Is it a Bad Idea to Block a Vent in Your Home?

Is It a Bad Idea to Block a Vent in Your Home?

It can be tempting to block off vents throughout your home, seemingly saving money by not heating or cooling rooms that you do not use. This can have the opposite effect. Closing air vents can cause your HVAC system to work harder and reduce its efficiency, costing you more to heat and cool the home while also reducing the lifespan of the unit. The air is still moving through the entire ventilation of the home, but now the air pressure is increased because of the limited airflow into rooms. This is bad practice and not a way to save money on your heating and air conditioning bills.

The Impact of a Blocked Air Vent on Your HVAC System

Your home’s ductwork is designed to best heat and cool the home efficiently. When you close vents sporadically throughout the home, this can have an impact on how the air travels from room to room. Even one blocked vent in the home can cause an inefficiency in air flow, which means your HVAC system will likely have to work harder to achieve the desired temperature.

The result may be a home that is riddled with uneven temperatures from room to room. The repercussions of a blocked air vent can extend beyond just the unit’s inefficiency, actually causing it to break down over time. The furnace’s heat exchanger and the air conditioner’s cooling coils rely on air to regulate their temperatures. If this air level is reduced, the heat exchanger can overheat.

Conversely, reduced airflow can cause the air conditioner’s cooling coils to freeze and stop working. Both of these problems will require a maintenance call.

The repercussions of a blocked air vent can extend beyond just the unit’s inefficiency, actually causing it to break down over time. The furnace’s heat exchanger and the air conditioner’s cooling coils rely on air to regulate their temperatures. If this air level is reduced, the heat exchanger can overheat. Conversely, reduced airflow can cause the air conditioner’s cooling coils to freeze and stop working. Both of these problems will require a maintenance call.

Furniture and Other Items Blocking Vents Can Impede Airflow

Placing furniture over your HVAC vents or obstructing the airflow with other items can have the same effect as blocking the vent, restricting the airflow and resulting in problems for your HVAC unit. Be diligent about keeping the vents throughout your home clear so that the ductwork can function properly. The result will be an HVAC system that can heat and cool the home efficiently, without the breakdowns that can be caused by restricted airflow. This will in turn prolong the life of your HVAC unit, allowing it to do its job for many years to come.