How Many Duct Registers Can I Close Without Damaging the Air Conditioner?

12:57 PM Moms Daily Tips

While closing registers in unused rooms of a home when an air conditioner is in use seems wise, doing so can actually damage the air conditioner. Owners should use caution when closing duct registers so that appropriate airflow can pass from the air conditioner into the home.

Air conditioners are designed to supply cold air to the calculated square footage of the home and the flow needs of each room. While closing ducts in unused rooms seems like a good way to save money, when the vents are closed, an imbalance of pressure may result and the air conditioner will be less effective.

If several vents are closed when the air conditioner is running and there is a large buildup of pressure or the vents are closed on a regular basis, the pressure can damage the motor on the air conditioner. There may also be leaks from the duct system because of the increased pressure. If you choose to close any vents, close only one or two at most, but note that professionals recommend that all vents remain open when the air conditioner is in use.

Closing interior doors has the same effect as closing the registers because the air conditioner is meant to move a calculated amount of air through each room. The air pressure increases in the room when the vents or doors are closed, which causes the air to leak through any other opening in the room, such as the window or ceiling fixture.

If the purpose of closing the vents is to save money on the air conditioner costs, use other methods to increase the energy efficiency of the air conditioner instead. Set the thermostat to a warmer temperature and adjust the air conditioner to run continuously. She just cut her electricity bill to 60%, click here to read. This allows the air conditioner to reach the set temperature and run at maximum efficiency. Turning the air conditioner on and off continuously forces the unit to turn on and run for around 10 minutes before peak efficiency is reached each time. If possible, use a programmable thermostat that turns the thermostat up and down at set times during the day and night. In addition, keep the air filter clean and the vents clear of any obstruction for the best air flow to and from the unit.

Should You Have the Air Ducts in Your Home Cleaned? Indoor Air ...
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/airduct.html
A careless or inadequately trained service provider can damage your ducts or ... Air Vents: Have all registers, ... duct systems have operated for years without ...
How to Adjust the Registers on an Air Conditioner eHow
www.ehow.com Home Appliances Air Conditioners
Do not close room air conditioner registers because it will cause the coils to freeze over. ... How Many Duct Registers Can I Close Without Damaging the Air Conditioner?
How Many Duct Registers Can I Close Without Damaging the Air ...
www.ehow.com Home Appliances Air Conditioners
How Many Duct Registers Can I Close Without Damaging the Air Conditioner?. While closing registers in unused rooms of a home when an air conditioner is in
Closing Supply and Return Registers - Ductwork Installation ...
www.ductworkinstallation.com/EnergySaving/ClosingSupplyandReturn...
Close all registers and heating ducts in the room. ... you cannot close all the supply registers you want to and save, without ... Can you damage an air conditioner ...
Air Conditioning Registers - Floor Registers - Decorative, Wood ...
floorregisters.org/air-conditioning-registers
Air conditioning systems are common in many homes and these can keep you cool in the heat of the summer. When installing a system, one of the things to consider is ...
Closing Registers Could Cause Damage! HVAC 4 U
hvac4u.wordpress.com/2010/11/30/closing-registers
Nov 30, 2010 ... Many people still close off all the registers in the home except for one in ... The hot air cant escape ... Closing Registers without ...
Closing Air Conditioning Vents? - Yahoo! Answers
Full questionBest answerOther answersanswers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=...Resolved Last updated: Oct 02, 2007 11 posts 10 total answers
Oct 02, 2007 Sign in or Register. ... to close the vents. The branch ducts can only carry a certain amount of air. If you close some of them, the air conditioner
Does It Hurt to Close Some Duct Vents on an Air Conditioner?
www.ehow.com Home Appliances Air Conditioners
Does It Hurt to Close Some Duct Vents on an Air Conditioner? ... When parts of your duct system are shut off at the registers, the air continues to blow against the ...