Of all the heating and cooling myths out there, the concept of closing vents to save energy in your home is one of the most common beliefs that is often debated.
But does this theory hold any truth? Let’s separate fact from fiction and take a closer look at whether closing vents actually helps or hinders your home.
The Cold Hard Truth About Closing Vents
Whether it was something your grandfather said to you as a child or something you read, we hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you’ve been given the wrong information. Shutting vents to save on your energy bill does not work and here’s why.
By shutting the vents, you may assume your AC is working less, which means less energy is being used. This actually has the opposite effect. In fact, shutting your vents causes increased air pressure in your air ducts. This in turn puts more pressure on your unit’s blower.
Not only is your unit’s blower affected by vents being shut, but so is your air conditioner’s evaporator coil and heat exchanger. The coil, which cools the air coming into your home, can get too cold and possibly turn into a block of ice, which can damage the unit.
If vents are shut, your furnace’s heat exchanger, the element that warms the air, will cause a lack of airflow. This can cause the heat exchanger to overheat and maybe crack. No matter the time of year, shutting vents in your home won’t help a thing, unfortunately.
Additional Issues Associated with Closing Vents
Here are some other issues that may happen as a result of closing your vents:
- Less airflow means your home will take longer to get cool or warm-up
- Increased leakage through your ductwork
- Added stress to all the components of your furnace and AC
Sometimes the truth hurts, but in this case, we hope it helps. Keep your vents open to reduce stress on your heating/cooling system to help ensure you get the most out of it and stay comfortable all year long.
To have more questions like ‘Does closing vents save energy in your home’, or any other heating and cooling inquiries answered, contact the experts at Oosterveld Heating.