For many residents, the location of a home’s HVAC vents or registers is a very subtle nuance that captures little attention. However, it should be evaluated if you are considering purchasing the house or are preparing to build a new home. In addition, the location of the air conditioner vents will have a lot to do with how comfortable your home feels on a hot summer day.
The Physics Of Air Movement
Hopefully, you have not skipped this section just because physics is in the title. Most of us spent that hour each day with a glazed look on our faces and meandering minds. But this could be that one time in your life when you can apply something from high school physics to real life. We know that warm air rises and cool air sinks, all because of molecules and gas expansion. But that is not important. All we need to know is that the cool air will sink to the floor if we locate AC vents near the ceiling.
The benefit of the ceiling vents is that the cool air washes down and cools the entire room on its way to settling at the floor. In addition, the air return vents are also located at the ceiling. These are the vents that allow the AC system to pull in warmer air to cool and recirculate. Having the intakes at the ceiling means that the AC is pulling in the warmest air that rose to provide the most cooling impact in your home.
The Add Benefits Of Ceiling Vents In Warmer Climates
Having your HVAC vents located at the ceiling delivers some added benefits that you might not have considered. First, nothing will ever get spilled in a ceiling vent, but it can be pretty common with floor vents. The same is valid for dust, dirt, pet dander, and fur. It never settles into ceiling vents. But you will find massive clumps of these items in your floor vents.
Another common issue with floor vents is that they become blocked by furniture, curtains, or other objects placed on the floor. But you never need to worry about anything blocking airflow from a vent located on the ceiling.
Finally, servicing vents and ductwork running in the floor can be a bit of a challenge. If there is a leak in the duct, you can only hope it is accessible from the crawlspace or basement. If not, you will be tearing up part of your floor. In the case of ceiling vents, those issues are not nearly as common. Almost all ceiling ductwork is accessible from the attic for easy service and repairs.
Don’t Forget Duct Cleaning
When you are thinking about your home’s HVAC system, be sure to remember that the ductwork needs a little care and cleaning from time to time. Professional cleaning is the best way to remove years of dust and dirt accumulated in the far corners of your home’s ductwork. You think of a little handful of dust and might be willing to overlook this service. But after years without cleaning, it is not uncommon for a professional to remove fifty or more pounds of dust from the average household’s ductwork.
While floor vents are likely to collect more dust than ceiling-located vents, both will gather a large amount of dirt and dust over a few years. And removing it will increase your comfort level in your home and reduce the workload on your AC system. So call (406) 823-3680 to schedule a complete duct cleaning with the pros at Mountain Valley Plumbing & Heating today.