When it comes to home heating, closing vents in rooms you do not use causes more damage than benefits. With the cooling and heating taking up 50% of the monthly energy bill, you should leave vents open inside every room so you can cut on energy costs.
People want to save a dollar every now and then. Since cooling and heating make up about half of your energy bills, homeowners can start there. It helps if you lower the thermostat, but closing vents in rooms you do not use has no impact.
Before you call furnace repair services, you should know why vents and registers should be left open. Read on to know more.
Air Pressure Problems
Your AC can suit what your home needs. How much air your blower fan can move suits the flow rate of the ventilation system and the size of the home. Therefore, the reduction in airflow is an issue if the heating is effective.
If the furnace system has a motor and fan, the increased pressure can cause the air to flow at a lower rate, which leads to heat transfer problems. In addition, the added pressure means that increased hot air escapes through existing leaks or it can cause new leaks in the ducts.
Heat Backup
It was mentioned that a drawback to closing the vents is an issue with heat exchange. When you reduce airflow, the air is not refreshed right away for better heat exchange to take its place. Hot air can move inside the room at a slower pace, which causes colder rooms or longer cycles on the furnace. If there is a heating system, the reduced flow rate could mean that the heat exchanger temperature increases while the air stays hotter for a longer period. The increase in heat leads to cracked heating oil or exchanger because it cannot give off the heat fast enough to prevent damage.
In the summer, you will find a similar issue when it comes to air conditioners. There is less heat that will be deposited in the condenser coil. It is going to cool down, which leads to ice formation. Since it is insulated, it becomes harder for the condenser to give off heat. It is going to freeze over. This can lead to compressor damage.
Indoor Temperature is Uneven
The home HVAC unit comes with internal changes, which are components controlling the air supply volume inside each room. The dampers can ensure sufficient airflow volume so that temperatures stay consistent. It will not matter how far the room is from the blower since dampers will keep the rooms at the same temperature as other parts of the house. If you do not open the supply register, the airflow balance and temperature are going to be disrupted by the HVAC system. When this happens, rooms that are closest to the blower will have increased airflow, and the rooms farthest from the blower are going to have decreased airflow.
Better Heat Exchange
Another disadvantage of closing the vents and registers in your home is that the heat exchange will be abnormal. When airflow has been reduced, air will not be refreshed quickly enough for the heat exchange to happen. Hot air will move into your room at a slower pace, so you will have a colder environment, therefore, extending the furnace on-cycle.
The heating system reduces airflow, which means the heat exchanger’s temperature increases while the air around it remains hotter. The lingering heat causes a cracked heating coil or exchanger.
Do not hesitate to call HVAC repair services Arlington anytime if you need them.
