Do Vent Covers Affect My HVAC Unit’s Performance?

When you’re undergoing a remodeling project, air grilles or vent covers may catch your attention due to their striking design – or for all the wrong reasons. It’s easy to find decorative vent covers online, but can they affect how your HVAC unit heats or cools your home? 

Difference Between Air Grilles and Registers

There’s a fine difference between air grilles and registers since they are often used interchangeably while being two different things. Air grilles cover the HVAC supply and return vents, which is the part of the ductwork that connects with the floor, ceiling or wall. Registers, on the other hand, are air grilles that feature a damper that allows you to adjust the amount of air that courses through it as well as its direction.

Why Are Air Grilles Important?

Aside from improving the looks of your air registers, air grilles help protect your ductwork from dirt, debris and pest infiltration. Floor vents also prevent someone from stepping into the air registers, causing injuries or accidents.

Do Decorative Air Grilles Affect Performance?

This heavily depends on whether your air grilles are properly sized. It’s important to be familiar with the “free area”, which pertains to the open area of an air grille. Ideally, replacement air grilles should at least have 75% free area. This includes all parts that aren’t covered by the frame and other aesthetic elements. 

Call on EZ Air Conditioning and Heating for all your heating and cooling needs. We are the premier air condition repair and maintenance contractor in the area. Call us at (210) 429-9186, or fill out our contact form for no-obligation quote.