Many parts of your HVAC system collaborate to create a comfortable and safe air temperature. Most components are hidden in a basement or garage or behind the walls, but the ones we can see are the registers and vents.
Air vents might not seem complicated, but they are crucial to heating and cooling. Without them, how would treated air make it to your home’s living spaces?
This is why it’s important to avoid mistreating your air vents. Learn how to prevent common air vent mistakes with FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical.
1. Avoid Blocking Your Air Vents
Air vents may not be part of your decorative vision, but you should avoid blocking them with pillows, furniture, plants or pictures. Your home can experience uneven temperatures, reduced airflow, increased energy consumption and HVAC strain. Your rooms won’t feel as comfortable, and you may waste money and see wear and tear because the furnace or air conditioner will work harder to achieve your desired temperature.
If you can’t stand the sight of your vents, try painting them to match the floor or wall. Decorative covers are another option, but be sure to select the appropriate vent covers to avoid blocking air.
Similarly, don’t close your vent slats. You may close some vents in certain rooms because spaces get too hot or cold, but a more energy-efficient way of keeping areas stable is zoned heating or cooling. You can set each zone to a specific temperature.
2. Don’t Neglect Air Vent Cleaning
Leaving air vents in your house uncleaned lets debris build up, and over time, particles can prevent smooth airflow and spread contaminants whenever your system turns on. Vent registers are the perfect place for allergens like dander to settle. Poor indoor air quality can mean a musty or stale-smelling home, but it can also facilitate health issues from constant allergen exposure.
3. Choose the Right Vent Covers
You can enhance unsightly vents with AC filter vent covers, but first, know which types are best:
- Adjustable vent covers: These have slats that let you adjust airflow direction to ensure your spaces receive adequate heating and cooling.
- Decorative vent covers: A decorative cover can enable good airflow as long as its design lets air pass through freely. It’s also an aesthetic upgrade — no more hiding vents.
Magnetic vent covers: Magnetic covers significantly block airflow, which isn’t advisable for keeping your system efficient. If you block too many vents, you increase the system’s pressure.
4. Pay Attention to Air Leaks
Ensure none of your vents have leaks around the registers — these are another common cause of uneven temperatures. You may experience unwanted drafts and lower system efficiency. It’s best to enlist professional HVAC services to seal register leaks, preventing DIY mistakes that could worsen the issue.
5. Consider Air Vent Placement
Air vent location matters. Placement near windows and doors can cause disrupted airflow, escaped air and condensation from indoor and outdoor air mixing. Vents behind furniture waste energy and experience blocked flow. Rearranging furniture is an easy way to free up airflow. FLAME can also advise you on optimizing air vent placement.
6. Avoid Air Vent Heaters
You may consider using air vent heaters, also known as register booster fans, to increase warmth and airflow, but these solutions can be unsafe and inefficient. They may create overheating on your vent cover if the vent can only handle a certain temperature of heated air, which poses a fire hazard. They also don’t treat the main cause of your airflow issues, meaning you’ll still deal with lowered efficiency and system strain.
Schedule an HVAC Inspection
Your HVAC system should work for you and not against you, so don’t make these common mistakes with your air vents! If you notice raised energy bills, uneven temperatures, poor indoor air quality or air leaks, contact the professional technicians at FLAME Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical for HVAC care.
Last Updated on October 10, 2025 at 1:20PM EST
