Winter is coming, and that means cold weather for the Charlotte, NC, area. As temperatures drop, residents throughout the region prepare for monthly energy costs to rise significantly. At Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning, we know homeowners are constantly looking for ways to cut down on hefty heating bills. You’ve heard that closing unused heating vents can save you money, but is it true?
How your Charlotte, NC, heating system works
In order to keep your home warm and comfortable through the winter, your HVAC system uses a furnace or heat pump. Regardless of the type of equipment, each forces warm air throughout the house by way of ductwork. The rectangular vents you see near the ceiling or floor around the house are supply vents, which allow warm air to exit the duct and enter a room. Closing vents means that heat isn’t circulated into a particular room, which seems logical when certain rooms aren’t in use. Heating empty rooms is wasteful, so you should close those vents, right?
Patterson recommends leaving all vents open
Closing heating vents is an extremely inefficient way to heat a home and will actually result in higher energy bills. Vents allow for even airflow throughout the HVAC system and keep air pressure consistent in each room. When vents are shut, it causes excess pressure to build in the duct system. This puts unnecessary strain on the duct system and furnace, which can cause extensive damage to your HVAC system. In addition, closed vents ultimately waste heat. Heating systems work to warm cooler areas, so when certain rooms are cold, the furnace must overwork to heat the entire house, even if just a few vents are open. What results are colder overall temperatures, which causes you to turn up the thermostat.
Instead of taking measures that will increase your bills and decrease comfort, give Patterson Heating & Air Conditioning a call. Our team of professional technicians knows how to keep your equipment working at peak efficiency, helping you save money this winter. Call us today!
