Should Air Vents Be Kept Closed in Unused Rooms?

Many homeowners often make the mistake of closing vents in unused rooms during the winter, thinking that this could help them save on energy costs. However, closing air vents doesn’t make the HVAC system more efficient. In fact, it can even cause damage to your HVAC system and necessitate an HVAC repair.

To give you a better idea of why you should keep the vents open in unused rooms, Schmitt offers an explanation below. We also share some tips on how you can cut your energy usage without closing the vents.

Why You Should Keep the Vents Open

Even if a room isn’t currently in use, it still contributes to the overall thermal profile of your home. When you close the vents in unused rooms, these rooms just become colder, consequently causing the overall temperature of your entire house to drop.

Heating repair experts warn that heating systems aren’t capable of interpreting such differences in temperature. Thus, your heating equipment will continue to struggle to heat the whole house, forcing your HVAC system to work harder. But of course, if the vents are closed in the unused rooms, heat won’t be able to reach those areas. This only wastes the energy being used by your HVAC system.

How to Reduce Energy Use Without Closing Vents

If you’re keen on lowering your energy consumption, here are a few tips that could help you achieve this goal:

• Check for air leaks, particularly in areas such as the attic, crawl space, windows, doors, ductwork and plumbing.
• Add caulk to your windows and doors. This can help prevent air from escaping your house.
• Install weatherstripping on your windows in order to keep the cold and rain out of your home.

Schmitt is a full-service HVAC company that’s been providing top-notch services for over 100 years. Our expertise covers AC repair, heating installation, indoor air quality and more. Call us at (415) 522-0966 or fill out our contact form to request a service. We serve customers in San Francisco and the surrounding areas.