Understanding Airflow: Why Closing Your Vents Decreases Efficiency

Many homeowners believe that closing air vents to unused rooms will increase efficiency in the rest of the house. Unfortunately, this popular theory is nothing more than a myth. Closing select vents will actually decrease efficiency in your Raleigh home, increasing utility costs and putting added strain on your system.

The Hazards of Closing Vents

Shutting off vents to select rooms in your home doesn’t stop airflow completely. Instead, it creates pressure in the room you’ve closed off. The room will suck air in through windows, doors, and other cracks in an attempt to normalize the pressure. Meanwhile, the cool air building up in the ducts will push out through leaks in the ductwork, dramatically decreasing energy efficiency in your home. The added pressure in your ducts will exacerbate existing leaks and might create new ones, even in properly sealed ducts.

When Closing Vents Works

The only time you should close your vents is when you’re transitioning to a new season and won’t use your air conditioner or heater for a while. This will prevent dirt and dust from accumulating in the vents and ductwork.

Adjusting Your Home Comfort Properly

If you only want to heat or cool certain parts of your home, you might want to consider a ductless system. This will allow you to turn on the system room by room. Despite their name, ductless heat pumps both heat and cool the home. Install these throughout your home, and turn on only the one(s) you need depending on which rooms you’re using.

If you’re simply looking for a way to increase your air conditioning’s efficiency, consult with your HVAC provider for options that will do the job properly. Closing your vents might seem like a smart choice, but the problems outweigh the benefits of this strategy.

To learn more about how you can adjust and manage your home comfort, contact Air Experts at 919-480-2727. Install the right system, and you’ll find it surprisingly easy to keep your energy costs low.