Cold Rooms? Nine Ways to Fix a Home That’s Heating Unevenly
Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly happens when some rooms feel warm while others are much colder. Several culprits could be to blame for this home comfort challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.
Closed or Blocked Vents
Your problem: Your furnace distributes heated air throughout your home using air and return registers. If these are closed or covered up, the restricted airflow creates hot and cold spots in your home.
How to fix it: Make sure all the vents are clear of obstructions, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, mats or drapes hindering airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers in the other rooms are clear and feel like they are putting out a similar amount of air. If a register is open but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a valve or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.
Your HVAC Air Filter Is Clogged
Your problem: Your furnace air filter traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. However, a clogged filter filled with these particles can drastically lower airflow, making your heating system work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the heat source will be colder.
How to fix it: Look over and replace the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your heating system operates overtime.
Your Home Needs More Insulation
Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially in rooms along outside walls or your attic. This makes some rooms harder to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home feels comfortable.
How to fix it: Enhance your attic insulation to keep heat from escaping from your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more on top of it.
You Have Drafty Windows and Doors
Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are often to blame for letting cold air into your home, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they used to.
How to fix it: Stop drafts in and around doors and windows with sealing tape or caulk. Heavy-duty curtains and thermal blinds also help keep cold air out of your home. When these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, you may want to think about replacing your windows and exterior doors.
There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts
Your problem: Ductwork delivers heated air throughout your home. If your ductwork has a hole, warm air can leak out before it gets to some rooms of your home.
How to fix it: Hire an HVAC professional like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for breaks, which can usually be sealed with duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.
You Need to Move Your Thermostat
Your problem: The thermostat regulates the heating system in your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually hot spot, it may give inaccurate readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and create uneven temperatures.
How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a windy window or energy-producing appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC professional from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a better place where it can more accurately read your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and personalized heating schedules.
Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size
Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may not heat all of your home, making some areas colder than others. On the other hand, a furnace that’s too big often runs frequently, resulting in temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling system.
How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling Expert evaluate the size and capacity of the furnace in your home compared to your home’s square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation quality, windows and other factors. If your furnace is too small or large, consider upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.
Heating Challenges of Multilevel Homes
Your problem: Heat rises, which means the second floor of your home can be heated while the main floor is cool.
How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different rooms with multiple thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can redirect warm air where you want.
You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance
Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular checkups to function smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may experience issues that reduce efficiency and prevent it from heating your home evenly.
How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—if possible in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix problems before they result in potentially costly performance issues or major breakdowns.
Trust Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Furnace Services in the U.S.
No one likes spending time in a chilly room. If you aren’t able to fix this yourself, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done properly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide quick, trustworthy solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot ruin your comfort—call 866-397-3787 today to schedule the U.S. furnace services with the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
