HVAC Vents-"Shutdown" or "NO-shutdown" in unused rooms? (Lowes, heat)
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Hello All- is there one answer to this question? I have a 2600sqft 4bdroom...singlestory with 1 HVAC unit... we only use the living space, master bed/bath... is it worthwhile shutting the vents of the other 3 bedrooms, bathroom? (worthwhile=saving $$ on energy costs
Last edited by houstoner; 05-10-2009 at 07:00 PM..
Reason: Thread moved from Houston forum.
As tight as modern houses are you need to keep the spaces conditioned or you may be setting yourself up for mold and other problems, espcially in the bathroom.
If you live in a humid area, shutting down some of the vents can result in higher levels of humidity in the living space. This is a result of the cooling coils cooling the reduced quantity of air quicker, and having less time to take humidity out of the air. My house has a thermidistate, that measures the humidity and keeps the system running longer when it is needed to help reduce the humidity.
No. Leave them open. Your system is designed to move 400/CFM/ton. Start moving that too much one way or the other and you change how it runs. Too much air and too high of a velocity removes more sensible heat and less latent. Slowing it down past 350/CFM/ton will start to freeze coils. @ 350/CFM/ton or very close you will be removing the most humidity possible from the air (latent) and the lowest sensible amount or the amount you think of when you look at your thermometer. Besides interior walls are not insulated and if you allow one room to get say 85F and the one next to it 72F the heat will travel fast through the insulated wall as opposed to the uninsulated.
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