Can You Save Money by Closing Air Vents in Unused Rooms?
Many people believe they can save money by closing air vents in unused rooms. Unfortunately, this practice can end up costing you a lot of money, as it does more harm than good.
Your Energy Bill Won’t Be Lower
When you close air vents, you disrupt the internal air pressure of your HVAC system. This causes your system to work harder as it tries to force air through the closed vents. This increases your energy bills instead of decreasing them.
Duct Leaks
Your heating and cooling system doesn’t know there are closed vents. Air will back up in your vents, which causes duct leaks. This leads to conditioned air blowing into unconditioned areas. This costs you money in both higher energy bills and ductwork repair bills.
Air Express Air Conditioning & Heating of Richmond, TX, repairs ductwork. Our company was founded over 15 years ago and provides NATE-certified technicians to perform both heating and cooling jobs.
The Unused Room Acts as a Heat Sink
When you have a cold, unused room, it acts as a heat sink. Heat will flow out of the conditioned areas of your home into the cold room through openings and interior walls that have not been properly insulated. Closing air ducts reduces your home’s comfort instead of enhancing it.
Damaged HVAC System
You reduce the airflow of your heating and cooling system when you close air vents. This can cause your furnace’s heat exchanger to overheat or your air conditioning system’s evaporator coil to freeze. Either situation will probably result in a costly repair bill.
Can You Partially Close Vents?
Closing one or two vents the farthest away from your furnace can save some money. Air will still flow properly through the system, so there’s no added pressure.
Air Express Air Conditioning & Heating repairs, replaces, and maintains heating and cooling systems in the greater Richmond area. We’re also the company to turn to for indoor air quality, duct sealing, and attic insulation. Contact us today to find out more or to schedule an appointment.
