What You Should Know About Vent Covers

Vent covers are a part of your home’s decor you mostly ignore. They serve the purpose to deliver conditioned air throughout your home. And while most of your HVAC system stays hidden from view, your vents blend into the surroundings, impacting you every day.

They come in all shapes and sizes, and there’s little we can do to change how they appear. They can blend in or be an eyesore. And they can impact your health if you leave them unattended.

Your ventilation system is easy to understand. Inside every home are two types of vents: return and supply vents.

Return Vents

Return vents are either in every room in your home, or are larger and more centrally located. You can find them higher off the ground and on an interior wall. Return vents help control air pressure and flow throughout the home. If they operate correctly, they draw in air closer to your home’s temperature instead of pulling heated air.

Supply Vents

Supply vents are pathways that allow air from your HVAC system to enter each room and control the temperature to your desired setting. Supply vents are located on outer walls, often underneath windows and along the floor. They should be spaced away from return vents, so the air coming in isn’t immediately recirculated before impacting the air in your room.

Vent Covers

Both return and supply vents have an important role in your home. And because safety and ambiance would be of concern to leave an empty hole in your walls and floors, vent covers are used to block the hole. They come in a variety of styles and colors, with some even offering added benefits to help improve air quality inside your room.

Regardless of style, it’s important for air quality and efficiency to clean your ducts periodically. This gives your vents a thorough cleaning to remove any biological growth, bacteria, or dust that may have built up over time.

It’s also important to clean your vent covers regularly to remove any build up that may occur over time. Depending on the style and material, you can remove it and wash it, or simply vacuum it to get it clean.