Keeping utility bills low is important for many homeowners in Hampton, Virginia. A common HVAC myth is that closing vents in certain rooms can drop costs and save energy, especially if you don’t use them. However, closing vents in your home doesn’t lead to reduced energy costs. Here’s why that doesn’t help and some more effective ways to keep energy efficiency high and utility bills low:
Why Closing Vents Doesn’t Work
Closing vents seems like an easy way to keep your HVAC system from attempting to cool or heat unused parts of your home. It should both improve airflow to commonly used areas and reduce the energy needed to cool or heat them, right? Wrong. This isn’t how HVAC systems work.
By closing vents, all you’re doing is reducing airflow to those areas. Your system will still work to produce the same amount of air — it won’t reduce the amount it operates nor will it improve your energy efficiency.
In addition, the air in the empty rooms may trigger your HVAC system into working harder. As a result, you’ll end up wasting energy and paying for conditioned air that you aren’t benefiting from.
Other Solutions to Improve Energy Efficiency
If you’re interested in heating or cooling only certain parts of your home, a zoning system is the best solution. These systems use separate thermostats and mechanisms inside your ductwork to cool or heat different parts of your home separately.
You can set rooms you don’t use often to different temperatures than your main rooms. As a result, you’ll reduce the amount of energy needed for effective climate control that follows your thermostat settings. If simple energy efficiency is your goal, technology like smart thermostats can also make a huge difference in keeping your efficiency levels high.
We can help you reach your energy-efficiency goals. Give the experts at Kearney & Sons a call at (757) 269-9589 to set up an appointment today!
Image provided by Shutterstock
