Despite the fact that most individuals want to put furniture wherever works the best, there are certain limitations. However, is it okay to put furniture in front of a vent?
You should not place furniture directly in front of wall vents. Wooden furniture will surely be harmed if it is placed too close to wall ventilation gaps. Also, blocking wall vents with furniture prevents airflow, making your HVAC system work harder causing an increase in your electricity cost and harm to your system.
If you want to know more, keep on reading.
Why Should Furniture Not Be Placed In Front Of A Vent?
Wall ventilation gaps are not the most aesthetically pleasing elements in your house, but they are there for a reason. For your health, comfort, and productivity, having at least one working vent is crucial.
By assisting with the system’s ability to draw inside air back and release it outdoors, they are essential components that guarantee your heating and cooling system operates as intended.
Whether on purpose or accidentally, placing furniture right in front of a wall vent prevents the HVAC system from working well. The components of the HVAC system may eventually suffer premature damage as a result of this.
In other words, positioning furniture in front of vents may prevent airflow into the HVAC system by blocking the vents.
Major Problems That You May Face By Covering Vents With Furniture
A variety of things can go wrong if you arrange furniture in such a way that it blocks your ventilation openings. If you can’t block your doors and windows, you should not block wall vents either. Below is the list of problems that may arise due to placing furniture in front of a vent:
1. Furniture Damage
Wall vents occasionally appear along the only wall large enough for your sofa and are situated in a rather awkward location. So, be aware that you risk causing damage to your furniture if you place it in front of a vent.
The wooden components of your furniture will almost definitely dry up and shrink as a result of the frequent highly-drying air that comes through your ventilation. This will therefore result in the joints breaking and failing.
Shrinkage can, in severe cases, harm the wood itself. In addition, furniture that is too close to a wall vent may develop condensation. Continuous exposure might cause mould to grow on your furniture, potentially harming the finish.
2. Damage to the HVAC System
When furniture is placed in front of a wall vent, the HVAC system may need to work significantly more to heat or cool the space, depending on the season. As a result, the system will undoubtedly operate for a longer period of time.
The heat exchanger may overheat, or the air conditioning system may freeze up as a result of overworking. This accumulated stress and pressure brought on by continuous use may accelerate component wear out or bring on recurrent failures.
Therefore, due to continuous failures, your air conditioning system may stop working or become inefficient much sooner than it should.
3. Higher Bills
Higher utility costs are another possible problem that you should be aware of before blocking vents. The remaining vents will have to work harder to maintain comfort in your house since you will have fewer vents that allow for effective cooling and heating.
Because of this, your system may have to work harder and longer to complete the same activity, which means using more energy to offset the impact of obstructions. Your utility expenses may continue to rise steadily unless the obstruction is removed. You will almost certainly encounter these problems whether you block an air vent blowing into the room or a return vent.
How Far Away Should The Furniture Be Placed From A Vent?
Many individuals would advise you not to place any furniture in front of a wall vent since it would block the airflow. But this is only true when furniture is positioned directly in front of a wall vent.
Hence, you can arrange your furniture so that it is a bit away from the wall vent. So, to position furniture in front of a vent, it is recommended that you allow at least 12 inches between the furniture and the wall vents to encourage the free movement of air in your rooms.
However, the required minimum clearance is generally six inches. This spacing provides adequate room for the vents to operate effectively and fulfill their function without leading to many of the issues mentioned above.
Moreover, it is also acceptable to place furniture next to a wall vent that is open on all sides. This is mostly because of the fact that the furniture won’t significantly impede the operation of the HVAC system.
Tips To Hide Your Vents With Furniture
Wall vents are not among your home’s most stunning elements, yet they serve a crucial role. So, you need to come up with a solution if there is a vent along the wall that you want to hide. Here are some tips that you can use to hide your wall vents using furniture without reducing their performance:
- You can use ladder shelves in front of your vents. These shelves are open from the back, bottom and sides, and provide unobstructed space for airflow.
- A couch table can be placed in front of the vents, causing the attention to be drawn away from them.
- Paint the vent the same color as your walls to conceal it.
- Build custom furniture specifically designed to allow proper airflow.
Final Words on Placing Furniture in Front of a Vent
You should not place furniture directly in front of a vent, as it is bad for both your furniture and the HVAC system.
If you want to hide your vents, you may place the furniture at least six inches away from the vents or use furniture that won’t obstruct the airflow.
