If you have an HVAC system installed in your home and notice inconsistent temperatures around the building, we do not doubt that people will have recommended using a vent deflector.
These little contraptions are designed to sit over a vent, helping to direct airflow around your home. This is meant to lead to more consistent temperatures throughout the property.
So, do vent deflectors work? How do they work? We are going to answer those questions, and a few more, on this page.
Do Vent Deflectors Work?
Yes, vent deflectors do work and are necessary to help redirect the air coming from the vents for optimal heating and cooling, allowing you to save energy.
Once a vent deflector has been installed, you will have control over the direction that the air flows out of the air vent.
By controlling the air direction, the vent deflector will prevent the airflow from vents from becoming blocked. This results in consistent room temperatures and less strain on the HVAC system.
What is an Air Vent Deflector?
A vent deflector is nothing more than a lightweight, plastic hood that fits over an air vent.
Vent deflectors are typically used when a vent may be covered by furniture or another appliance, i.e., something may be blocking the airflow from a vent.
The air vent deflector will be shaped to guide the air out of the vent in a slightly different direction. For example, if the air vent deflector is an ‘extender,’ then it will allow air to flow out from the sides of a vent. If it is merely a hood, then it may stop the air from rising too much.
An air vent deflector is all about controlling the direction of air.
What is the Purpose of an Air Vent Deflector?
An air vent deflector’s purpose is to help redirect the flow of air out of an air vent.
Air vent deflectors are designed to ensure that air flowing out of the vent is directed around the room rather than blocked. Air deflectors are available in various shapes so that you have full control over the direction in which the air flows.
Once installed, an air vent deflector will help to ensure consistent temperatures around a room. It will also help ensure that vents do not become blocked, which can cause a build-up of pressure in the air ducts. This can cause damage to the HVAC system.
Who Should Use a Vent Deflector
If you have air vents covered by furniture or appliances, you will almost certainly want to use a vent deflector. This will help to prevent airflow from becoming hindered.
You may also want to use a vent deflector if you have noticed inconsistent temperatures in certain rooms. This may be caused by the air flowing toward a wall or the ceiling.
Anyone who could benefit by redirecting airflow from an air vent could benefit from using a vent deflector.
Benefits of Air Vent Deflectors
There are a variety of benefits to air vent deflectors.
Perhaps the biggest benefit is ensuring that the heated or cooled down air flowing from the HVAC system gets to where it needs to be. When an air vent deflector has been installed correctly, it will ensure that obstacles do not block the airflow. This can lead to more consistent room temperatures.
In turn, more consistent room temperatures will ensure that the HVAC system does not need to work quite so hard to keep a room at a stable temperature. Not only will this help to prevent unnecessary wear and tear on the HVAC system, but it can also trim a sizeable amount of money from the energy bills.
Air vent deflectors will also help to prevent air vents from becoming blocked. When air vents become blocked, pressure will start to build up in the air ducts. If there is too much pressure, then this can cause some serious damage to the HVAC system. If you are sending heated air around the building, then it could even cause a fire.
Air vent deflectors can also help to protect the furniture that may be covering an air vent. As you can imagine, a continuous flow of hot or cold air onto a piece of furniture is never going to be a good thing.
For example, if the furniture is made from wood, then the airflow could cause it to dry out. This can lead to cracking and long-term damage. If there is an electrical appliance in the way, then the electrical appliance can end up breaking.
The low cost of vent deflectors often means that people will install them on nearly every air vent in their home. This will increase the amount of benefit that you get from them.
Types of Vent Deflectors
There are a variety of different vent deflector options on the market. It is important that you choose the right one for your needs.
Ceiling, floor, and wall air vents will all need a different type of deflector. Generally speaking, you will not be able to install a wall deflector on the ceiling, for instance.
Beyond this, you also need to think about how you want the air to be diverted out of the air vent. In some cases, you may wish for the air to be directed to the side of the air vent. In other cases, you may wish to prevent the air coming out of the air vent from rising too high in the room. In other cases, you may want to prevent the air from flowing into areas that don’t need it, i.e., the corner of a room.
When you are shopping for an air vent deflector, you will need to consider your airflow needs. For example, if you have an air vent under the bed, you may want to divert the air to the sides, preventing it from flowing into the bed.
If you have an air vent on the wall behind a TV, you may want to deflect the air straight up instead of hitting the back of the TV.
Is it Dangerous to Cover an Air Vent?
In some situations, it can be dangerous to cover an air vent. The more air vents in the system that are closed, the more dangerous things become.
Your HVAC system has no way of knowing whether an air vent is closed. All the HVAC system is focused on is ensuring that air is directed around the property. If an air vent is closed, the air cannot escape from the air ducts.
If the air cannot escape from the air ducts quickly enough, this causes a pressure build-up in the system. This can lead to damage to the HVAC system. In rare cases, it may also result in a fire.
Do Vent Deflectors Save Energy?
Air deflectors do help to save energy. A properly installed vent deflector will ensure that the HVAC system does not have to work quite so hard to help keep certain rooms at a consistent temperature.
Is it OK to Block Air Vents with Furniture?
If the air vent is not being used and has been completely closed off, it is fine to block the air vent with furniture. However, if the air vent is in active use, then you will want to avoid it.
The furniture will block the airflow from the air vent. This may result in inconsistent temperatures in a room. It may also mean that the HVAC system needs to work harder. This can lead to increased energy and maintenance bills.
In rare cases, it may result in the furniture becoming damaged. If heated air is meant to come from the vent, there may even be the risk of fire.
How do you Change the Direction of an Air Vent?
You have two options if you wish to change the direction of airflow from an air vent.
Typically, when an air vent is not allowing air to flow out the way you want it to, it is blocked by a piece of furniture or appliance. Moving this item will allow the air to flow freely again.
Of course, this isn’t always going to be the best solution. Most people probably do not want to be consistently moving furniture around the room. Instead, you can purchase a vent deflector.
A vent deflector is a plastic hood that fits directly over the air vent. Vent deflectors can help to change the direction that the air flows out of the air vent. This may mean allowing the air to flow around the object that was blocking the vent in the first place.
How do I Redirect my Air Vent Under my Bed?
If you have an air vent under the bed, the air coming out of the vent will flow upward. This means that the bed will essentially ‘absorb’ the air coming out of the air vent. The bed will either heat up or cool down, but there will be very little air flowing into the rest of the room. This can result in inconsistent room temperatures.
By installing a vent deflector under the bed, the air coming out of the air vent can be redirected. So, rather than the air flowing up into the bed, it can flow out from underneath the bed, cooling or heating the room properly.
How do you Divert Air from Wall Vents?
If the air flowing out of your wall vents is blocked, typically by a piece of furniture or a large appliance, then you will be able to redirect the airflow.
To divert air from wall vents, you will need to install a vent deflector. The type of vent deflector that you select will be dependent on the direction you want the air to flow. For example, some will allow the air from the wall vents to flow to the side of the vent, and some vent deflectors that will prevent the air from rising too high up out of the vent.
The installation of a vent deflector on a wall tends to be a simple DIY job.
How do you Extend a Vent?
While you can physically create a new vent hole, there are simpler and more affordable options.
You can purchase vent deflectors that are ‘extendable.’ These are placed over vents, typically those that may be covered by furniture and extended outward. This allows the air to flow freely.
Most vent extenders should be easy to install. This means that you do not have to hire a professional to carry out the job for you.
Summary
If you wish to change the direction that air flows out of an air vent for any reason, your best option is to purchase a vent deflector.
Remember, there are several different types of air deflectors on the market. It is important that you choose the right one for the job, i.e., to ensure that the air is flowing in the direction you need.
An air deflector can help to prevent air vents from being blocked. This can help to ensure more consistent temperatures around your home. It can also help to reduce energy bills and strain on your HVAC system.