How to Close Off the Vents in Unused Rooms

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, nearly 50 percent of the average energy bill goes to heating and cooling the home. With a national average of 9.88 cents per kilowatt hour, that can make for a substantial monthly cost. One way to cut down this large monthly bill is to shut off some heating vents in rooms that are not commonly used. While this seems like a simple task, if done incorrectly you could end up spending more to heat and cool your home than before.

Instructions

- 1
  Check the rooms that you want to close for potential problems. If there is a thermostat in the room you should not close the vents. This could cause the unit to run constantly because the temperature in the room is not where the thermostat is set.
- 2
  Locate the heating and cooling unit in the home. While most homes have a single unit that is outside, some have a large heating unit inside also.
- 3
  Close off vents that are the furthest from the unit first. On one end of the vent itself there is a little lever or dial. Lift the lever or turn the dial and you will see the flaps close behind the slats.
- 4
  Close up to 35 or 40 percent of the home. By closing any more than that you run the risk of causing a buildup of pressure in the ductwork. This constant pressure can cause leaks or worsen already existing ones.
- 5
  Close blinds and curtains in the rooms that have the vents closed and close any doors leading to these rooms. This will keep the heated or cooled air in the rooms you are using.

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