Dangers of Blocking a Return Air Vent
- If return vents are blocked, your HVAC system may try to pull air from other places. These places might not be clean.
- Air stagnation can cause humidity to build up. A humid environment promotes mold and rot.
What happens if you block an HVAC vent?
As part of the HVAC system, return air vents help properly circulate air around your home, and by blocking an air vent you can damage your HVAC system which can be very dangerous. While those grilles may look ugly, they serve a purpose. As tempting as it might be to cover them up, here are few reasons to keep them clear:
Why are cold air returns important for HVAC performance?
Both sides must be fully functional for reliable HVAC performance, which makes it critical to keep your cold air returns unobstructed so air can flow unrestricted through the system. Air isn’t pumped out of your return registers, so you might wonder how they work.
What happens when you cover a return air vent?
A clogged nose is similar to what happens when you cover a return air vent. Think of your HVAC system as the lungs of your home. When the return air vents are covered, your house can’t properly breathe. Your return air vent is another component of your HVAC’s air circulatory system.
What to do if your return air duct is blocked?
What to Do if Your Return Air Duct is Blocked 1 Make sure there are no pieces of furniture or large objects covering the return vent 2 Check to see if your return vents need a good cleaning 3 Consider replacing vent grille with a more efficient design
Can you block off a cold air return?
When you block any cold air return throughout your HVAC system, the whole thing has to work harder – and the results you get are nowhere near as efficient. These little vents provide a return air supply to your air handler or blower compartment. They need to be unblocked to ensure air flows freely through the system.
Is it OK to cover a return air vent?
While you should have a filter on your air return vent to prevent too much dust or moisture from entering your air system and recirculating back to you, you should never actually cover a return air vent. Keep furniture and even curtains at least 10” away from the vent opening in order to allow for proper air flow.
How do I know if my cold air return is blocked?
You can generally identify a blocked air duct by a distinct drop in heating and cooling efficiency, increased energy costs, and occasionally a musty, dusty smell throughout the home.
How important is cold air returns?
Cold air return vents aren't the most elegant feature in your home, but they exist for reason. These vents, commonly found in hallways or on ceilings, are absolutely essential to an air conditioner's well-being. Cold air returns take in warm air from your home's indoor spaces for use in your air conditioning system.
Can you run a furnace without a cold air return?
No furnace can adequately operate without sufficient return air supply. We can think of a furnace as lungs. It 'breaths out' hot and it 'inhales' cold air. Air return vents are necessary for the 'inhale' process.
Should cold air returns be open or closed?
Adjust Return Registers for Winter It's important to remember that hot air rises and cold air falls. In the winter you want the cold air to be drawn through the return registers leaving the hot air behind. By opening the lower registers and closing the top ones you keep hot air in and draw the cold air out.
What happens if you cover an air vent?
There will inevitably be a buildup of air pressure if you block the airflow from your vents. This leads to issues with your heat exchanger — it will crack and could potentially emit carbon monoxide emissions.
Which return vents should be open in winter?
In the winter you want the cold air to be drawn through the return registers leaving the hot air behind. By opening the lower registers and closing the top ones you keep hot air in and draw the cold air out. Since cold air is heavy it will automatically flow down to the lower register.
Is a return air vent necessary?
Your AC's return air vent is a critical component of an HVAC system and serves several purposes. Not only do return air vents maintain your home's air pressure and filter out debris, they can also serve to save you on energy costs and expenses, which is important here in hot and humid Gainesville, Fla.
How do you hide a return air vent?
Much like the louvered doors, louvered shutters can be used to hide a return air vent without obstructing airflow. These can be hung over the return vent like a picture would be or secured to the wall with hinges allowing you to open and close the shutters when it's time to replace your return vent filters.
Why shouldn't you block cold air returns?
Why You Shouldn't Block Your Cold Air Returns. The vents that pump out conditioned air throughout your home likely come to mind when you consider HVAC air distribution. The cold air returns are just as important, though, and making sure that they're free from obstructions is vital to keeping your entire HVAC system operating reliably ...
How to keep cold air return registers unobstructed?
Keeping your cold air return registers unobstructed is the first step in maintaining proper airflow through your HVAC system. Make sure that the return vents are never blocked by furniture, area rugs, long drapes, large toys or other household items. Additionally, vacuum or dust the vent covers periodically to remove any collected debris.
What is the function of a cold air return register?
However, the most important function of the cold air return registers is ensuring ample airflow through the HVAC system.
How to promote good airflow?
To promote good airflow you should also: Check the system's air filter monthly and replace it as needed. Avoid closing doors to infrequently-used rooms or shutting any supply registers. Get your HVAC system assessed to see it has enough cold air return registers.
What makes HVAC components more vulnerable to breakdowns?
Additional strain and wear on the HVAC components, making them more vulnerable to breakdowns or a premature failure.
Can you have one return vent on each floor?
It used to be common for forced-air HVAC systems to have supply vents in every room, but only one return vent on each floor. If your HVAC system is designed this way, blocking off a single return vent can wreak havoc on the system and lead to:
Why block the return air supply to the air handler?
Blocking the return air supply to the air handler or blower compartment reduces the amount of air that flows easily into the system. The fan’s speed won’t slow any more when you close off the returns, and it creates positive air pressure.
Why is it important to restrict airflow in an air handler?
When the system is set for cooling, too little air flows over the evaporator coil, the part that absorb s the heat from the air.
What happens if the blower doesn't shut off?
If the system doesn’t shut off in time, the outdoor compressor may become damaged, leading to a replacement of this expensive part. In the heating cycle, blocked cold air returns can cause the heat exchanger inside the blower compartment to store too much heat and eventually crack.
What happens if a furnace cracks?
If the cracks are too large, the furnace can emit carbon monoxide into your home’s air. Such a condition normally requires a complete system replacement. The discovery of any cracks in the heat exchanger is a serious issue and should prompt its immediate replacement.
Is cold air return good?
The cold air returns are an essential part of an efficient and dependable HVAC system. It’s a good idea to check them periodically to make sure they’re not blocked and they’re clean. For more information, contact Arpi’s Industries, providing HVAC services for Calgary-area homeowners.
Can you block cold air returns?
While it can be tempting to block the cold air returns for rooms you’re not using to save energy or place furniture against them to arrange a room, blocking these registers is one of the most common ways to undermine your cooling and heating system.
Can a frozen coil cause water damage?
Besides losing the comfort the A/C provides, a frozen coil can cause water damage to the area around the air handler. If the system doesn’t shut off in time, the outdoor compressor may become damaged, leading to a replacement of this expensive part.
Can you freeze an air conditioner?
The system may not be able to cool or heat as efficiently, driving up your utility bills and diminishing your comfort. You can actually freeze the air conditioner coils by blocking return vents. Frozen coils not only reduce your system's ability to do its job, but can damage the compressor.
Can you block a supply vent?
Sure, you know you shouldn't block the supply vents — the ones you feel the cold (or warm air) blowing out of — or you'll diminish the supply of cool or warm air in the home. You may also know that closing a supply vent can create negative pressure and make the system run inefficiently.
What Happens If You Block a Return Air Vent?
If you block an air vent with your furniture, with tape, or otherwise, you will negatively impact your HVAC system and the air quality and comfort of your home. Here are a few things that will happen:
How to Disguise a Return Air Vent
Many people want to block a return air vent simply to block it from view because they don’t like the look of it. You do have options to disguise the return air vent that won’t block the airflow, including:
You Can Move Return Air Vents
If your return air vent is in a very inconvenient spot you can ask an HVAC professional to move it.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
Air Ducts: Difference Between a Return and Supply Duct
It’s easy to think of the ductwork in your home as simply a network of ducts that meander around the home, but there’s some rhyme and reason to the placement and purpose of your ducts.
Common Issues with Return Ducts: Clogs and Leaks
When specifically talking about your return ducts, you can run across a few frustrating but common issues, including: