Is it more energy efficent to close off the vents leading to rarely used areas of a house, or is it better to just leave them open?

8/10/2008 9:09:04 PM

Yeah in a way it is, but just know the insulation is thinner in indoor walls as opposed to outer walls, so you'll still be cooling off the rooms indirectly.

8/10/2008 9:14:49 PM

Plus, you'll have to seal off the rooms to realize any real savings. Cool air will still go underneath the doors to the rooms you don't want cooled.

8/10/2008 9:28:12 PM

You have to be careful. If you're not moving enough air (because you closed too many vents) you could not exchange enough heat. If that goes on long enough you can kill your AC compressor.

Liquid refrigerant backup FTL.

8/10/2008 11:32:21 PM

Quote :

"Is it more energy efficent to close off the vents leading to rarely used areas of a house,"

if it doesnt affect overall circulation/intake/where the thermostat is then yeah it is

8/11/2008 12:08:13 AM

if you're really looking to make sure you are as efficient as possible i would get a digital programmable thermostat. to answer your question, yes it will help SOME probably, but depending on how open these rooms are it may have very little impact.

Quote :

"Plus, you'll have to seal off the rooms to realize any real savings. Cool air will still go underneath the doors to the rooms you don't want cooled."

while this is true, assuming the return is not in or near one of these rooms the amount of air going through a door crack is going to be pretty minimal.

Quote :

"You have to be careful. If you're not moving enough air (because you closed too many vents) you could not exchange enough heat. If that goes on long enough you can kill your AC compressor."

i dont know that closing just a few vents in a house is going to affect the total amount of air flow, if anything the fan will probably push the same amount of air total, unless the duct is super undersized or something and it is having trouble pushing the extra air down the later runs or something.

8/11/2008 12:25:59 AM

Quote :

""You have to be careful. If you're not moving enough air (because you closed too many vents) you could not exchange enough heat. If that goes on long enough you can kill your AC compressor." i dont know that closing just a few vents in a house is going to affect the total amount of air flow, if anything the fan will probably push the same amount of air total, unless the duct is super undersized or something and it is having trouble pushing the extra air down the later runs or something."

It's not common, but I've seen it happen before.

[Edited on August 11, 2008 at 12:29 AM. Reason : crazy code is crazy]

8/11/2008 12:29:00 AM

On top of the air flow issues you will also probably create a shit ton of condensation in the closed of duct work. Coworker of mine actually is going to have to have his bathroom floor replaced because of a similar issues causing water damage from built up condensation.

I think you are better off focusing on good airflow throughout the house and use of fans to feel better in specific rooms.

8/11/2008 12:44:29 AM

hmm you shouldn't be seeing much condensation on your ductwork. It should be insulated. And even then if you shut down the vent at the end of a stub of duct I dont see what it is really changing that would cause condensation now as opposed to before.

Im not denying the situation you said your friend is in but it doesnt at up psychometrically really. If the condensation was on the outside of the duct then he needs insulation and that is the problem not the closed vent. If it is on the inside of the duct (which shouldnt really happen) then the only possible scenario is that warm air is getting trapped inside that duct run with the closed vent at the end and condensation is forming as the cooled supply air passes over that duct. But that would be hard to do.

Assuming supply air into his house is about 55F, they would need to have 75F air trapped in that duct run before that odd scenario would happen (depending on where this friend lives). And if thats the case, which I dont see happening, it once again probably means the ductwork isnt insulated. (could be flex duct?)

8/11/2008 7:41:41 AM

Quote :

"Coworker of mine actually is going to have to have his bathroom floor replaced because of a similar issues causing water damage from built up condensation."

did they have HOT ass showers with no ventilation?

8/11/2008 7:43:49 AM

Are you really this poor?

8/11/2008 8:00:07 AM

Quote :

"Are you really this poor?"

avoiding wastefulness != poor

but thanks for playing, anyway...you must be a republican

8/11/2008 11:27:03 AM

hey i generally consider myself republican (at least when asked a question where the only two expected answers are democrat or republican) and even I think that reasoning is stupid

its along the same lines as someone else calling me out or poking fun because I was trying to make good meals for <$2 for lunch and dinner as opposed to just buying something for $6 at our cafeteria or a fastfood place (or more) (of course probably only saving a fraction here as opposed to saving on food but still). Im not sure why its apparently "cool" to be wasteful and not save money given an opportunity.

[Edited on August 11, 2008 at 11:57 AM. Reason : ]

8/11/2008 11:33:45 AM

Quote :

"Kurtis636 All American 6085 Posts user info edit post Are you really this poor? "

are you really this fuckin retarded? how much of daddy's money do you spend on your living expenses?

8/11/2008 11:49:56 AM