If you have central, forced-air HVAC for heating and cooling your home, it relies on a network of ducts that are essential for proper air distribution through the system. The ducts themselves are routed behind the walls, ceilings or floors, so all you see are the HVAC vents that cover the duct openings. Learning how to identify these vents and understanding their purpose can make it easier to keep your HVAC system operating reliably and efficiently, and help ensure your home comfort.
Types of HVAC Vents: Supply and Return
If your home has a well-designed duct system, it features a specific number of supply and return vents installed in the various rooms and areas to provide optimal airflow through the HVAC. When you examine the vent covers found throughout your home, it's easy to distinguish these two types:
In most rooms, you'll find one or more louvered vents called registers. Registers are most often used on supply vents that deliver conditioned air produced by the HVAC equipment, and they're easy to spot because they typically have a built-in adjustable damper with either a rolling or lever control. It's important to make sure that your registers are always fully open, because closing even one or two can cause an airflow imbalance that erodes your HVAC system's energy efficiency and leads to equipment breakdowns or failures.
These stationary covers are most often used for vents that return stale air back to the HVAC equipment for re-heating or cooling. The number of return vents depends on the size and configuration of your HVAC's duct system, but generally there are one or two per level in a home. Once you've identified your return grilles, it's vital to keep them free of debris and unobstructed by long drapes, rugs, furniture or household items so there's no risk of airflow restrictions that adversely impact your HVAC system's performance.
If you're experiencing issues with your HVAC like uneven cooling or a decline in conditioned air output, contact us at Hartman Brothers Heating & Air Conditioning for an expert assessment of your duct system and HVAC vents.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in New Haven, Indiana and surrounding Fort Wayne area about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 260-376-2961.