Can You Save Money By Closing Off Vents in Your Home?
It sounds like a good idea. You rarely use your spare bedrooms or certain other rooms in your Rolling Meadows, Illinois, home. So why not close the air vent in those areas? After all, it doesn’t seem to make sense to heat and cool a room that you don’t use. However, you might be surprised to learn that closing off vents can actually increase your utility bills and decrease comfort.
Restricting Air Flow and Reducing Comfort
Your home’s air ducts and other HVAC components were specifically designed to promote healthy airflow. If you close a vent in an oft-unused part of your house, the air flow gets disrupted. Reduced air circulation will affect how conditioned air is distributed throughout your home.
Increasing Energy Consumption
Your HVAC system might also consume more energy. Forced-air systems rely on precise tuning. When you close off air vents, pressure builds in your duct system. This affects the on/off cycling of your air conditioner, furnace, or heat pump resulting in more energy consumption. The amount of pressure needed is calculated as a part of ductwork design. The buildup of pressure from closing vents can damage the vents and the HVAC system. This kind of damage affects efficiency and, therefore, energy consumption.
Wear and Tear on the Blower
Your HVAC system doesn’t stop trying to push air through a vent just because you close it. If you restrict airflow through your vents, your blower will incur more wear and tear. Over time, this leads to higher maintenance costs and the potential for system shut-down. It could also reduce the entire unit’s projected lifespan.
Alternative Solutions
To save on energy costs, seal any areas where heat loss and gain might occur, such as around windows and doors. Have your HVAC system inspected at least twice a year and change or clean your air filter regularly to allow maximum air flow.
If you are concerned about high energy bills, our knowledgeable technicians can help. Call Tempco Heating & Air Conditioning Co.at (847) 670-7000 to schedule an HVAC service or maintenance call today.