April 29, 2020
It is a pitfall many an Oklahoman has fallen prey to — if you aren’t using the spare bedroom, why would you keep the heating and cooling vent open in there? If your heating or cooling is too expensive, and you are looking for ways to keep heating and cooling costs low by closing air vents throughout your home, you may be surprised to learn this may actually have the opposite effect, especially over time.
The Problem With Closing Your Vents
Turning off unused lights in your house may make sense when it comes to saving energy, but when it comes to your heating and cooling system, it’s a little different. There are a couple of reasons closing your unused air vents may actually increase your energy costs, without making you any more comfortable.
Increased Duct Leaks
Ductwork is notoriously leaky and ridden with holes and gaps. If you have not had your ductwork properly sealed, you could be losing between 25% and 40% of the energy that moves through your central ductwork. When you close the unused vents of your heating system, this creates a backflow of pressure that will increase the energy lost, and can even increase the size of those holes over time.
Heat Has a Mind of Its Own
Thinking back to the lightbulb analogy, the lights in each room are probably only going to illuminate the rooms they are in. Heating and cooling, however, is a little different.
Heat looks to move towards areas that are cooler, and as you heat the living room instead of the spare bedroom, that heat is going to want to infiltrate your unconditioned room in whatever way it can. The same is true during the air conditioning cycle. This can even happen through the cracks of your windows and doors! You will be less effectively heating the space you do need that warm furnace air in, because that heat is looking to spread out across the uneven temperatures of your home. Again, the same holds true during the cooling cycle.
Looking to Save On Your Heating and Cooling Costs? We Can Help
At Pippin Bros, we take heating and cooling seriously. So seriously, in fact, we want to help you find the most efficient way to keep your home comfortable and warm throughout the entire winter, through early spring until the hot weather arrives late spring and into the summer.
By assessing your ductwork, the size and design of your furnace and air conditioner, and other home performance factors like insulation, air sealing, and more, we can make sure your heating and cooling needs are taken care of.
