GREENSBORO, N.C. — Turning on the oven or stove to make a warm pot of soup, freshly baked cookies or hot chocolate is a great way to warm everyone up at home. But your oven, a stovetop, or a grill is not an option for keeping you warm inside your home. It's not cheaper, and it's certainly not safe, so don't do it in any circumstance.
WHY YOU SHOULDN'T CLOSE OFF VENTS IN UNUSED ROOMS
This is a common practice. The thinking is, that if the warm air isn't in the room, it leaves more warm air for the rest of the house.
First, there's no insulation between the walls of rooms, so the warm air is just going to seep in there anyway.
Second, and most importantly, when you shut off vents you put a strain on your heating system.
"It's designed to move a certain amount of air and if we're cutting it down because we've shut things off, the system is going to work harder, it's going to work less efficiently,” said Brandon Fisher, VP of HVAC services, Berico.
Shutting off vents isn't saving you any money either. Duke Energy's tip sheet says:
Do you know that closing registers/vents in unused rooms will not lower your heating and cooling bills? Closing vents will often cost more than leaving them open.
WHAT CAN SAVE YOU MONEY ON YOUR HEATING OR COOLING BILL?
The short answer is a programmable thermostat. It allows for gradual heating and cooling when you need it and not when you don't.
WHEN IT GETS REALLY COLD....
Here's something to keep in mind this weekend when the temps dip and the wind makes it feel even colder.
"In extremely cold temperatures, don't overwork your system by running the dishwasher, or washing and drying clothes. Wait until the cold temps come back to normal temperatures," said Will Berry, Berico President.