Have you ever noticed that the heat vents in your home are all, almost without exception, placed beneath windows? It’s easy to conclude that this is a mistake. Many homeowners think that by directing their heat at the windows they are losing heat faster and therefore asking their furnace or other heating system to work a lot harder than it needs to. However, the truth is actually the opposite. Placing heat vents under windows makes complete sense. We’ll explain why the designers of home HVAC systems put vents beneath windows. 

Efficiency and Air Flow   

Placing the heat vents beneath the windows is actually best for efficiency and proper airflow. Essentially, you want to target your warm air where the home is cold. If you’d placed heat vents in your ceiling, for example, then this part of the home would get hot, neglecting to heat up the sides of the home as much. 

Further, adding the vents here prevents your home from having a convection current that draws cold air in. It instead buffers the cold air from outside and prevents cross drafts which could make you less comfortable in your home during the winter. 

Vents on the edges of the homes near the window also help prevent them from being covered or blocked by large pieces of furniture, which can undermine the consistency of heat in your home. 

Have any questions for our HVAC experts? We would be happy to answer. Reach out to our team today.

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Insulation to Compensate 

It’s true that when placing the heat vents on the windows, HVAC designers need the home to have good insulation in order to keep that heat. The good news is that most modern homes do have quality insulation that will maintain your heat, directing it back into the home. You’ll have a consistently warm home without cold spots or drafts. At least there will be no drafts caused by heat vent placement. 

Adding quality windows with double or triple glazing can also help mitigate heat loss in HVAC systems. Windows are the spot on the home where you are most likely to lose heat, but these modern glass windows insulated with gas do a great job of keeping the heat in and therefore your energy bills down. 

Downsides to Heat Vents Under Windows 

Most of the downsides of having your heating vents beneath windows are nuisances for your HVAC technicians and your home’s builder and not you. This proper placement of heat vents means you need to have longer vents that cost more. They also take a bit more time to install. However, the benefits to you, the homeowner, are worth these inconveniences. All quality home designs will focus on placing heat vents under windows. 

You might have other questions about why your home’s HVAC system has been installed and designed the way that it has. Are you looking for more information on home heating and design? Our team at Dows ClimateCare would be happy to answer any of your questions. Give us a call today.

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