You don’t use the upstairs that much, and so you feel that in the heating and cooling seasons, you should close the air vents there for the sake of energy efficiency. Let’s see how this approach can and can’t work in your favor.
A Good Idea for Winter
In winter, it’s a good idea to partially close the upstairs vents because heat rises. The heat downstairs will help, then, in making the upstairs rooms comfortable without so much assistance from your furnace or heat pump. However, they must not be closed all the way. This is a crucial point to keep in mind when summer rolls around.
Never a Wise Move in Summer
Both AC units and heaters have a specific cooling/heating capacity that makes them a perfect fit for your living space. Unless you own a variable-speed unit, your AC or heater blows out at one fixed speed to make every room comfortable at the same time. Closing vents throws off that balance, so in summer, you may notice warm spots even downstairs.
Moreover, if you completely close off the upstairs rooms, the air that should enter them will turn back and either cause the other rooms to be rapidly cooled or else be forced out of any leaks in the ductwork. Chances are your ductwork has some areas that are not well-sealed. This translates to great energy waste.
Closing Vents Puts Wear on an AC
The pressure that builds up in your ducts, because of closing the vents, will take its toll on the AC unit’s motor. The system will also sense the hot spots and run until these areas reach the set point. This is on account of the return vents still being open, which will keep bringing in warm air or else suck out cool air from surrounding rooms. Consequently, the system runs for longer than it should.
We Repair All AC Brands
Our skilled technicians want to inform homeowners that in the summer, it is not worth it to close off any air vents to their homes in Oregon City, OR. If you need AC repair or want to replace your system, turn to Anderson Heating & Cooling. Our technicians can also work on furnaces, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and water heaters. Established in 2009, Anderson Heating & Cooling can service all makes and models of air conditioners. For more information, give us a call today.
