Have you designed your home's interior with airflow in mind? Most people wouldn't think of it. Sometimes what seems like the perfect spot for a couch or a rug can actually be causing you problems. Covering a vent or air return might not seem like a big deal, you might unknowingly be creating a condition that will end up costing you down the road.
When your home was originally designed and the HVAC system installed, experts selected size and placement of ventilation based on your home's specifications in mind. In order to create ideal interior conditions, proper airflow is critical to create a balanced environment with fresh air.
A couch, dresser, rug or even curtains are commonly put in front of vents which block outgoing and incoming airflow. When this happens, your heating and cooling units have to work much harder in order to distribute airflow through your home. It can also create an uneven temperature in the rooms where the blockage is occurring in.
Blocking vents will increase your home's energy consumption, wear your heating or cooling unit out faster and might even cause humidity issues on your home - as proper airflow is essential for controlling humidity levels. Blocking vents not only costs you in monthly energy bills and HVAC equipment, but it can also damage your furniture and home due to fluctuation in humidity.
A good rule of thumb is to allow 18 inches of free space around any vent or air return. We recommend placing your furniture, rugs and curtains in a place that allows air to flow freely. If space is tight, air deflectors that blow air away from your furniture might help.
If you think blocked vents may have caused damage to your HVAC system, contact us today and schedule a maintenance call. Call (204) 953-5700 or book online 24/7.
