Cost: $2–$3.50
Option A
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1 pencil—$0.50
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Piece of ribbon—$2 for a spool
Option B:
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Piece of toilet paper—$1 for a roll
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Piece of tape—$1 for a roll
This simple hack will tell you if there is good airflow in a room. General awareness of which vents are blowing air into a room (supply vents) and which are pulling air out of a room (return vents) is important. It will help you figure out if there is good airflow in the room.
It will also help you determine where and how air comes into the room. The results will help you better understand what other steps you may need to take to increase airflow and safety. Consider speaking to building administrators about updating the HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning) system to lessen the risks of COVID-19.
If you aren’t sure if a vent is blowing air into the room or pulling air out of the room, try this easy test:
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Take a small piece of ribbon (~4 inches) or a piece of toilet paper
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Tape either one to a pencil
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Hold the pencil in front of the vent
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If the ribbon/paper is moving away from the vent, then the vent is blowing air out—it is a supply vent
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If the ribbon/paper is moving toward the vent, then the vent is pulling air in—it is a return vent
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Now, take a look at where the supply and return vents are in relation to each other and to other rooms in the building
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If they are close together, most likely the air is not being well circulated because the new air supply is getting pulled into the return vent before it has a chance to fill the space and refresh the air
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Ask the building administrator or HVAC installer to turn on the supply vent
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Add a window or floor fan to help circulate the air
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If the supply vent is in a different room, it means you have a larger “shared space,” and the air supply won’t be refreshed as much—the air is being recirculated into your room from another indoor space
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Adding one or more fans to the room will help circulate the air