Many homeowners think it's a good idea to close air vents in unused or infrequently-used rooms during the winter months in order to save money on heating. Should you do the same? The short answer is no. As a matter of fact, doing this can lead to the need for a home furnace repair.
In light of all these situations, the best thing to do in order to maintain the efficiency of your HVAC system during the winter and summer months is to keep your interior doors open. Proper air flow will allow the HVAC system to work at optimum capacity.
Openings from your windows will also allow in air from the outside. This air is not properly cleaned and can lead to the growth of mold or pose a threat to the health of the occupants. Leaving these doors open will actually save you money on energy bills even though the opposite seems to make more sense.
Contrary to popular belief, closing your bedroom doors does not improve the efficiency of your HVAC system and may actually increase your utility bills. When you close a bedroom door, you effectively block the air's pathway, and that blockage can lead to issues with airflow.
As long as you close the doors so the cold air doesn't seep into the rest of the house, you will save money by turning off the radiators in unused rooms. By doing so, you'll prevent the water in the system running through that particular radiator.
Closing your vents will not save you money. Instead it will cost you more, put added pressure in your duct system and make you feel less comfortable in your home.
If you have a top/bottom return vent setup, close the top vents in the winter months. Closing the top vents will make your system draw in air from the bottom vents that are at the low point in the room where cold air settles.
The answer to this is yes, since it can limit air circulation in your home and require less rooms to be cooled or heated. However, air can still seep under closed doors, so it won't keep your rooms the same temperature for long.
Keeping doors closed will prevent cold air moving into the rest of the house and contain the heat you've generated in a smaller area.
The simple answer is, leave them open.
You see, when an HVAC system is operating, it functions best as a whole unit, circulating air throughout your entire home. So, when you shut several doors in and around your home, you're actually disrupting the nature of how your HVAC system operates.
For winter, the ideal thermostat temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit when you're at home. Energy.gov 68 degrees is a good room temperature while you're awake at home, but recommends lowering it while you're asleep or away. Lowering your thermostat 10-15 degrees for eight hours can reduce your heating bill by 5-15%.
The first is to check your vents. You might have heavy furniture or items covering up your vents, absorbing all the heat. This is a very common reason why one room in a house is always cold, and it's easily solved by simply moving the items away from your vents, allowing an unobstructed flow of warm or cool air.
If you wish to maximize positive air flow throughout your home and feed the system the proper quantity of air it needs, doors should remain open. In fact, closing some or all the doors to your rooms can actually cost you more.
First, check for these common problems: Dirty air filter—A dirty filter restricts airflow, not letting your home get enough cool air. Closed vents—Closed vents in rooms can cause them to be hotter than other rooms. Open windows—Your conditioned air can flow out of open windows, leaving uneven temperatures in your home.
Reason #1: Closing vents restricts airflow
Closing vents disrupts this balance and creates pressure in your system, which causes your air conditioner to work harder. This can increase your energy bills and even lead to premature breakdown of your AC if you close too many vents.
The general rule of thumb for a two-story home is that you should set each thermostat two degrees Fahrenheit apart from the other. During the summer, when your AC is running, set the upper floor at the temperature you actually want in your home. Then set each floor underneath that to two degrees warmer.
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.
Over time, the added stress can damage your heating or cooling system, especially the ductwork. Closing off your vents will eventually lead to repair bills. All that saved money will be spent on replacing or fixing your existing system.
Sleeping in a colder room can improve your sleep quality and even help you combat insomnia episodes. Scientists link this to the fact that our body temperature naturally drops at night. Hence, the metabolism rate slows down, and we spend less energy during sleep.
The lower the temperature is inside of the home, the slower the rate of thermal energy loss. To achieve optimal comfort, it is recommended for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 to 72 degrees while there are people inside of the home.
Regardless of how long you will be traveling and away from home, keep your thermostat set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or above. This will help to keep the pipes on the inside of the home from freezing and the ones under the home at a slightly higher temperature as well.
Even if you keep your temperature between 60°F and 65°F, your home or apartment may not be warm enough to keep you safe. This is a special problem if you live alone because there is no one else to feel the chilliness of the house or notice if you are having symptoms of hypothermia.