Cold Rooms? Nine Ways to Fix a Home That’s Heating Unevenly
Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are much colder. Several causes could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be causing these temperature imbalances and show you how to fix the issue.
Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents
Your problem: Your furnace moves warm air throughout your home using supply and return registers. If these are blocked or shut, the restricted airflow creates hot and cold areas in your home.
How to fix it: Make sure all your home’s vents are unblocked, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, rugs or blinds blocking 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 coming out, there may be a problem with a control mechanism or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.
Your HVAC System Has a Dirty Air Filter
Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. But a dirty filter filled with these particles can significantly reduce airflow, making your heating system work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the heat source will be colder.
How to fix it: Inspect and swap out the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your home’s heating system operates overtime.
There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home
Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air seep out of your home, especially from rooms exposed to outside walls or your attic. This makes these rooms challenging to heat, even when the rest of the home feels comfortable.
How to fix it: Shore up your attic insulation to keep heat from rising out of 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.
Drafty Doors and Windows Are Letting Cold Air In
Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, thin doors are a common culprit for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most often seen in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t close as snug as they need to.
How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows by installing sealing tape or caulk. Thermal curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. When these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, it may be time to look into replacing your windows and exterior doors.
You Have Leaky Ductwork
Your problem: Ductwork transports heated air throughout your home. If an air duct has a hole, warm air can leak out of the ducts 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 to replace the ducts.
You Need to Move Your Thermostat
Your problem: The thermostat manages the heating system in your home. If it’s in a windy or unusually sunny spot, it may give misleading 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 heat-emitting appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC specialist from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a better place where it can more accurately measure your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which gives you remote temperature control and programmable heating schedules.
Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size
Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may struggle to heat all of your residence, making some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, an oversized furnace often cycles on and off constantly, resulting in temperature fluctuations and excessive wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling system.
How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling professional assess 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 mismatched, think about upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.
Heating Challenges of Multilevel Homes
Your problem: Heat rises, so the second floor of your home is sometimes warm while the main floor is chilly.
How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different parts of your home using independent thermostats and ductwork controls. This way, you can direct warm air exactly where you need it.
Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro
Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular checkups to work smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may experience issues that lower energy 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 detect and fix issues before they lead to potentially expensive performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.
Schedule Furnace Services in Canada Today with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing
No one likes spending 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 properly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide quick, 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 Canada furnace services with the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
