Nowadays, there is a smart version available for almost all accessories and maintenance systems that we see around us. These smart products not only help us to get easier access to their functionality but also save a lot of time and effort along with a significant benefit in terms of energy saving. Even for some of the most basic home accessories such as an HVAC system unit, you can find a smarter alternative that can be a great choice for the long term.
A smart vent is one such option that a lot of homeowners are installing these days. Unlike before when such accessories used to be quite expensive and only suitable for commercial applications, you can now find a budget option for a wide range of smart home products and systems that are feasible for smaller applications. Today, we are going to discuss the features and functionality of a smart vent system so that you can consider it for your next smart home upgrade.
What Is a Smart Vent?
Vents are an integral part of the HVAC system that you may currently have in your house. But instead of replacing the entire system with a smarter alternative, you can go step-by-step and start by replacing the vents with smart vents. Smart vents allow ideal temperature management of your home without needing manual adjustments on a daily basis. Although, smart vents are still not as popular as smart thermostats or other similar options. Therefore, a lot of buyers miss out on this feature-rich yet affordable upgrade option.
One of the key aspects of installing a smart vent is to introduce a smart as well as an energy-efficient method to maintain the airflow along with the surrounding temperature. And most of the smart vents available on the market right now support compatibility with smart home ecosystems so that you don’t need a separate control unit to manage these vents. Instead, you can simply use your smartphone to get quick access to the system and receive real-time updates on the system such as energy consumption, airflow quality, temperature levels, etc.
How Does a Smart Vent Work?
The overall functionality of a smart vent is quite similar to that of a regular one that you would have to control manually, which is eliminated by integrating smart features and smart home compatibility in these units. Smart air vents are basically automatic air pathways that can change the airflow by changing the airflow volume passing through the vent. These systems are compatible with almost all standard HVAC systems since they are designed with a universal design approach.
An HVAC system basically increases or decreases the temperature of the air apart from filtering it before it can be supplied to a specific room in your house or the whole house in most cases. The conditioned air then travels through these smart vents to reach various rooms. While you may consider manually controlling a standard vent, it can get quite hectic. Especially during mid-season when the surrounding temperature is continuously changing.
For a standard vent, the user would have to manually open or close the room to avoid excess heating or cooling inside the room. It is also possible to leave the vent open throughout the day, but it is simply not an economic choice as it increases the running costs of the system. This is where smart air vents offer the most important benefits. Smart air vents rely on the feedback offered by various built-in sensors and data collected from the internet regarding the surrounding temperature. Most smart vents also include motion sensors to automatically open/close the vents based on room occupancy.
So before you decide whether you want to install smart air vents in your home or not, you need to carefully consider the advantages and a few limitations offered by these units. This will help you decide whether these vents are actually going to be a better choice for you or not. You can also choose the right option based on the benefits and get one that offers the best features.
Advantages Of a Smart Vent
1. Automatic Temperature Adjustment
The most important advantage of a smart air vent system is that you don’t have to worry about the imbalance of your HVAC system anymore. The smart air vents can maintain a uniform temperature in all rooms of your house and avoid excessive heating or cooling of a particular area.
2. Automatic Airflow Control
Apart from temperature adjustments, smart air vents can also control the airflow allowed through the vents to increase or reduce the volume of airflow needed in a particular room. So, you can increase the airflow to a particular area where occupancy is high, or reduce it where it is not needed.
3. Lower Energy Consumption
Almost all smart home appliances introduce the energy-saving factor which becomes a great advantage in the long term. By simply automating the functionality of vents, a smart air vent system can significantly reduce your monthly electricity bills since it also controls the power output required from the core HVAC system.
4. Adjustable Schedules
Another important advantage is the scheduling feature that allows you to create a heating/cooling timetable for your house. In some regions, you would need the system to provide cold air in the afternoon and slightly warmer and more comfortable air at night. It is possible with smart air vents. And, you can also schedule the vents to open or close at a particular time of the day.
5. Remote Control Option
Even if you forget to turn OFF your HVAC system or vents in a certain room, you don’t have to worry about energy wastage with a smart air vent system. These systems can be accessed directly via a smartphone and you can remotely control the system parameters. All you will need is a stable internet connection at your home and on your smartphone.
6. Real-time Updates
You will also get real-time updates from the smart air vent system pushed directly to your smartphone. So if you want to check the status of the HVAC system or if something appears to be out of place, the smart air vent system can detect that and alert you by sending a notification to your smartphone.
Disadvantages of a Smart Vent
1. Slightly Noisier Operation
Due to added internal parts and motors to control the vent positions, the available space for an efficient airflow might be lesser in some options. As a result, the incoming air would come in contact with these components and create an audible noise that cannot be avoided. While it may not be audible in the daytime, you can clearly hear the noise when you are trying to sleep at night.
2. Setup Changes Might Be Needed
In some cases, you will need to get your HVAC setup checked by a professional before installing the smart air vents. Since the size of all rooms is not the same, the vent opening will also be different for each room. So, you may have to increase or reduce the vent openings in order to make them compatible with the system.
3. Compatibility Issues
Most smart air vents are equipped with a built-in thermostat that controls the temperature level of the airflow as well as sends feedback to the system based on sensor readings. So, the thermostat working with the smart air vent should be compatible with the one that you may already have in your HVAC system. If not, you may need to upgrade your existing thermostat to a compatible option.
4. Effect on Core The HVAC Unit
There are many different options available for smart air vents. But, not all options work in a similar fashion. For instance, some smart vents only control the airflow and not the core HVAC unit. So, these vents can block the airflow while your system is still operating, creating reverse pressure in the system. As you can imagine, it can damage the vents and sometimes even the HVAC system of your house.
How To Get The Perfect Smart Vent?
BY considering the factors mentioned above, you probably already know by now whether a smart air vent system is suitable for you or not. If you do wish to get smart air vents for your house, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. In this part, we will discuss some important parameters of a smart air vent system and discuss their importance in regular working conditions. So by checking these factors, you can easily pick up the most efficient option for your requirements.
1. Built-in Sensors
Senores like temperature sensors or motion sensors are very important for the functioning of a smart air vent. In fact, these components are responsible for a wide range of smart features and their reliability such as proximity-based actions or automatic temperature control. While some units have these sensors built-in, some ship with additional units. In some air vents, there is only a receiver that requires input from an external thermostat, such as the one that is working with your current HVAC system. In a lot of cases, it is optimal to have these sensors built-in inside the system to avoid compatibility issues and get reliable performance.
2. Pressure Control
Apart from airflow temperature and volume, smart air vents should also be capable of controlling the airflow pressure. This allows the system to automatically compensate if there is excess pressure present in the system. This will avoid problems like reverse pressure that can potentially damage the core HVAC unit. Also, it maintains a sufficient supply of air and avoids the creation of vacuum pockets inside the vents. And by reducing the load on the HVAC system, an efficient pressure monitoring system will also result in considerable energy-saving which is always better for the long term.
3. Smart Home Compatibility
To get the best accessibility and ease of usage, make sure that the smart air vent system that you are buying is compatible with the smart home system available in your home. Based on your preference, you might be using any of the popular smart home integration networks such as Amazon Alexa Smart Home, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Samsung SmartThings, etc. So, the smart air vent system that you get installed in your house must offer compatibility with the specific ecosystem to offer you the full range of smart features. With that, you can add the smart vents as another skill in your smart home application and control it using voice commands from any other smart device such as your smart TV, smartwatch, or even smart speakers.
4. Battery Capacity
There are basically 2 types of smart vents available on the market right now, battery-powered and AC-powered smart vents. As you can imagine, installing the latter in your house can get slightly annoying as you will need to free a power outlet near a vent, or sometimes even place one if none are within its reach. Also, it can cause connectivity problems such as loose connections or improper power supply issues. Battery-powered units on the other hand are free from such problems. So, most users go with a battery-powered smart air vent system. It also offers functionality at the time of power cuts to maintain the uniform flow of air. But, make sure that the unit you are buying is equipped with a reliable battery capacity. It is also better to get one that is powered by rechargeable batteries to save the trouble of replacing the batteries every other month.
5. Smart Vent Size
Lastly, we will suggest you take a look at the size of the smart air vents before finalizing your choice. As we mentioned earlier, you may have different vent openings for each room based on the room size and possible occupancy. So, you will need to find the right size for the smart vent to install in a particular room. If you get the same size option for all rooms, you may have to make additional adjustments such as increasing or reducing the opening size to fit the vent in the room. As you can imagine, buying the option which offers the right size is much simpler. To take the measurements of the vent opening, make sure that you remove the existing vent cover so that you can take the right measurements and get the perfect fit for the available opening.
A Few Recommendations
Even with the information available in the last section, it can get quite difficult to find the right smart air vents. First of all, these options are not as popular as a smart thermostat or a smart HVAC system. So, you may have to dig deep to find the ideal option for your needs. And even that, you have to go with an option that is coming from a renowned brand and offers reliable build quality and performance. To save you the trouble, we have already picked up some good options from the market. Take a look at our top recommendations for the best smart air vents and you might just find the ideal option right here.
1. Flair Smart Vents
Flair is comparatively the most popular brand option for a smart air vent in the market right now. It is also one of the most affordable choices on the market that do not compromise on the features of build quality. This is a battery-powered unit and you will get quite a reliable battery backup on the Flair Smart Vent. Compared to other options on the market, Flair Smart Vents offer up to twice as long battery backup. It is also compatible with various smart home systems such as Google Nest, Samsung SmartThings, etc.
There are 4 different size options available for the Flair Smart Vent that are 4 x 10 inches, 4 x 12 inches, 6 x 10 inches, and 6 x 12 inches. These size options pretty much cover all the standard vent openings and you can find the right fit for your room. As for the build quality, the front panel of the Flair Smart Vent is metallic, making it a durable choice. And as for the battery, Flair is promising almost 4 years of battery life and you can also plug it into a standard 24 VAC power outlet to avoid replacing the battery at all.
Best Features
- Offers the functionality of a smart vent system and a smart thermostat
- Twice as long battery backup compared to other choices
- AC power option with battery backup
- Works with various smart home systems
Pros
- Comparatively affordable choice than other smart air vents
- Stunning design choice and appearance
- Compatible with standard vent opening sizes
Cons
- A wireless thermostat is not included in the package
2. Keen Smart Vents
Keen is also a pretty popular brand option when it comes to smart home appliances such as HVAC components and smart vents. This is one of the few options on the market that can precisely control the temperature level in every individual room in your house to offer the best results. This way, you can customize the temperature level for every room in your house and not worry about constantly changing the temperature levels.
There are 2 different units that you need for the installation of Keen Smart Vents that are the vent itself and a Keen Smart Bridge. The Keen Smart Vents is a separate product that simply connects the smart air vent system to the smart home system for flawless integration. It can also take the output from 3rd party sensors to control the vents for the best results. The unique front panel design of the Keen Smart Vents makes it quite easier to install these units. As for size compatibility, you will get 4 x 10 inches, 4 x 12 inches, 6 x 10 inches, and 6 x 12 inches size options from Keen.
Best Features
- Allows personalized settings for each room
- Flawless integration with smart home systems via Keen Smart Bridge
- Battery life is more than 2 years
- Supports Zigbee home network
Pros
- Unique front panel design
- Comparatively easier to install and access
- Smart home compatibility is pretty good
Cons
- Keen Smart Bridge has to be purchased separately
3. Ecovent Smart Vents
Unlike other options, Ecovent is offering an entire smart air conditioning system. However, it is considerably more expensive than the other 2 options. Ecovent Smart Vent is a premium-range option that includes many additional features and benefits that might be just what you are looking for. Even in terms of design, you will find the Ecovent Smart Vent to be the most appealing and elegant option compared to others. This system comes with a built-in temperature as well as a pressure sensor to avoid damage to the core HVAC unit.
For the complete smart features set, you will need an Ecovent room sensor in each room as well as a central Ecovent Smart Hub. The Ecovent Smart Hub also works as a bridge between the air vents and any 3rd party smart home control system that you might be using. As for power type, you will need 4 AA batteries with each Ecovent Smart Vent and unfortunately, it does not offer a direct AC power supply. Still, the battery backup is reliable enough and you won’t have to replace the batteries for at least a year.
Best Features
- Offers silent operation along with controlled temperature levels
- Built-in pressure sensor for internal pressure management
- All Ecovent Smart Vents can be connected together within the same network
- Up to 1-year battery life
Pros
- Silent operation makes it an ideal choice for many homes
- Installation does not require any calibration or wiring
- Comes with a built-in air pressure sensor
Cons
- Comparatively more expensive than other options
Do All Vents Need To Be Replaced?
No, you won’t have to replace all of the vents in your house with a smart vent if you need just one. In fact, it is the best choice to install a smart air vent in one room and observe its performance before buying more for the rest of the house. And in some cases, you probably won’t even need smart air vents for all rooms if you are getting a balanced performance with your existing vents.
Do Smart Vents Cause Harm To The System?
If you choose the right option which is compatible with your core HVAC unit, then you don’t have anything to worry about. Though it is possible for a smart vent system to cause severe problems and even damage to the smart air vents, it is usually caused by the incompatibility of the unit with the base system. Also, it might happen if there is no pressure sensor present in the smart air vent system.
Conclusion
Installing a smart air vent system can be a pretty essential upgrade for your home’s HVAC system, especially if you are noticing irregular temperature levels in different rooms. These smart air vents can maintain a stable environment in all rooms by controlling the flow of air as well as by managing the air temperature separately for each room. With that, you can also turn off the airflow for a vacant room and save a lot of energy in the long term. Talking about the long-term, we will recommend going with the Ecovent Smart Vents if you are planning to get a feature-rich option. Even though it is an expensive choice, it is certainly a reliable one and you probably won’t have to replace it again since it is a complete air conditioning system.
