Look at the nearest air vent in your room. It most likely has adjustable fins that allow you to direct the flow of air in the room and you can use the adjusting level to shut off a vent almost entirely. The popular notion has always been to shut off vents in rooms that you use infrequently. The idea is that you don’t waste the treated air in that room and so you don’t have to cool or heat as much space. This simple change can save your utility bill, right? Wrong.
Closing off vents is bad for your home, your home’s HVAC system, and bad for your wallet. Let’s find out why you should always keep every vent in the home open and how you can achieve the proper climate control you want.
Why You Should Never Close Vents in a Home
The theory behind closed vents makes sense on the surface. Since you’re not worried about that room warming or cooling, you’ll use less treated air to maintain the home, but that’s not how the modern HVAC system works.
Your home’s HVAC works best when the air can flow freely. When you shut off the vents, you can increase the pressure in your ductwork which can back up into your HVAC and cause issues. The issues your HVAC experiences due to closed vents are like problems caused by dirty air filters including inadequate airflow, turning off and on frequently, and premature HVAC breakdown. Closing vents will also increase your monthly utility bill as your HVAC struggles to keep up.
If you want your HVAC at its most efficient its best to leave all vents open and to allow the proper flow of treated air.
If you understand this theory but still want a way to better control your home’s HVAC, you can invest in a targeted or zoned HVAC system. With these zoned systems, you can control the temperature of individuals rooms in your house, keep that never used office from sucking too much heat or keeping your bedroom cool during the summer.
The premise behind closing your vents make sense on paper, but you know what they say about good intentions. Keep all vents open for an adequate airflow and efficiency and considered a zoned HVAC system if you want the ultimate control over your interior climate.
