The Longview, Texas, climate brings a diverse range of weather conditions that will have you cooling your home in the summer, heating it in winter and fretting over your energy bills year-round. Homeowners who want to minimize their costs often close their air vents to cut back on energy use. Unfortunately, closing air vents to save energy isn’t a good idea, as doing so can cause more harm than help.

Closing Vents Builds Air Pressure

Closing air vents doesn’t improve your energy efficiency. It only increases the air pressure in the ducts behind them. Your system will work just as hard, whether you open or close the vents.

If your ducts aren’t properly sealed, the higher pressure in your ductwork will force more air out through leaks. The pressure imbalance will also cause the cold-air return in that room to suck in cold air through leaks in doors and windows.

The overall effect is extremely inefficient, increasing your energy bills when you want them lower. Furthermore, keeping vents closed can cause damage to some systems.

Maintaining Proper Air Flow

The best way to maintain energy efficiency in your home is to facilitate even air flow. This will help you keep steady temperatures throughout your home.

Keep your air vents open and remove obstructions around them, such as furniture, that may prevent air from moving freely through the home. This tactic is more efficient than closing off parts of the house.

Managing Consistent Temperatures

If you really want to cut off heating and cooling to particular parts of the home, consider an HVAC system designed for this purpose. Zoned HVAC systems separate your ductwork into independent systems for efficient temperature management that won’t create the same air pressure problems. You can also move to a ductless system with separate interior units that you can adjust individually in each room.

If you’re interested in exploring a new HVAC system, contact JD’s A/C at (903) 759-7483. We’ll help you analyze your current energy usage and develop a smart solution for you.

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