Keep large, bulky furniture away from air return vents and consider replacing or painting the vent cover to update a room without harming your HVAC system. Open-backed pieces of furniture may be options to place in front of an air return vent, so long as they do not obstruct airflow when objects are placed on them.
No, it's not safe to put furniture over the vents, especially if the vents are in the floor. This can affect the heating and air conditioning.
The heat from the vent can pose a fire hazard, while the moisture released through the vent can make the mattress an attractive target for mold, mildew, and pests.
You could cover it, but you would experience things like damp after a while. Do you have trickle vents on the windows? You could replace the air vent with a plastic one that has an open and shut front face if you're struggling with a draft, but to close permanently will cause issues.
Impact on HVAC Efficiency: Covering vents disrupts airflow, forcing your heating and cooling system to work harder, which can lead to uneven temperatures in the room and higher energy bills. This strain may also shorten the lifespan of your HVAC equipment.
Closing air vents can lead to several different issues in your home: It can cause leaks in the HVAC system or make existing leaks worse. It can make your HVAC system less efficient rather than saving energy. Pressure can damage your heat exchanger, resulting in dangerous carbon monoxide leaks.
You increase the amount of pressure present in your air ducts by closing a vent. If the pressure in the ductwork becomes too high, it may result in minor leaks in the system. Even if you currently have minor leaks, the increased pressure may worsen those leaks. This may lead to more significant issues in the future.
May Cause Mold Growth
A closed vent in an unused room can cause mold and mildew growth. Worse yet, those spores can then make their way into other parts of the house since the room isn't sealed airtight.
Block Off the Vent: You can block the vent by placing a piece of furniture at the opening or purchasing a magnetic damper that's strong enough to stick to the steel on the wall or ceiling. Plastic sheeting can be placed over the opening as well. You can also install a vent grille filter.
Quit covering your air vents. You can adjust the air circulation. Just because you cover the air vent, it doesn't indicate your HVAC system knows that.
Placing furniture too close to air vents can effectively block airflow, which can result in trapped warm or cool air, which damages the furniture.
Ideally, if the cabinet over the vent is at the end of a run or a vanity, it's best to duct it out the side as opposed to the toe-kick, so the doors above it are not exposed to constant heating/cooling cycles, thus, prone to checking. However, if that is not the case, then toe-kick it is!
There are many types of wood used for vent covers, but most often you'll find wood covers made of hardwoods, like oak, maple, and cherry. Sometimes you'll get a decorative wood vent cover that has a hardwood “body” with a thin veneer “face” so you can match to your existing materials if you plan to stain.
Air Ducts Near the Ceiling Are Most Effective
Many people don't realize this because it is common to see air vents located near the floor in older homes. With vents near the floor, however, furniture often ends up blocking vents and causing the air to get trapped.
Use cardboard. Paper won't hold against the air pressure. Those vents just screw on and off. You could unscrew it, pull it down, cut a piece of cardboard to fit the opening, then screw it back up there.
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.
When vents are obstructed, heat can build up in the ductwork, increasing the risk of a fire. Additionally, if flammable materials are placed near blocked vents, the chances of a fire spreading rapidly are heightened. It is crucial to keep your vents clear of any obstructions to minimize the risk of fire accidents.
When you close off the vents in a room, you are completely blocking airflow to that space. That's the point right? Here's why it is a problem: If that air isn't passing through the vent, it is being backed up in the ductwork, which causes pressure to build up within the system.
Closing air vents can lead to increased pressure in the ductwork, damage to the HVAC system, mold growth, and safety hazards, such as carbon monoxide infiltration. It's best to keep the air vents open to prevent these risks.
Buy a sheet magnet that's at least as big as the vent.
Sheet magnets are thin, paper-like pieces of magnet that are often used to make bumper stickers or refrigerator magnets. You'll need a piece that's at least as big as your vent — if it's smaller, it won't work.
Can you put furniture over a vent? In the end, it's about understanding the language of your home – its drafts, its passages, and the way it talks to you through temperature and comfort. Yes, you can put furniture over a vent, as long as you do it with awareness and intention.
Closing the vents doesn't do it any favors. In fact, instead of helping the air conditioner cool less, closed registers force the same amount of air through other ducts. This builds pressure in the system and makes your HVAC system work harder to distribute the air where you need it.
For this reason, attic vents are essential to homes in cold climates, and they should never be covered in the wintertime. As the warm air in your home rises, moisture condensation occurs in the attic, and the accumulation of moisture can result in mold and mildew growth and rotting.