Lifehacks 

Can you cover an air return vent?

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Can you cover an air return vent?

Keep couches, chairs and other large pieces of furniture at least 10 inches away from your cold air return vents. Avoid covering your cold air return vents with curtains, drapes or rugs. Clogged air filters can also cause cold air return blockages.

How do you disguise a return vent?

How to Make Over Your Ugly Air Vents

  1. Conceal it. Out of sight, out of mind.
  2. Paint it. Hide an air vent in plain sight with a fresh coat of the same paint color you used on the walls.
  3. Switch out the cover. Say goodbye to those sad slats and replace them with a piece of framed, patterned mesh.
  4. Go shopping.

How do you make a decorative air vent cover?

  1. Step 1: Measure the opening of your air vent.
  2. Step 2: Cut your frame boards.
  3. Step 3: Dry fit your vent cover frame.
  4. Step 4: Drill pocket holes and construct frame.
  5. Step 5b: Add wood filler to any gaps.
  6. Step 6: Sand vent cover frame until smooth.
  7. Step 7: Paint your frame.
  8. Step 8: Cut screen to size.

What happens if you cover an air return?

Blocking air return vents causes your system to work harder, as there is less air flow to move the air back to the furnace. This continued strain on the HVAC system can lead to a decrease in performance and more HVAC repairs down the road.

Is it OK to block a cold air return?

Consequences. Restricting the airflow in the air handler or blower contributes to premature system problems, which can be serious. 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.

Can you put a couch over a heating vent?

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.

What can I use to cover a vent?

Find a collection of pictures, prints of your favorite art, award ribbons, or other small trinkets that can fit over the surface of the vent. Attach or tie the items to the slats or bars of your air vent to keep them secure. As you arrange these decorations, make sure that you’re not covering the vent completely.

How do you identify return vents?

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.