We are always looking for ways to save on heating and cooling. When the weather starts to drop or rise, the bills go up. One common question that we get is whether or not interior doors should stay open or closed while heating or cooling your home. Does it even make a difference? Let’s find out.
When your HVAC unit is running, it functions as a whole unit to circulate your entire home. That's why, when you close vents, your system gets disrupted. This same concert applies to doors. Shutting all of your interior doors will prevent air from flowing how it normally would, causing your system to work harder than it needs to. This ends up costing you more money in the long run and could lead to problems later on from long-term blockage. This doesn't mean that you can’t close your door when you go to sleep, but you should try to keep your doors open during the day if this is the case.
It is a common misconception that closing doors and vents in rooms that aren't being used will save you money, but it's actually the opposite. Doing these things will trigger your system to work harder than it needs to since your system is designed to heat every room in your home evenly. The block of airflow makes the temperatures uneven resulting in your system competing to get the blocked room to the right temperature.
Next time you think about shutting your vents or doors, keep them open instead! Need more HVAC advice? We would be happy to help! Give us a call at 515-965-7272 or visit our website at 72degrees.com for more information.