In geographic locations where heating needs predominate however the story changes putting floor vents in the spotlight.
Air conditioning vents ceiling or floor.
As a general rule ceiling mounted vents offer better cooling potential while floor vents offer superior heat delivery.
Because cool air naturally sinks ceiling ducts are preferable where air conditioning takes precedence.
The cooled air is blown through ducts into outlets in or close to the floor.
In the natural pattern of air flow cool air sinks and hot air rises so best practices must consider the primary role of your system.
The hot air is drawn through the evaporator coils where it is cooled.
For example owners of multiple story homes might use a combination of floor ducts for heating and ceiling ducts for cooling.
Cold air is denser keeping it close to the floor.
Cool air entering through ceiling ducts quickly descends to the lower portion of the room where people are located.
Floor vents on the other hand favor heating of the house.
It almost falls right in place into a blue print of a house.
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Since cool air sinks using wall vents located high on the wall allows for the cool air from an air conditioner to circulate to floor level efficiently.
I have lived in an older house that had floor vents and the heating was terrific.
The physics reverse when it comes to air conditioning.
Doesn t take up walls or floor space so you don t have to give up a closet or rip up the floor to add vents.
Near an interior wall is another common location.
Based upon your geographic location will heating or cooling needs prevail.
To air condition the hot air is drawn off the top of the room air return.
Floor registers are typically placed under windows to let the warm air they deliver mix with the cool air coming from the windows.
Efficient distribution of cooled air since cold are falls there is less heat transfer loss when conditioned air comes out of ceiling vents.
Doesn t waste usable space.
The reason why many homes have ceiling vents is because it is cheaper and easier to install when the house is being built.
Using natural patterns of air flow is key to choosing between floor and wall vents for a heating or cooling system.
Cool air supplied through floor ducts conversely tends to settle near the floor until airflow volume fills the entirely space sufficiently to lower the temperature.
Remember heat rises so if it starts at the ceiling it has nowhere to go but up.
Cons of ceiling vents.
As part of an hvac heating ventilation air conditioning system both floor and ceiling ducts deliver warm cool or just moving air.
Because hot air rises and cool air sinks ceiling vents are the delivery system of choice for cooled air particularly in hot humid climates with a predisposition for cooling.
Since hot air rises it is more appropriate for floor vents.
Inefficient air distribution for heating if the unit is used year round some heated air will be lost due to heat transfer.