Best Ways To Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency
If you are like most homeowners, you are always trying to find ways to cut back on your energy costs. When it comes to your air conditioner, you likely know that an energy-efficient unit will help to lower your costs. One of the best ways to ensure that your AC is running as energy efficient as possible is to contact R.F. Ohl.
Our HVAC services can ensure that your air conditioner is working at peak performance. By getting professional maintenance, your HVAC system will require less energy use. It will enhance the comfort of your home and it will improve your indoor air quality.
Heating and cooling costs account for a large portion of your energy bills. At R.F. Ohl, we offer air conditioning tune-ups, maintenance, and repairs. To help you save money on your summer energy bills, we can provide advice that will help. We service Gilbert PA and the surrounding areas. To schedule an appointment, give us a call today.
One of the most common questions that we get from our customers is whether or not it is best to close the vents in the rooms that are not in use. Below, you will get the answer to this question and a variety of other tips that can help you save money during the hot summer months.Can Closing HVAC Vents In Unused Rooms Save Money?
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If you close the vents in unused rooms, it will not cause your heating and cooling system to work less. Also, closing the vents won’t help you save money on your energy costs. Instead, it will just cause pressure to build up inside the ducts.
This pressure can result in problems that require expensive repairs. The problem that closing the vents will generate depends on the type of blower motor that your unit has. A few common A/C issues include:
- Increased energy use
- Frozen air conditioner coil
- Duct leakage
- A dead compressor
- Low airflow in the ducts
To learn more about closing the HVAC vents in your unused rooms, read on.
Types Of Blower Motors
For the cool air to spread around the home, your HVAC system relies on the blower motor. When the blower is working correctly, it will pull the warm air from the house and release it through the return ducts. It will also push the cool air around the home via the supply ducts. There are two types of blower motors, electronically commutated motor (ECM) and permanent split capacitor blowers (PSC).
The ECM blower can change speeds depending on how hard it needs to work. A PCS motor will always blow air out at a fixed rate. Therefore, an ECM motor is highly efficient, and the PCS motor is not as energy efficient.
How Closing HVAC Vents Affects The Blower Motor Performance
Both types of blower motors work by pushing the air through the home against the pressure difference. This pressure difference is often 0.5 inches of water column (IWC). There are, however, specific factors that can cause the difference in pressure to increase substantially.
For example, narrow supply ducts and dirty, dusty air filters can affect the amount of pressure. Closing off the HVAC vents in the unused rooms will also cause this to happen. With the increase of force, the ECM motor will need to work harder, increasing your cooling costs.
A PSC blower will always blow at a fixed rate. If there is too much pressure in the ducts, it won’t work any harder. In fact, an increase in pressure causes it to slow down, and you will get less air from the open AC vents. After some time, the pressure buildup can cause the evaporator coils in the system to freeze over, leading to severe damage to the compressor. A compressor is very expensive to fix.
Increased Duct Leakage
According to Energy Star and reputable local HVAC contractors, the average home loses between 20 and 30 percent of its cold air when the ducts leak. Therefore, there is a good chance that your home is already wasting cool air. If you add extra pressure, it can make the leak even worse. If your AC unit has to work harder to keep your home cool due to faulty ductwork, it will cost you much more than you should be paying on your home cooling costs.
Think About Installing A Ductless Air Conditioner
One way to increase the efficiency of your air conditioner is by supplementing it with a ductless air conditioning system. Ductless AC units are highly efficient and require a minimal amount of energy to keep a room or zone comfortable. Many homeowners install these types of units in their homes to keep areas that are frequently used at a comfortable temperature. Also, by supplementing their central unit with a ductless system, they can enjoy lower cooling costs without sacrificing their comfort.
HVAC Contractors Gilbert PA
You cannot save money by merely closing the vents in the unused rooms. Doing this won’t change how your blower motor performs. In fact, it can damage it. If you close the vents, it will result in a buildup of pressure. The blower motors work at a specific pressure difference. Depending on the type of blower your system has, you could have reduced air flow, indoor comfort problems, a frozen coil, a crack in the heat exchanger, and even a dead compressor.
It is always best to search for a “residential HVAC contractors near me” and find the best one in your area. Make sure that you read their HVAC contractor reviews so that you work with the best one.
You don’t want just anyone working on your HVAC system. You want someone with years of experience and the proper licensing that your state requires.
To improve the level of energy efficiency in your home, give R.F. Ohl a call. We can service your unit to ensure that it works at peak efficiency all summer long, reducing your energy costs. We can also maintain your heating system to be sure that it runs at peak efficiency all winter long. Each of our heating and cooling techs has a NATE certification and they can to figure out the best way to be sure that your system is running correctly. To schedule an appointment, give us a call today.
Some of the areas we service include Brodheadsville, Effort, Gilbert, Kunkletown, and these zip codes: 18322, 18330, 18331, 18058, as well as all surrounding areas in Monroe County, Pennsylvania.Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor Elite
R.F. Ohl is proud to be a Mitsubishi Diamond Contractor Elite This designation implies that our technicians have the knowledge and skills to install, maintain, and repair all models of Mitsubishi ductless systems. If you are interested in making your home more energy efficient, then a ductless system provides the perfect solution. It provides a high level of comfort while reducing your home cooling costs Click here to learn more about what a Mitsubishi ductless system can do for you.
Contact us today or give us a call at (610) 377-1098 if you have any questions.