It’s a common misconception that closing the vents and registers in unused rooms in your home will save you money on heating and cooling costs. Although many homeowners believe this, it’s not true at all. In fact, not only will closing vents cost you more money, but it can also cause costly damage to your heating and cooling system.
Why Closing Air Vents Won’t Lower the Utility Bill
The forced-air HVAC system that most modern homes use is dependent on balanced internal air pressure in order to properly distribute air around the house. Closing a vent will disrupt that balance, and instead of stopping airflow to that particular room, it will cause the ducts to back up, increasing the pressure in the whole system.
The blower in your air conditioner is the mechanism that pushes air through the ducts, and it can respond to the increased pressure by throwing the whole system into overdrive as it attempts to force air through the closed openings. This extra effort will not only increase your energy bill but may also damage some of the sensitive equipment in your HVAC system.
The buildup of pressure in the ducts can cause tears in them through which air can escape. As air leaks out, you’re literally blowing money into the wind since you’re paying to cool air that isn’t making it into your home. The heating and cooling experts at Cooper Heating & Cooling in Denver can repair your home’s damaged ducts, helping you to keep more money in your pocket.
How Else Can Closed Vents Damage an HVAC System?
Your vents aren’t the only parts of your HVAC system that can be injured when you close vents. If you have a permanently split capacitor (PSC) blower, then the extra pressure buildup will eventually slow down the airflow throughout your whole home. The reduced airflow can lead to your evaporator coil freezing or your heat exchanger overheating, damaging these very sensitive and expensive components.
If you really want to save money, then call the HVAC professionals at Cooper Heating & Cooling today. Our friendly and expert technicians can install, maintain, and repair your heating and cooling system, ensuring it runs at peak efficiency for as long as possible. We serve the entire Denver area.
Luke Cooper is the General Manager of the Cooper Green team and son of Gary Cooper, owner and CEO of Cooper HVAC. After years in the field, Luke took his talents to management and has helped thousands of Colorado homeowners during hot summers and frigid winters. His decade of experience in the field and guiding the company makes him one of the most knowledgeable individuals in Colorado on HVAC, plumbing, electrical and other home services.
