the vent you want to hide or cover is blowing out air it is not the return vent.
How to keep air flowing in a return vent?
Placing a furniture piece around the vent without blocking it is another option. A ladder shelf is open with no back and will keep air flowing. Make sure you can position it to keep the return vent open and don't place anything large on the shelf in front of it. You can also place a console or sofa table in front of the return vent, making sure it doesn't block the vent. These furniture pieces let the air flow, but they become the focal point instead of the air return.
Where are return vents located?
A quick look around your room reveals several registers or vents, but how do you tell them apart? The location of return vents is usually on interior walls in most of your rooms except the kitchen and bathrooms.
Why do you cover vents?
However, your HVAC system pushes out the same amount of air no matter how many vents you have open. Closing the vents throws off the balance and pressure , causing damage and forcing the unit to work harder. It can make the system less energy efficient, so leaving all vents open and unblocked is best.
Why do people block return vents?
Other people block return vents for aesthetic reasons. They might not look pretty, but they're an important part of your system. Leaving them unblocked is necessary for things to work correctly.
What is an air vent?
Image Credit: trgowanlock/iStock/Getty Images. A furnace is basically a recirculating air pump; it draws cool air from all the rooms in your house that have a return vent and pumps hot air into these rooms through the heating vents. If you cover the return vent in a particular room, that room won't get as warm as the others.
Why won't my furnace get hot air?
If a particular room has a heating vent, but no return vent, it won't get as much hot air from the furnace because the room is already full of air that isn't going anywhere.
Can you paint return vents?
If you want to cover your return vents because you don't like the look of them , there are ways to make them less noticeable without interfering with how your HVAC system operates. Painting the cover the same color as the wall helps them blend in. You can also replace a boring grille with a decorative metal vent cover to make it attractive.
What is return air vent?
Those return vents are a vital component of your home’s air circulatory system.
Why are return air vents important?
If you’re having trouble understanding why your return air vents are so important, here’s something to think about – breathing. When you breathe, you are performing something called ventilation. Proper ventilation is also what your return air vents are there to achieve.
Why does my HVAC system have a gradient?
Your HVAC system has a pressure gradient it is trying to maintain. If your return vents are blocked , pressure can build up in the room. Increased pressure will cause your HVAC supply vents, the vents that are blowing the air into the room, to work harder and become less efficient.
Why is my HVAC not pulling air back?
If your HVAC is not able to pull air back through the return air vent, then it will try to pull it from somewhere is. This could mean that it tries to pull air from outside. Depending on where you live, this air may not be clean and could cause problems in your system.
How to keep HVAC system running smoothly?
Being aware of return air vents and knowing they need to remain clear of furniture and dust will keep your HVAC system running smoothly.
What happens if your HVAC system is blocked?
If return vents are blocked, your HVAC system may try to pull air from other places. These places might not be clean.
What is the vent that is blowing cold air called?
Not sure which grille is the return air vent? Turn on your AC system. The vent that is blowing the cold air is called the supply vent. The vent that doesn’t seem to be doing anything is your return vent.
Why is a return air vent needed?
A return air vent is a critical component to making sure your heating and cooling system works properly. Blocking a return air vent can cause the HVAC system to not operate efficiently and can result in premature damage to the components inside your HVAC system. Let me explain. The air handler (or furnace) portion of your heating ...
What is an air return vent?
The air return vent is an important component of your heating and cooling system. However, they are not pretty to look at, resulting in many people looking for ways to hide them.
What Happens When Your Return Air Vent is blocked?
When you block the return air vents, you shut all airflow into the heating and cooling system, stopping the airflow to your rooms in your house. This causes stress on the blower motor and other HVAC components, driving the system to work harder and wear out faster.
What is a return air grille?
What is the purpose of a return air grille. The standard return air grille is a metal louvered door that covers the opening into the return air duct. It also serves as a placeholder for the air filter in your return vent. Typical metal louvered grille comes in various sizes and normally comes painted white.
Why is it important not to block the return air vent?
It's important not to block your return air vent because your HVAC system needs constant return air to work properly. A blocked air return vent will cause your system to lose efficiency and can cause premature failure of your HVAC system.
How much space do I need for a return vent?
However, this is often not enough. I generally recommend that the return vent have a minimum clearance of 12 inches in front, 12 inches on each side, and 6 inches above and below the return vent. This allows for enough air space on all sides for the return vent ...
How wide is a rug return vent?
The other problem is that these won’t cover all air return vents. Typically these rugs are about 18″ x 30″. Many return vents are over 20″ wide.
What Is A Return Air Vent?
All Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems have a return air vent. These vents suck in air from your home and filter it back into the system. A return air vent is usually slightly bigger than the air vents that push out the air.
Is It Safe To Cover Your Return Vent?
You should never block the return vent from its air supply. Sometimes your return air vent can be an eyesore. This is especially true if it is placed in a highly visible location in your room. Your immediate thought might be to cover it. There are a few things you should know before you plan a way to hide your return air vent from view.
1. Magnetic Decorative Covers
Many online retailers like Etsy have caught wind of homeowners’ desire to hide return air vents. One inexpensive and very simple solution to add a bit of style to your return air vent is to purchase a magnetic decorative cover.
2. Make your Own Wood Cover
If you are interested in creating a piece to fit your return vent using mild carpentry assembly work you may try a wood bordered cover with decorative metal sheeting to cover the vent itself.
3. Custom Furniture Installments
If you have a larger budget for your project that involves hiding a return air vent then a custom furniture installment could be the way to go. You can create any type of lasting furniture piece that you can imagine. The only crucial part is to ensure that the furniture piece has great airflow around where the return vent is located.
4. Cabinetry With Air Flow
Homeowners are always looking for new and creative ways to create usable storage in their homes. You can create cabinet space with airflow where your air vent is located.
5. Blend It With Paint
If invisibility is all you are really trying to achieve in hiding your return vent you may just be able to blend it into the room using paint.
What to do with white vents on walls?
In fact, they can be an eye sore. Take a cool door mat like this one, paint it and attach to the wall to get a beautiful vent cover.
Can decorative doors be ventilated?
The first solution is decorative doors that serve two purposes here both decorative and functional! You just place a piece of furniture on the strategically important place and if necessary, change the doors for ventilating ones, with some perforation. Simple and brilliant!
Is return air vent visible in HVAC?
Many HVAC system components are visible inside the home, and while some people aren’t bothered by their presence, some homeowners would love to cover up or change out those eyesores. One not-so-attractive HVAC element that is present throughout the home is the return air vent.
Can you cover an ugly vent with shutters?
An ugly vent can be covered with a usual shutter! You can find one up to the size of you vent and sand and paint it the way you like. Get inspired!
