Does Closing Vents in Unused Rooms Save You Money?

With energy bills at or near record highs here in Los Angeles, CA, plenty of homeowners are searching for ways to cut their HVAC bills. In their quest, most inevitably come across the advice to close HVAC vents in unused rooms. The idea is that doing so saves energy by not heating or cooling those spaces. In theory, that means your HVAC won’t run as long, saving you money. It’s an idea that seems so obvious that few homeowners think to question it. However, here at Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric, saving customers money is a part of our DNA. We felt it was important to provide a complete answer on whether closing vents will save you money. Here’s what you need to know.

The Effect of Closed Vents on Your HVAC

Closing vents in your home’s unused rooms will indeed keep conditioned air from flowing there. However, that doesn’t change the volume of air coming from your HVAC. A typical HVAC blower motor can only operate at one speed. During your system’s installation, the installer would have set the blower speed to match your home’s ductwork configuration. They do so to ensure that the blower delivers sufficient air to every part of your home.

Closing vents increases pressure inside your ductwork. That pressure pushes back against your HVAC blower motor. As a result, the motor will work harder to push air out through the remaining open vents. However, you won’t notice much of an increase in the volume of air coming from them. Instead, increased pressure can slowly damage ductwork joints, causing air leaks. If that happens, conditioned air may escape into your home’s walls and ceilings, where it’s wasted.

As the damage to your ductwork increases, it may even reduce the effectiveness of your HVAC in the rooms you do want heated and cooled. In fact, the Department of Energy estimates indicate that a typical home suffers up to a 30% HVAC efficiency penalty due to leaky ducts. So, the real result of closing too many HVAC vents may be higher energy costs. And once the damage occurs, opening the closed vents won’t solve the problem.

Additionally, closing supply vents in your home will alter the airflow through your home created by your HVAC. When that happens, your HVAC’s return air duct may struggle to pull in sufficient air. That can further strain your HVAC blower motor, causing unnecessary wear. And it could lead to your HVAC system pulling in outdoor air through gaps in your home’s air envelope. That would further harm your HVAC efficiency and raise operating costs.

Viable Ways to Cut Your Heating and Cooling Costs

Now you know that closing vents won’t save you money on your HVAC operating costs. However, some money-saving methods do work. The following ideas are worth considering.

Get an HVAC Tune-up

The simplest way to trim your HVAC’s energy use is to schedule a professional HVAC tune-up. The average HVAC can lose up to 5% of its initial efficiency every year it goes without maintenance. During a tune-up, your system will receive a thorough inspection and a complete cleaning of its major components. That helps restore your HVAC’s efficiency and prevents unnecessary wear and tear. For best results, you should have a tune-up performed at least once a year.

Install a Smart Thermostat

Another great way to lower your home’s heating and cooling costs is to install a smart thermostat. Smart thermostats offer advanced features that help your HVAC system run as efficiently as possible. They enable remote control of your HVAC settings and access weather data online to inform automatic operation modes. Additionally, smart thermostats can analyze your comfort preferences to help reduce unnecessary HVAC use. According to ENERGY SMART, installing one of its certified smart thermostats can reduce the average home’s HVAC costs by 8%. According to NEST, its thermostats save the average user 10%-15% on HVAC costs. And, according to Ecobee, its thermostats save the average household 26% on heating and cooling expenses.

Have Your Ductwork Sealed

If you’ve kept several of your home’s vents closed for any length of time, you may benefit from ductwork resealing. It can address the air leaks caused by high backpressure. To reseal your ducts, we use a special blown-in polymer that clings to any openings. There, it builds upon itself to seal gaps, eventually drying into a flexible, rubber-like substance. In a typical application, you can expect up to a 90% reduction in air leakage. That will make a noticeable impact on your heating and cooling costs.

Install a Zoning System

If you want a safe way to control which parts of your home receive air from your HVAC, consider an HVAC zoning system. It splits your home’s ductwork into multiple sections using motorized dampers. In a zoning system, each zone has its own thermostat that communicates with a central control system. This way, your ductwork can route air only to where you need it by opening and closing dampers as necessary. You can have your ductwork and HVAC adjusted to work with a zoning system to prevent excess backpressure. That helps you avoid the pitfalls of closing vents.

Upgrade to a More Efficient HVAC

Finally, the best way to trim your home’s heating and cooling costs is to upgrade your HVAC system. For example, if you have a standard gas furnace, you can upgrade to a high-efficiency model. Or you could opt for a heat pump for the most efficient overall solution. They provide all-electric operation and serve as both a heating and cooling solution. Most heat pumps compare favorably with the efficiency of high-end central ACs. And in heating mode, they’re nothing short of revolutionary.

In mild winter conditions like ours, heat pumps can work at up to 400% efficiency. If you pair one with targeted home insulation upgrades, you can make a massive dent in your HVAC costs. Plus, there are multiple local rebate programs and incentives that can reduce the cost of installing a heat pump. It’s well worth exploring which ones you qualify for, because an upgrade could be far more affordable than you imagine.

Your Local HVAC Efficiency Experts

Since 1999, Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric has helped homeowners in Los Angeles reduce their heating and cooling expenses. We offer comprehensive HVAC services to meet any need. Whether you need duct sealing, a smart thermostat, an HVAC tune-up, or an HVAC system upgrade, we can help. Our team of expert HVAC technicians has the latest training and plenty of hands-on experience. Plus, we offer money-saving coupons and financing options on approved credit. We’re also a family-owned and -operated business that stands behind its work. That includes a complete 100% workmanship guarantee.

If you need HVAC services to maintain efficiency and keep utility bills low, contact Monkey Wrench Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electric today!