Air vents are metal plates with several holes for air movement through them. These are present on the floor to decrease the resistance in airflow, and you cannot place your heavy furniture near them.
Is it OK to Put a Couch Over a Vent? Putting a couch over vents is not OK because it can damage the HVAC system and heat exchanger. In addition, it can damage the couch’s wooden material, cause paint cracking, and molds can grow on its upholstery. It can result in uneven cooling and heating. You can use air deflectors, extenders, and sofa tables to redirect the airflow.
You should consider the floor vents in your home when arranging your furniture to protect the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system.
Can you put a couch over the vent?
Your home’s air vents are connected to the heat, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Their primary purpose is to draw the surrounding air and provide it to the HVAC system for heating and cooling.
Furthermore, these ducts take or supply the air from the HVAC to maintain the room’s temperature.
These are situated on the walls, near the ground, or directly on the floor. Many people add heavy furniture near the respective wall to hide them.
Furthermore, people also place their couches or beds on them so no one can see them.
You can change their arrangement for the aesthetic look because it can decrease your repair cost if you do not take preventive measures.
What happens if you put a couch over the vent?
Many people only consider the lighting and aesthetic look of their living room when placing new furniture. However, it is also essential to consider the air vents so you cannot block air entry.
Damage to the HVAC system
The placement of heavy couches on the floor containing vents damages the HVAC system.
You can face the issue of premature wear and tear of its components. Moreover, uneven heating and cooling also occur in your room because of faulty components.
The room takes more time to cool or heat because of the blockage of air. This is because the HVAC system needs more effort to draw air from the vents for heating and cooling purpose.
The extra effort for the working system can damage them, and it is also costly to repair. In addition, the additional workload on this system decreases its durability and affects its overall functionality.
Drying of wooden sofas
The dry or warm air comes from these vents to warm the room in the winter season. The wooden material of your furniture is highly sensitive to heat.
The heat can dry the wooden material and increase the risk of cracking. In addition, the hot air from the holes damages the wood material of your couch.
In addition, it can also increase the risk of their breakage and decrease longevity. Moreover, the nuts and screws also get loose due to the shrinkage of wood material.
You can feel the wobbly movement or squeaking sound due to cracking or loose joints. This is because the joints become loose due to the shrinkage of wood and the change in shape.
Cracking of paint furnishing
The furniture is coated with paints to give a furnished appearance or desirable color. The furniture paint is highly sensitive to weather conditions.
It also starts to chip when you place them outside in a dry environment and are exposed to sun heat. The placement of couches on vents causes the dry air to come in contact with the paint layer.
The coat starts to lose its surface, and you can see the chipping issues. The chipping gives your sofa a bad appearance and reduces its resale cost.
High bills
The arrangement of sofas on the ducts can lead to high electricity bills. This is because it blocks the passage of air, and there are fewer holes for direct air supply.
The HVAC system cannot get enough air for heating and cooling your room to reach the maximum system.
The burden on this system to supply the cold air with limited redirection of outside air cause high electricity bills.
The system works harder to achieve the required temperature and increases electricity bills. The high bills put an economic burden on people and also affect their monthly budget.
Growth of molds on upholstery
The vents are connected to heat, ventilation, and air conditioning system, showing that you also receive cold air from them during summer.
Moreover, the air collects behind them when you block the passage after arranging ouch on them.
The collection of air near these holes increases the humidity, damaging your upholstery. Most of the furniture is upholstered from the lower end to make them luxurious.
Exposure to moisture can damage the upholstered material. In addition, it can also cause molds and mildews to grow there.
You can feel the smell from your room due to fungal growth on the upholstery.
Cracking of heat exchanger
The heat exchanger is the coil-like material in the HVAC system to warm the outside air from the vents and maintain the room temperature during winter.
Less air supply through blocked holes of vents produces a load on the heat exchanger coil. So it has to work harder in winter to make your room warm and cozy.
The extra burden on these coils produces cracks, which are expensive to repair. Moreover, it also affects the functioning of condensers.
The carbon monoxide, a harmful gas, starts leaking from these coils, and you can feel the pungent smell.
How much space should be between the couch and the vent?
You must leave the distance between the vents and your furniture. Avoid putting heavy couches, dressers, and chairs on them.
Do not add them near the walls if these ducts are wall-mounted. Instead, you should arrange them at a distance of about 8 to 14 inches to protect the wooden material.
It can decrease exposure to dry and humid air and protect the upholstery. Sofa tables are helpful to create the distance between them if these are wall mounted.
How do you protect sofas when you place them over air vents?
Many people live in small apartments and do not have the option to leave the space for adjustment of sofas and beds.
You cannot cover the floor vents with furniture because it can damage them. However, you can put the air deflectors before putting the couches on them.
Air deflectors are made of plastic material that redirects airflow near these holes for cooling and heating.
In addition, you can also use the vent extenders when these are near the ground. These pipes can take the air from the surrounding material and supply it to the HVAC system.
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