Does Closing Vents Save on My Energy Bill?

Heating and cooling is a major expense in your home. This accounts for about 50% of the average Cincinnati energy bill. Most homeowners look for solutions to keep their energy bill low without sacrificing comfort.

Many customers make a common mistake, especially during the cold winter months. They close off vents throughout their home. This may seem like a good idea to restrict heating and cooling in unused areas of your home. You may think that it will save money on your energy bill. Well, it’s not a good idea and it won’t save you money. In fact, we warn our customers to avoid this practice.

Closed Vents Restrict Efficiency

Your homes HVAC system is designed to operate efficiently based on the total square footage. Closing vents create a blockage and limit the proper air flow throughout your home. This throws off the entire balance of the system. The HVAC system doesn’t know you have tried to limit the areas to cool or heat. Therefore, the system works harder to deliver the desired temperature on the thermostat. This in turn, uses more energy.

Which, you guessed it, cost more money on your bill and throws off the comfort level in all rooms.

Closed Vents Cause Air Duct Leaks

Pressure builds up in the air ducts when vents are closed. High pressure damages the ducts. This in turn, causes leaks which waste heat and cool air in unwanted areas such as attics and crawl spaces. Contact Nelson Comfort to do a thorough inspection if your HVAC is not performing as well as it should.

Closed Vents Damage Your HVAC

Closing vents can be very costly in the long run. Paying to repair or replace damaged HVAC components is expensive. High pressure and low airflow can cause a blown air compressor, refrigerant leaks, frozen evaporator coils and dangerous cracks to the furnace heat exchanger.

So, What Can You Do to Save on Your Energy Bill and Keep Comfortable?

Instead of closing your vents, zone your home. An HVAC zoning system is a heating and cooling system that regulates and redirects air to specific parts of your home. This allows you to create customized temperatures zones throughout your home. This increases both efficiency and comfort and saves money.
Consider a zoning system if you have rooms that are always too hot or too cold or floors that are always colder or warmer. Other reasons to zone your home are large windows, stuffy rooms or areas that need additional heating or cooling.

In addition, you can Nelson Comfort to install a NEST learning thermostat that lets you adjust the temperature in any zone remotely with a smartphone.

Nelson Comfort is an incredible company with great products, prices, and services, such as its Nest learning thermostat. For HVAC solutions that will help you save energy and protect your heating and cooling system, contact Nelson Comfort today.

About The Author

Dan Detmer

Dan Detmer is the owner of Nelson Comfort. Dan was born into the heating and cooling industry, coming from a family of well respected HVAC contractors in Dayton, Ohio. After working in the family business, Dan decided to work for a local HVAC wholesale business helping local contractors grow their business. When he felt his heart moving him back into the residential and light commercial business, Dan joined the Mortimer Heating & Cooling team in Cincinnati, where he had called home and become part of the community for several years. After a short period of time Dan purchased the company and created what is today, Nelson Comfort. Today he operates a company based on integrity, honesty, and stellar customer service. If you have any questions feel free to tweet (at sign) NelsonComfort and we will get right back with you!