When you have rooms in your home that aren’t used regularly, you may wonder why you’re paying to heat and cool the area. However, closing vents may harm your HVAC system because it’s carefully balanced for your entire home. Here are three reasons to leave the vents open in your unused rooms as a part of standard AC maintenance. 

Why You Shouldn’t Close HVAC Vents

1. Maintain System Balance

When your HVAC system was installed, professionals carefully evaluated the heating and cooling loads of your home to identify how much airflow was required. Systems are designed to push air throughout the structure using a series of supply and return vents.

If you close vents, the additional air must go somewhere, and an excess in other rooms may build pressure within your system. This causes unnecessary strain on the furnace and AC compressor that may lead to premature problems down the road.

2. Prevent Duct Leaks

Since closing vents in one room can increase the air pressure in other rooms, the effect on your ductwork may be significant. Air ducts can burst open at the seams and leak, creating areas inside walls and attics where air is leaking. Up to 30% of the air in your home can be lost this way, which will drive up the cost of your heating and cooling bill. 

3. Avoid a Frozen AC

Another reason keeping vents open is essential for AC maintenance is the fact that proper airflow helps the crystals within refrigerant lines remain fluid, which keeps your system from freezing over. When airflow is poor, warm air may not pass over the cooling coils like it should, allowing refrigerant to potentially freeze. As a result, your entire air conditioning unit could grind to a halt on a hot summer’s day, leaving you scrambling for emergency service. 

If you have questions about the health of your HVAC system, turn to Preston Reeves Heating & Air Conditioning in Hilliard, FL. Since their inception in 1960, this trusted team of AC maintenance professionals has been helping homeowners throughout northeast Florida and southeast Georgia enjoy safer, more comfortable homes. To find out more about their repair or installation services, visit their website or give their office a call at (904) 845-3338.