Do you close A/C damper/register in bathrooms/closets? (curtains, balance)

[acegolfer]

I want to know whether closing dampers/registers in bathrooms/closets/laundry room is a good idea or not.

What do you do?

[tamcim72]

I live in a high humidy state so mold can be issue in closets, so I don't close them there. Did close most way the one in the "water closet" toilet room though.

[Asheville Native]

Bathrooms and closets are 'inside' your insulation envelope, and should have very little effect on the A/C or heating load of a home.

In the winter allow the moisture from showers to remain within your home, in the summer, use the exhaust fan to get rid of it.

You have heating/cooling ducts in your closets

[Synergy1]

Originally Posted by acegolfer

I want to know whether closing dampers/registers in bathrooms/closets/laundry room is a good idea or not. What do you do?

It is a bad idea because when you close the vents because moisture accumulates where you least expect it. Vents, etc regulate the air so always keep some air going through them.

Behind curtains in a bedroom close to the laundry room or bathroom can be a good place for humidity to hide and develop spores that eventually means big trouble for the homeowne..

Since we live in South Florida our A/C is on 75 degrees in the warmer season and of course it doesn't kick on when the temp goes below 75. We do use heat when the temp reaches a low of 68 and when we go away our thermostat is set for 82 degrees. It is what our power supplier says is most efficiet but never close vents or dampers. The Florida Power and Light reccomends the best way for us to live comfortably but most of all we find it works best for us. I had operating vents installed in all of our 5 walkin closets and now it is a law here.

We do have a very high SEER rating on our A/C of 16 and our capacity is 6 ton on our 3,400 sf home. A good insulated home is a very good way to keep the home warm in the northern winters and cool in the summers but most of all keeping the cost of heating and cooling at the lowest rate possible. A HVAC professional can evaluate your needs and it involves simple math.

[wheelsup]

Better to close them at the output source as I was told by my A/C guy.

[BigJon3475]

Don't close them. If you want efficiency open all airways of all supply vents so the air can easily make it's way back to the return vent. When you start reducing the volume of airflow you screw up the balance of the system, unless it's designed to operate at different speeds or variable speeds.

[NCN]

You did not say what kind of heat and air conditioning you have. Heat pumps do not work as efficiently with vents closed. I leave everything open.

[BigJon3475]

Originally Posted by NCN

You did not say what kind of heat and air conditioning you have. Heat pumps do not work as efficiently with vents closed. I leave everything open.

It's true for all systems that use refrigerant. It's an even worse problem with fuel heat, you have to worry about the heat exchanger getting to hot because of the decreased airflow.