That's how neighbors should treat neighbors!™
Posted: November 8, 2018 by Andy
Heating and cooling your house accounts for about half of all energy usage in a typical home. To save some money, you might wonder if it's OK to close air vents in unused rooms. Unfortunately, this is a bad idea. Closing vents can cause your HVAC system to run inefficiently and possibly even damage it, costing you more in the long run.
Fact: Your HVAC system was built to have a balanced air flow with all vents open. This means that your ductwork is sized for the amount of air coming in to match the volume of air going out. Your blower pulls air from the house through its return air ducts and then pushes it back into the house through its supply ducts. As a result, closing vents disrupts the balance of your HVAC system.
To put it another way, imagine you're running and breathing by inhaling through your mouth and exhaling through your nose. Now, close one nostril but continue to run at the same pace. You're continuing to use the same amount of air but via fewer airways. You can either use less air or put in more effort to breathe comfortably. The same airflow principle applies to your HVAC system. By closing vents in your home, you're not helping your system to work less - instead, you're just increasing the pressure in your air ducts. This is bad because your blower is only designed to deliver a certain amount of air against a certain amount of pressure.
Fact: Closing vents can actually cause a variety of problems, depending on the type of blower your system has (PSC is the most common):
Permanent Split Capacitor (PSC) Blower. Closed vents will cause this blower to run more slowly because it can't handle additional pressure. This causes your home to become oxygen deprived, which can cause your air conditioner's evaporator coil (the part that cools the air) to get too cold and freeze up (ice over). A frozen coil can cause liquid refrigerant to flow back into the outdoor unit's compressor and will eventually destroy it. In the winter, your furnace's heat exchanger could overheat and crack, risking dangerous exposure to carbon monoxide (CO) in your home.
Electronically Commutated Motor (ECM) Blower. This type of blower can adjust its speed to different conditions. Closing the air vents will overwork the blower to overcome the extra pressure, resulting in a much higher energy expenditure.
Duct leakage. Added pressure in your ductwork could cause small leaks to become large ones. You'll then be wasting money, paying to heat or cool your attic or crawlspace.
Noise and discomfort. With your blower delivering less air, your home will take longer to cool off or warm up, causing your system to run longer.
Mold growth. When warm and cool air meet, condensation and mold will form. This is especially common in the summer if there are leaks in your ductwork.
Closing one vent in your home won't instantly ruin your system, but it's not a good idea long-term. The best practice is to always keep all of your air vents open, even in unoccupied rooms. This might sound counterintuitive, but leaving every vent open will use less energy, will extend the life of your HVAC unit, and will save you considerably more money over time.
If your HVAC system isn't working as well as you like, give us a call! We also offer 24/7 emergency services.
Here's 5 Great Home Makeover Ideas For The New Year | New HVAC System On Your Christmas List?
5 Easy Tasks To Prepare Your Home For Winter | Let's Talk About Your Leaky Ductwork
Please Don't Cover Up Your Thermostat | Tame These HVAC Scares This Halloween
What Do All These Letters Mean? | 6 Easy, Affordable Ways To Boost Your Home's Value
Low Temperature = Quality Sleep | What Does HVAC Mean, And What Does It Stand For?
My AC Runs But Isn't Cold - What's Up? | Is Your AC Prepared For Summer's Thunderstorms?
Something's Wrong With My AC! | How Can I Afford A New Cooling System?
5 Easy Tasks To Prepare Your Home For Summer | The Problem With A Clogged Filter
5 AC Myths That Are Costing You Money | My Air Conditioner Smells Gross!
6 Signs It's Time For A New AC | 5 Easy DIY Projects While You're Social Distancing
Choosing The Right Thermostat | What Does SEER Mean?
5 Easy Tasks To Prepare Your Home For Spring | Improve Your Winter Air Quality
The R-22 Ban: Do I Need To Replace My AC? | 8 New Year's Resolutions For Your Family's Comfort
Using Your Programmable Thermostat Well | I Need A Quieter Furnace!
Know The Signs Of A Cracked Heat Exchanger | Carbon Monoxide FAQ
What's The Best Air Filter For My Allergies? | 14 Easy Ways To Winterize Your Home
What's Up With My Weird Thermostat? | A Yearly Furnace Tune-Up Is Essential - Here's Why
Window AC Units Can Be Dangerous! | Prevent Summer Weather From Damaging Your Home
Why Is My Air Conditioner So Loud? | Keeping Cool In Hot Weather
Is It Time To Replace My AC? | Central Air Is The Best Cooling Option
Is An HVAC Tune-Up Really Worth It? | Does My Air Conditioner Need Repaired?
How To Reduce Dust In Your Home | The Importance Of Annual AC Tune-Ups
Improve Your Indoor Air Quality | Reduce Allergens In Your Home
Warmer Weather And Your Thermostat | Prepare Your AC For The Season
Time To Replace Your Furnace? | Handling Extreme Cold Well
Home Insulation Saves You Money | Humidity Isn't Just A Summer Issue
My Furnace Won't Stay On! | How Long Should My HVAC Equipment Last?
Tricks To Stay Warm This Winter | Winterize Your HVAC System
Don't Close Those Vents! | Phew! Furnace Smells You Shouldn't Ignore
Leave Furnace Repair And Installs To Us | Preventative Maintenance Matters
4 Important Tasks Before You Use Your Furnace | Prepare Your Home For Fall And Winter
Caulk And Seal Like A Pro! | Dealing With Extreme Heat
Don't Neglect Your Furnace In The Summer! | Preventing And Dealing With Water Damage
Why You Should Test Your Air Quality | Smart HVAC Technology For Your Home
Keep Your Vents Clean And Stylish | Save Money With A Home Energy Audit
Why Is My AC System Blowing Warm Air? | Reduce Humidity To Stay Cool
Summer Energy-Saving Tips | Create An Allergy-Free Home
Is My Air Conditioner Low On Refrigerant? | 4 Essential HVAC Safety Tips
16 Easy Spring Tasks To Save You Money | My Air Conditioner Is So Noisy!
5 Ways To Stay Cool This Summer | 4 Common AC Problems
Spring Cleaning Checklist | The Importance Of A Clean AC Condenser Coil
Improve Your Home's Indoor Air Quality | Prepare Your Cooling System For Summer
Why Is This Room Warmer Than The Rest Of My Home? | Retire Your Old Thermostat
We're committed to providing fast friendly emergency service 24 hours a day 7 days a week for residential heating and air conditioning systems in Wooster, Millersburg and the surrounding areas.
Our 24-hour emergency on-call service means you'll never have to go through another cold winter night or a hot, humid summer day. We service residents of Wayne and Holmes counties with no after-hours or overtime fees, so you'll never have to worry about paying extra because your furnace or air conditioner decided it wanted to quit on the weekend or a holiday!
Our service trucks are ready for your emergency after-hours service call with over 5000 stocked parts so you don't have to wait for us to chase down the parts you need.
Fast and done right the first time
We'll keep your Wayne County furnace running smoothly, and we service gas and electric heaters, heat pumps, ductless mini-split systems and more. Our local, licensed, friendly HVAC technicians drive fully-stocked service vans so when we troubleshoot your Holmes County HVAC system and find a faulty part, we can replace it right then! Whatever you need in the area of heating and cooling repair in Wooster, Millersburg, and the surrounding areas, we've got you covered!
The right system for your home
Whether you're a homeowner in Rittman who's in the market for a new, high-efficiency furnace, a mobile home owner in Shreve who's tired of baking in the summertime or you're a property manager in Dalton looking to replace old, temperamental air conditioning systems in apartments with new reliable units, our experience enables us to quickly and accurately assess your HVAC needs. You'll get the new furnace install and central air conditioning upgrade that's right for you.
Protect your investment
While we don't mind visiting your home for a dead-of-winter breakdown (it's what we do), we want to help you avoid that unfortunate situation altogether. That's why we offer affordable Wayne and Holmes County seasonal HVAC maintenance to reduce the future need for heating and cooling repairs. Our thorough inspections catch little problems before they become big ones. An annual HVAC tune-up by one of our expert techs saves you money, time, and stress!
2021 provides an excellent opportunity to explore new room designs and home makeovers. What vision do you have for your home? From incorporating new technology to making your place... more...
If you're pondering whether or not to add it to your list this year, here's a few signs that'll help you know if adding a new HVAC system to your home is needed this Christmas... more...
Winter is a harsh time of the year. Not only must homeowners protect their homes against exterior damage from storms, but they must guard against potentially devastating interior hazards... more...
Wayne County, Ohio ~ Apple Creek, Ohio 44606 ~ Armstrong, Ohio 44214 ~ Burbank, Ohio 44214 ~ Burton City, Ohio 44667 ~ Congress, Ohio 44287 ~ Craigton, Ohio 44676 ~ Creston, Ohio 44217 ~ Dalton, Ohio 44618 ~ Doylestown, Ohio 44230 ~ Easton, Ohio 44270 ~ Fredericksburg, Ohio 44627 ~ Funk, Ohio 44691 ~ Kidron, Ohio 44636 ~ Lattasburg, Ohio 44287 ~ Marshallville, Ohio 44645 ~ Mount Eaton, Ohio 44569 ~ Orrville, Ohio 44667 ~ Pleasant Home, Ohio 44287 ~ Riceland, Ohio 44667 ~ Rittman, Ohio 44270 ~ Shreve, Ohio 44676 ~ Smithville, Ohio 44677 ~ Sterling, Ohio 44276 ~ West Salem, Ohio 44287 ~ Wooster, Ohio 44691 ~ and more!
Holmes County, Ohio ~ Baltic, Ohio 43804 ~ Becks Mills, Ohio 44654 ~ Berlin, Ohio 44654 ~ Charm, Ohio 44654 ~ Farmerstown, Ohio 43804 ~ Glenmont, Ohio 44628 ~ Holmesville, Ohio 44633 ~ Killbuck, Ohio 44637 ~ Lakeville, Ohio 44638 ~ Millersburg, Ohio 44654 ~ Mount Hope, Ohio 44627 ~ Nashville, Ohio 44611 ~ Saltillo, Ohio 44654 ~ Stillwell, Ohio 44637 ~ Trail, Ohio 44624 ~ Walnut Creek, Ohio 44681 ~ Winesburg, Ohio 44624 ~ and more!