Do not place your furniture either below or in front of the thermostat. Avoid placing your thermostat near them at all costs. Any water or air that is passing via the pipes usually cools or heats the walls around them.
For example, don't place it above air vents, near windows and doors, or in any spot that receives direct sunlight. Placement in these areas can cause false readings, which may cause your heating and cooling systems to run unnecessarily, increasing energy consumption and costs.
That's because it could cause the thermostat to “think” the area it's in is warmer or cooler than it actually is. We usually don't recommend placing heat-generating objects and appliances such as lamps and television sets near thermostats for a reason.
Safe Distance: Keep space heaters at least 3 feet away from any furniture or flammable materials. Stable Surface: Place space heaters on a flat, stable surface to prevent tipping. Avoid High Traffic Areas: Position space heaters away from areas where they might be knocked over by pets or people.
Give It Some Space
So how much space does an air return vent need to work properly? 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.
Never place anything on top of, around, or below the thermostat. Also, don't block the air vents (with furniture, rugs, etc.), since this will also result in a false reading and cause the system to work harder.
If you need to place furniture or other items near the unit, make sure to keep them a safe distance away to allow for proper airflow. This will help ensure that your water source heat pump is operating efficiently and effectively, providing you with reliable heating and cooling all year round.
Avoid blocking air vents with pillows, furniture, plants, or pictures. When the air vents are blocked it means that heated or cooled air needs to squeeze by what is blocking it to reach the rest of the room.
Simple answer, you should not place anything in front of your heater as it is not safe; this includes any kind of furniture, drapes, paper, bedding, and people.
Twelve inches or more is a generally recommended distance between furniture and electric heaters. To the sides, the furniture can be as close as 6 inches away. But the farther away, the better.
Better yet, install your thermostat at least 1 stud away from the heater. Moving a thermostat out of the same wall cavity as a heater will help performance.
Dust, nicotine buildup, and other dirt inside can all affect your thermostat's performance. Some thermostats open easily so that you can clean the inside. Others will require that you unscrew the faceplate.
It does not “know nor care” what temperatures are in other rooms. As a general rule, the thermostat should be in the most centrally located part of the heated space where it is NOT influenced by excessive sunlight or directly influenced by a SUPPLY register blowing on it.
During the holiday season, there may be a temptation to cover the thermostat with decorations to make the room more festive. However, this may reduce the free flow of air into the unit, which affects the accuracy of the thermostat.
You'll also want to avoid putting lamps or TVs near your thermostat, since they release heat that could impact the device settings, according to the US Department of Energy.
Proper Use
Keep the space heater at least three feet from anything that can burn, such as furniture, fabrics and decorations. “More than half (53 percent) of all home heating fire deaths resulted from fires that began when heating equipment was too close to things that can burn,” reports the NFPA.
The materials your furniture and other home contents are made from affect how hard the HVAC has to work to meet your comfort settings. A material that absorbs the sun's heat coming in through the windows, for instance, can increase your HVAC's workload, so it takes longer to cool the space and uses more energy.
Allow Sufficient Clearance: It's generally recommended to leave at least 6 to 12 inches of clearance between your furniture and air vents.
We've seen how it can create safety hazards, mess with your home's heating and cooling, and even damage your bed. Blocked vents can cause fire risks, poor air quality, uneven temperatures, and moisture buildup. Instead of covering vents, try rearranging your furniture or using vent deflectors to direct airflow.
All furniture, including beds, should be positioned at least 6 to 12 inches away from floor vents to allow for proper airflow into a room.
Second, a typical HVAC manufacturer would recommend you install a ductless unit approximately 90 inches from the floor and 6 inches from the ceiling with at least 5 inches of clearance on the sides. This will ensure there is sufficient air flow around the air handler for proper operation.
Placing furniture too close to air vents can effectively block airflow, which can result in trapped warm or cool air, which damages the furniture. If you must place furniture in front of the air vents, ensure that there is a gap of at least 18 inches between them.