Does Closing an Air Vent Save Money?

You may think closing a vent is a quick and easy way of saving money or keeping a room from being too cold or hot. However, this is a common misconception. 

Here’s the short answer as to why. 

The Immediate Effects of Closing Your Air Vents in Rooms 

No, closing your vents costs you more money. 

It will actually reduce airflow and force the air to come out of leaky ducts; that means less warmed air is being delivered to the rooms of your home. 

Closing the vents forces the pressure to go elsewhere, back to your central HVAC or to in your duct system. The extra pressure slows down the blower since it’s working against a large volume of airflow. 

Remember, nearly all homes have some leaks in their ductwork. These leaks can be large or small. But they mean one thing: higher utility bills. Your HVAC system has to exert more effort to compensate for this deficiency. 

There are Exceptions

You can close your vent for a short time, but if left unchecked, it could hurt your duct system. 

• Create leaks in our HVAC system 
• Make existing duct tears worse 
• Make the HVAC system inefficient 
• Can cause carbon monoxide leaks if the infrastructure is damaged

If you cannot keep your vents and interior doors open, make sure your vents are at least partially closed (50-75 percent of the way). Never fully close them off.

What About Closing Air Vents for Unused Rooms?

“What about closing vents in rooms that aren’t used?” We get this question quite a bit. Sadly, doing that won’t save you money. It’ll actually cost you more in the form of long-term repairs and higher monthly energy bills. 

Air Authority offers plenty of hot tips on energy savings. There are also plenty of guides from reputable sources, like Energy Star, on how to save on monthly energy bills.

The Results of Closing an Air Vent Depends on the Blower

The extent of negative effects resulting from a closed air vent, such as widening leaks in the air duct, will depend on the type of blower your HVAC system uses. 

For instance, a permanent split capacitor (PSC) motor will take longer to heat and cool your home. An electronically communicated (EC) motor blowers increase the energy output to work against the additional pressure put on it.

Air Vent Damage Outcomes 

Shutting vents can damage your AC or heater, creating bigger leaks in your duct system and, ultimately, creating long-term energy waste and costly repairs. 

Malfunctioning HVAC system. 

One of the side effects is that the heat exchangers can overheat, causing exhaust gasses to mix with the air, which sends carbon monoxide into your home. 

Due to the uneven flow of air from the HVAC system, air conditioner coils can get covered with a coat of ice. This forces the refrigerant to flow back into your unit’s compressor.

Mold growth. 

Although rare, shutting off heat from vents lends to lower temps in rooms during winter months, which can lead to excess condensation and, invariably, mold growth. Once this sets in, the repairs are costly. 

Contact Air Authority for Expert HVAC Repair

Our experienced HVAC technicians help to assess and repair your heating and cooling system for your home or business. Contact us for a free quote today or call us at 513-229-0789.