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Many homeowners will, with good intentions, close off vents to unoccupied rooms so that when summer hits, they can save money on their cooling bill. Unfortunately, this is a bit of bad advice that you can still find floating around on the Internet. Closing air conditioning vents does more harm than good. Our HVAC pros will explain the reasons why!
Leaks in the Air Ducts
The first problem is that closed vents build up pressure in the air ducts. Air duct leaks are exceedingly common. With built-up pressure, your leaks will worsen and waste more energy. Having the ducts sealed can help, but few homeowners do this, and besides, not every leak can be detected. The more pressurized the air is, the more it will escape through those leaks before even reaching your other rooms.
Stress on the AC
Pressure in the ducts forces the AC to work harder to achieve your desired temperature, which means more repairs in the future and a shorter life span for your AC. In particular, the compressor and blower motor will be hit hard. Both can be costly to replace.
Inefficient Cooling
By closing the vents, you reduce the amount of air that returns to the air handler. Inside that unit is an evaporator coil whose job is to absorb heat from the air so that what comes out is cold. With less of this heated air coming through, the evaporator coil is liable to freeze over, and then you'll have nothing but lukewarm air circulating.
Call Us Today
Rather than look for cheap but ineffective ways to survive the summer, you can turn to Mitch Wright Plumbing, Heating & Air to provide duct repairs, AC maintenance, and other services that will truly increase energy efficiency and reduce your utility bill. Contact us today for more information.
Just fill out our form online or call us at (901) 795-9044 to schedule an appointment. Our pros are trained in cleanliness and will exercise the utmost care and caution while assisting you.