When the weather turns frigid, you’d probably agree that the furnace is the most important mechanical equipment in your home. It keeps you and your family warm through the bitter, cold winter. But what about the cost of operation? Oftentimes, homeowners think that they’re helping themselves and their furnace by closing off vents in rooms that they use less than others. That may be true, but it’s not always the case. Doing so could actually lead to furnace replacement.

The first thing you should understand is that the furnace is part of a Forced Air System. Properly installed, the system is designed to deliver comfort to the nearest and furthest corners of the home. Changing the air flow rate dramatically may produce unexpected results.

• Stopping the airflow to a room or multiple rooms can upset the airflow balance between the supply and return air ducting. Each return in the home is intended to take a certain amount of air back to the furnace. Cutting off too much of the supply air limits the air the furnace needs to keep the heat exchanger from overheating. This can affect furnace safety devices and system performance and efficiencies.
• The rooms you’re blocking airflow from now may become a conductive heat loss for adjacent rooms. Close all the vents in the basement and you now have a cold floor on the main level. It’s not comfortable and now you’re likely turning up the thermostat. That’s usually the opposite result you wanted when you made the adjustment.
• Fewer vents open usually causes the system to make more sound. More air going through fewer ducts creates that annoying duct noise.

With heat losses from adjacent rooms, equipment strain, and overall noise, the expected energy savings, an increase in comfort and longevity of equipment may be what you planned for but didn’t achieve. Instead, you could be looking at furnace replacement in the long run.

Most systems are designed to allow for seasonal balancing, but remember, proper balancing also means working within the equipment’s specifications. The surest way to correctly adjust the balance of hot air in your home is to contact a heating professional who is able to assess and aid you in finding the best way to achieve the perfect temperature throughout your home.

Delta Air Systems has been servicing the Waterloo, Kitchener, Guelph and Cambridge areas for over 50 years. We are experts in duct design and air balancing and our approach has always been to fully understand our clients’ needs and provide practical and cost-effective solutions. Avoid furnace replacement – contact an expert today!

Call us today if you have any questions or concerns about your home heating system.