Nine Ways to Fix a House That’s Not Heating Evenly
Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are much cooler. Several reasons could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to fix the issue.
Closed or Blocked Vents
Your problem: Your furnace moves heated air throughout your home using supply and return registers. If these are obstructed or covered up, the restricted air movement creates hot and cold areas in your home.
How to fix it: Make sure all the vents are clear of obstructions, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, carpets or curtains obstructing airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers in the other rooms are uncovered and feel like they are putting out a similar amount of air. If a register is open but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a damper or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.
A Clogged Air Filter Is Straining Your HVAC System
Your problem: Your furnace air filter traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. However, a blocked filter filled with these particles can severely restrict airflow, making your furnace work harder and leading to uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the furnace or other heating system will be colder.
How to fix it: Look over and change the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your heating system operates overtime.
Your Home Has Poor Insulation
Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air escape, especially from rooms along outside walls or the attic. This makes some rooms harder to heat, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.
How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to prevent heat from leaving your home. If the insulation in your home now 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 inside, putting a chill on the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they need to.
How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows by installing insulation strips or caulk. Heavy-duty curtains and thermal blinds also help keep cold air out of your home. If you find that these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, consider replacing your windows and exterior doors.
You Have Leaky Ductwork
Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to your entire home. If an air duct has a leak, warm air can escape before it gets to some rooms of your home.
How to fix it: Hire an HVAC technician like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for leaks, which can usually be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need duct replacement.
Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings
Your problem: The thermostat regulates the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a windy or unusually warm spot, it may give distorted 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 cold window or energy-producing appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC technician from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to an area more representative of your home’s actual temperature where it can more accurately measure your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and personalized heating schedules.
You Need a Different Size of Furnace
Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may struggle to heat all of your home, leaving some areas colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, an oversized furnace often runs frequently, causing temperature fluctuations and higher wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling system.
How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling specialist evaluate your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation levels, windows and other factors. If your furnace is too small or large, you may opt for upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.
Your Home Struggles to Heat Multiple Levels
Your problem: Heat rises, so the second floor of your home is often comfortable while the main floor is cool.
How to fix it: Zoning your heating system is a way for you to control the temperature in different parts of your home with multiple thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can redirect warm air exactly where you want.
It’s Time for Routine 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 furnace annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix problems before they result in potentially expensive performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.
Schedule Furnace Services in the U.S. Today with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing
No one likes to spend time in a cold room. If you aren’t able to fix this yourself, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done correctly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide efficient, reliable 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.