Home vents: open or closed

[Bobat65]

A friend and I are having a discussion about closing off heating vents and whether that's a bad idea. Basically, I think it should be fine to close off rooms that aren't used thereby saving money. He says that hot air heating systems are designed to push the proper amount of air through the house using the vents installed, as designed. I think it's a matter of degree. I have a small 1500 sq ft cabin with 7 rooms and 11 vents, two of which are upstairs, and I have been closing the upstairs two. I suspect it doesn't really matter one way or the other, but we've talked about this enough for me to seek another opinion.
The heating unit uses propane and is a high efficieny unit but I'd like to save where I can.
Thanks for any information you guys may have.
Bob

 

[HaveNoClueUK]

Now this I know about as I am American and hot forced air is typical there! It is fine to close the vents in the rooms you do not use. All this does is force the excess air through the vents that are all ready open. In America, you can buy magnetic covers to go over the vents you dont use at all to prevent further heat loss.

 

[Gasop]

In America, you can buy magnetic covers to go over the vents you dont use at all to prevent further heat loss.

Well I'm buggered!

In Britain we have to reach down and slide a little lever to do the same thing!

 

[HaveNoClueUK]

In America we do the same thing! But those little metal flaps dont close entirely.

I only mentioned the magnetic covers because if he's worried about saving heat loss.


I haven't been in a house yet here with hot forced air heating so I wasn't even sure if it was available here.