Proper air temperature coming out of the vents in your home means that your HVAC system is running at peak, or close to its peak efficiency.
The proper temperature coming out of the vents should be 14 to 20 degrees different than the air going into the return vent.
Air Conditioner
When cooling your home in the warmer months of the year the air blowing out of your home’s vents should be approximately 14 to 20 degrees cooler than the supply air in your home. For example, imagine that the air in your home is at 80 degrees but you want it to be cooled down below that. This means that the return air will be 80 degrees and the air blowing out of your vents should be anywhere from 60-6 degrees.
If the air blowing out of the vents is 14 to 20 degrees cooler than the air going in then that means your air conditioning system is running at peak efficiency and that there are no issues with your HVAC system.
Heating Your Home
When you are trying to heat your home the temperature difference between the air going into the return, and the air blowing out of the vents should have the same difference. So if the inside of your home is 65 degrees but you want it to be at 80, the warm air coming out of your home’s vents should be 79-85 degrees.
If you use a heat pump in your home it may not be able to get the inside to the desired temperature during the colder months. If this is the case you need an additional heat source to increase the temperature coming out of the cents in your home.
How to Test the Air Temperature to Ensure Peak Efficiency
If you think there is something wrong with the temperature of the air coming out of your home’s vents, then you should test the difference between the temperature of the air going into your return and coming out of the vents. To do this you need a thermometer and possibly some tape.
Laser thermometers are the easiest to use for this but any standard thermometer will work. If you are using a laser thermometer you will not need to wait as long to read the air’s temperature. If you are using a standard thermometer you want to make sure you leave it exposed to the vent’s air for approximately 5 minutes.
- Find your home’s air return(s) and take the temperature of the air going into it.
- Once you have the return temperature, you need to find a vent to test.
- Take the temperature of the air coming out of the vents in your home.
- Figure out the difference by subtracting the two numbers.
- If it is in between a 15 and 20-degree difference your system is functioning as it should be.
When dealing with proper air temperature for your ac unit you need to also check the air filter for the return. A dirty air filter can cause your central air unit to have problems down the road.
Another thing that is important to remember when you are testing this is that the temperature of the air coming out of your vents should be the same across the board. If every vent is not putting out the same temperature air then something is amiss with your HVAC system or the air ducts in your home.
Conclusion
If your system is working correctly then the air coming out of the vents in your home should be within a 15 – 20 degree difference from the air going into your return. This ensures your HVAC system is running as efficiently as it can, meaning optimal comfort and lower energy bills. If you have any further questions make sure you consult a licensed technician in your area, because if something is wrong with your system and you do not address it can end up costing you a lot more money in the long run.
