Finding ways to lower your household’s monthly utility bills is always an exciting topic for many homeowners. After all, it’s an excellent way to keep your hard-earned money in the bank. Interestingly enough, your home heating and cooling costs account for approximately half of your energy costs. Therefore, it makes perfect sense to pay close attention to the efficiency of your HVAC system.
One of the most effective strategies to enhance the efficiency of your heating and cooling unit is by working with a reputable HVAC company in your area.
Skylands Energy specializes in HVAC services that can help lower your utility bills. Our team of professional HVAC technicians will provide any necessary repairs and maintenance to make sure that your heating and air conditioning unit is as cost-effective as possible. Fortunately, a cost-effective system is also a system that can enhance your comfort levels. Therefore, by ensuring that your unit receives the proper professional attention, you will pay less on your energy costs and, at the same time, feel more comfortable. It is a win-win situation for such a small investment.
Some of the types of services that we offer include AC maintenance, heater repairs, HVAC tune-ups, and heating and cooling installations, to name a few. Rest assured that our friendly and NATE certified HVAC technicians have the latest knowledge and training in the industry. Even better, all of our knowledgeable services come with honest and affordable pricing.
Best Ways To Make Your Air Conditioner Energy Efficient
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One of the persisting questions on the topic of saving money is whether closing the HVAC vents in unused rooms can save you money. The answer is no. Truth be told, closing HVAC vents does more damage than good to your air conditioning unit.
Below are the details to help you understand how your HVAC vents work and why it is better to keep your vents open at all times.
How HVAC Vents Work
The ductwork of an HVAC system is made up of different components. One of the main parts includes the duct pipes and trunks. Mainly, the duct pipes and trunks are the parts of the ductwork that connects to the air handler. They distribute the warmed or cooled air throughout the vents and into your home.
Although closing vents on rooms you do not use often seems like a good idea, you will soon realize that doing so causes more harm than good instead.
Higher Energy Bill
Your air conditioner does not work less when you shut even just a few vents. In fact, you are making your HVAC’s blower work harder.
If your air conditioner has an electronically commutated motor (ECM) blower, it will adjust its speed depending on the condition. Closing the vents will cause a high level of pressure on your ECM blower. In turn, the blower will ramp up to overcome the extra stress to maintain proper airflow. Although you get adequate airflow, you will also receive a higher energy bill because of this.
Additionally, as the pressure inside the duct increases, more conditioned air is wasted via the tiny leaks in your ductwork. On average, a household loses 20-30% of conditioned air through duct leaks, according to Energy Star. Closing the vents not only forces more air out of the leaks but also increases the chances of making the holes open up even more. This circumstance means that you’ll be paying more than you should on your utility bills.
Less Comfort
The added pressure in the ductwork caused by closing AC vents also results in making you less comfortable. The high pressure makes the A/C’s motor blower inefficient, and it will blow less air.
A reduction in airflow usually happens with permanent split capacitor (PSC) blowers. This type of blower motor blows at a fixed speed. Because it can’t accommodate the extra pressure brought by the closed vents, it slows down and blows less air. This situation affects the quality of air inside your home and leaves you and your family uncomfortable.
Damaged HVAC System
The most common type of HVAC blower is the PSC blower. As mentioned above, the PSC blower slows down, and there is less airflow when you close the vents.
The reduction of airflow also affects your AC’s evaporator coils. The evaporator coil contains the refrigerant or the coolant used in your A/C’s refrigeration cycle. There is a tendency for the coils to get too cold and form ice since there is less warm air blown over the cold coils. This issue might eventually cause damage to your AC’s compressor, which is very costly to replace.
Closing the vents can also damage your furnace’s heat exchanger. It is the part of your heater that heats the air. The blower runs at a slower pace as it works against the extra pressure from the closed vents. If the motor can’t pull in the needed cool air to the heat exchanger, it can lead to overheating. This situation will eventually cause the heat exchanger to crack.
Conclusion
A simple solution to prevent all these inconveniences from happening is to keep all your HVAC vents open at all times. Be sure to keep the vents in the rooms you don’t use that often open too. Leaving them open saves your HVAC system from damages and higher energy bills. Moreover, it protects you from the additional costs you’ll incur from repairing these damages.
If you really want to improve the energy efficiency of your HVAC unit, then it is crucial to schedule an annual tune-up. This service cleans the system and ensures that it is running optimally. It is a great way to reduce your home heating and cooling costs.
Call Skylands Energy if you are looking for more ways to make your HVAC system as cost-efficient as possible. We are your partner in ensuring that your heating and air conditioning unit is in excellent shape. We offer tune-ups, repairs, and installations. Our team of friendly and professional technicians is ready to aid you with all your HVAC needs. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.
Contact us now at (908) 707-1776 to find out more!