What is the return vent?

Return vents: What is a return vent? These vents suck the air from each room and send it back to the air conditioning or heating system. Return vents tend to be bigger than supply vents, and you won't feel any air coming from them. When an HVAC system delivers air to a room, it increases that room's air pressure.

How do you tell if a vent is a return?

You can identify return vents by turning on the system fan and holding your hand or a piece of paper up. If the paper is pulled toward the vent or you feel a suction effect, it's a return vent.

How important is the return air vent?

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.

What happens if a return vent is blocked?

What Happens When A Return Vent Is Blocked? Very similar to blocking a heat register, blocking an air return vent restricts the air flow in your home. Blocking air return vents causes your system to work harder, as there is less air flow to move the air back to the furnace.

What is the difference between a supply vent and a return vent?

Supply vents are usually found high up on the walls in your home, or on the ceiling. Return Vents: These air vents suck air from the rooms in your home back into your HVAC system. They are typically larger in size than supply vents and you will not feel air blowing out of them.

Air Flow: Supply and Return in your Home

Does every room need a return vent?

Does Every Room Need Air Return Grilles? While it is a myth that air return grilles are required in each and every room in the house, it is definitely necessary to have more than one of these grilles installed at strategic places in the house. The most important place to have these would be the bedroom.

Where should a return vent be located?

They must be correctly placed and unobstructed —Return ducts are usually placed in hallways, under stairwells, or in larger open areas of your home. This placement ensures that they will be able to pull in enough air to take back to the HVAC equipment.

Can you put a couch in front of a return vent?

Home Inspection Insider explains that an air return vent needs 6-12 inches of space in front of it, and recommends that you do not put large, bulky furniture like couches and bookshelves in front of an air return vent.

Do all return air vents have filters?

In general, it is recommended to have an air filter in every return vent (as long as you choose the one of the right size and thickness). The filters will improve the air quality in your house and will protect the HVAC equipment from dust, pollen, pet dander, and hair.

Can I cover a return 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 many return air vents should a house have?

Your Home Might Not Have Enough Return Vents

Having several return vents (ideally one in every room, but even two or three is better than just one) creates consistent air pressure. If you have one return vent, your home is fine. Keep the doors to each room open so air can properly circulate.

Why is there two air vents in my room?

If your home has central heating and cooling, you'll notice two types of vents on your walls. Supply vents: These are the vents that blow air into each room. The conditioned air goes from your air conditioner or furnace, travels through the ductwork and exits out the supply vents.

Why is my return air vent dirty?

Here are some of the most common culprits: Your air ducts are leaking. Cracked or damaged air ducts can allow contaminants to enter your system and cause your filter to clog up. They can also significantly increase your energy bills.

How do you clean an AC return vent?

Clean Out the Vents: Turn off your heat or A/C and cover furniture if your vents are in the ceiling. Vacuum your vents with a dust attachment, and then use a microfiber duster to loosen anything missed by the vacuum. Avoid using water and cleaning products, as they smear the dust around and turn it into a paste.

How do I clean my return air grille filter?

Are vent filters bad for furnace?

Drawbacks of Vent Filters

The biggest drawback of vent filters is restricted airflow. Filters slow the passage of air. As particles build up on them, the amount of obstruction increases. This can cause your system to work harder, using up more power and potentially overheating components.

Is it OK to cover a floor vent with a bed?

The short answer to this question is "No." Vents are there to provide for a necessary free flow of air. Block that flow, and your home will run sub-optimally, and you could even cause damage to your HVAC system.

Which vents should be open in winter?

Because hot air rises and cold air falls, you need to adjust your return vents with the seasons. In the summer, your lower vents should be closed and your upper vents should be open. In the winter, your upper vents should be closed and your lower vents should be open.

Are cold air returns necessary?

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.

Do I need an air return in my basement?

I recommend that all basements should have at least 2 supply registers and 1 return register in the basement/equipment area just to keep that area slightly warm or cool and the air fresh. If you are going to finish that area to be used as living space, then more supply and returns will be needed.

Can a return vent be in the ceiling?

Most homes across the U.S. have forced air systems and in newer homes there will be cold air return vents placed at both the ceiling and the floor of many rooms. Having two air return vents allows you to seasonally control which air is returning to the HVAC system. In older homes, this may not be an option.

What happens if a room doesn't have a cold air return?

The consequences of inadequate return air pathways

Some of that air will find its way under the door and through interior leaks back to the central return vent. The rest of it, though, will push through openings and leak to the outdoors and into interstitial spaces. It leaks out.

Does a return vent help cool a room?

Your HVAC Needs Supply and Return Air Vents

Supply vents blow conditioned air from the HVAC into the rooms, and return air vents pull the air out of the rooms and back into the cooling system.

Why is my house so dusty?

Both low humidity and high humidity play a role in why your house is so dusty. When the air is dry, your air can be extra dusty. But when it's too high, it can feed mites and promote mold growth. If your air is dry, run a humidifier so that you can reach a comfortable level.

How do you tell if your ducts need cleaning?