Does Closing Air Vents Save Money?

It’s so obvious, right?  You’re not using a bedroom because one of the kids is off to college, so you close the vent to save some money on your heating or cooling HVAC system bills. 

Not a good move. That’s because heating and cooling systems were designed to deliver a certain amount of conditioned air and closing vents doesn’t change that. It does, however, lead to several potential problems.

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Increased Duct Leakage

Most air duct systems leak as much as 20% of the air flowing through them, and that’s on a good day.  Any time you close a vent you’re putting more pressure on the ducts, thus causing them to leak even more.  The result is higher utility bills. 

Pressure Build-up

Since closing air vents will cause pressure to build up in your ducts, your air conditioning or heating unit will have to work much harder to distribute the air properly.

So not only is closing a vent counterproductive toward the goal of reducing energy usage, it also can create larger and more expensive HVAC repairs over time.

Furnace Damage & the Risk of CO Poisoning

When one or more air vents are closed, system airflow declines. Proper airflow is important to keep critical furnace components like the heat exchanger from overheating. An overheated heat exchanger may crack and create a potential carbon monoxide hazard.

Here at Air Professionals, we’re all about helping you save money on your heating and cooling bills. One such means at our disposal is annual preventive maintenance. That gives us the opportunity to ensure your HVAC system are in solid working condition. We also can spot small problems before they increase in severity and take measure – like tightening electrical connections – to enhance the safety of your home and family.

Has it been a year or longer since your last heating or cooling system inspection? If so, contact us today to schedule service.

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