Can Return Air Vents Be on the Floor?
Proper return air vent placement keeps your home comfortable
Highlights
Your return air vents capture warm air, pushing it through the ducts to remove warmer molecules and keep things cool.
Having your return air vents off the ground will help them capture warmer air.
In older homes, you might have one return air vent per floor.
In homes fewer than 10 years old, you could have a vent in each room.
Your home features two different kinds of air vents: supply and return. Your supply air vent pushes cooler air into your rooms, while your return air vent pulls warmer air back into the ductwork for reconditioning. Both are crucial for cooling your home. As such, ensuring the proper location of your return air vents can result in a comfier home, even on a sweltering summer afternoon. Our guide covers whether return air vents can be on the floor, furniture placement around them, and tips to keep them operating well.
What Are Return Air Vents?
Your home’s HVAC system is a network of parts, with your air vents being the most visible. In each room of your home, you’ll have supply air vents. These push cooler air into your room. Meanwhile, in homes older than 10 years, you might have a return air vent on each floor of your home. Usually, they will be centrally located. With return air vents, they’re tasked with pulling warmer air out of your environment, drawing it back into the ductwork so your HVAC can remove the warmer molecules from it.
Are Return Air Vents Necessary?
Yes, because they can balance the temperature and humidity levels in your home. Not only can this lead to a more comfortable living space, but it also reduces the workload of your HVAC system. In turn, you can lower your energy bills.
You can locate return vents by turning on the fan and placing a piece of paper in front of the vent. If the vent tries to suck the piece of paper in, you’ve found a return air vent (if it blows the paper away from you, that’s a supply vent). If you notice parts of your home becoming stuffy even with the air on, you might need another return air vent. The cost to add a return air vent can run you a few hundred dollars.
Where Should I Place Return Air Vents?
In older homes, it’s somewhat common to find return vents on or near the floor. You can have an HVAC technician move these to a higher location if you notice your HVAC constantly kicks on or some rooms feel more humid than others. While it isn’t necessary to move them, they’ll work a lot better the higher positioned they are.
With newer houses, you’ll often find these on the wall closer to the ceiling. The reason for this is that warm air rises. Therefore, it makes sense to have an air vent located higher to capture the warmer air. However, if you do have one on your floor, then you’ll want to design your furniture and other fixtures around these vents.
Furniture Placement and Air Vents
In homes where you have return air vents on the floor, you don’t want to slide a couch or a decorative rug over them. When you do this, it impedes airflow in your home. This doesn’t allow the return air vent to gather all of the warmer air, resulting in temperature and humidity imbalance—your room will feel stuffy even with the AC cranked.
As a rule of thumb, you want to keep furniture and other obstructions at least 12 inches away from floor vents at all times. Also, you’ll want to clean floor air vents regularly, as they’re more likely to attract dust, fur, and other particles.
How Can I Improve the Look of Floor Vents?
Floor vents are not the most visually appealing creatures. However, similar to the way you can learn creative ways to hide ductwork, you can add personality to your space with prefabricated vent covers. These come in a variety of styles and colors that can add uniformity to your space. And with levers, you can open and close the metal plates easily.
What Causes Air Vents to Stop Working?
When testing your return air vent, if you notice it isn’t pulling air in, it could signify a problem with your HVAC system. Here are some of the common problems and ways to fix them:
Clogged Air Filters
Your HVAC’s air filters are responsible for trapping particles, dander, mold, and other irritants. However, if you don’t replace them as directed, they won’t be as effective in trapping particles, allowing the buildup to happen within your home’s ductwork. That’s why changing your air filters once every one to three months, depending on your manufacturer’s guidelines, can keep your air and ducts clean.
Leaks
If you’re wondering how to stop condensation on air vents, inspecting your ductwork is the answer. You can hire a local duct installer to come out and inspect your existing ductwork for leaks. Or, you can turn on your HVAC system’s fan and run your fingers over the exposed areas to check for leaks. Upon finding them, use mastic or duct sealant to address the problem.
Dirty Ductwork
Similar to air filters, if you don’t keep your air ducts cleaned, it can result in particle buildup that, with time, can impede airflow. You can have your ducts cleaned when you notice your air vents becoming dirtier often. The average air duct cleaning cost is $380.
Poor Insulation
Another culprit could be not enough insulation in your attic or crawlspace. When this happens, it’s easier for moisture to seep into the ductwork, which can lead to mold or mildew growth. If you notice your energy bills skyrocketing but rooms still feel stuffy, you can consult with an HVAC expert. They can discuss roof ventilation options.
Improper Airflow
Closing vents in unused rooms seems like a wise idea because if you’re not using them, then what’s the point? Keep in mind, though, that your HVAC system’s design is to account for all of your space, not specific rooms. Therefore, when you close some of the vents, it can lead to a humidity and temperature imbalance. In turn, you have a stuffier home, you could have condensation buildup in your ductwork, and your energy bills will be higher. Make sure to check all of your air vents occasionally to ensure they’re open, as this will improve your home’s comfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
A blocked return air vent can cause your HVAC system to work much harder and, therefore, less efficiently. The result is higher utility bills and poorer air quality. A blocked return air vent can also cause unpleasant dust, dander, and odors to linger in your home’s air.
You can keep your air vents working properly by regularly cleaning them and replacing any air filters as necessary. Your air vents will also work best if you clean and lubricate the exhaust fans and reduce humidity to prevent condensation on them.
A floor return vent needs a clearance of between 6 and 12 inches in front of it. You should not place large furniture, such as shelves, drapes, or couches, directly in front of a return air vent.