Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly
Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel warm while others are noticeably cooler. Several culprits could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be causing these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can solve the issue.
Closed or Blocked Vents
Your problem: Your furnace distributes warm air throughout your home in supply and return registers. If these are closed or shut, the restricted air circulation creates warm and cold spots in your home.
How to fix it: Confirm that all your home’s vents are open, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, rugs or blinds hindering airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the vents in the other rooms are uncovered and feel like they are putting out the same 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 catches dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. However, a clogged filter filled with these particles can severely restrict airflow, making your furnace work harder and resulting in 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: Inspect and swap out the furnace’s air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your heating system runs often.
Your Home Needs More Insulation
Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air leak out, especially from rooms exposed to outside walls or your home’s 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 stop heat from rising out of your home. If the insulation in your home now is in good shape, you may be able to simply layer additional insulation right on top of it.
Drafty Doors and Windows Are Letting Cold Air In
Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, leaky doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, putting a chill on the indoor temperature. This problem is most often seen in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t close as snug as they should.
How to fix it: Stop drafts in and around doors and windows by installing sealing tape or caulk. Heavy-duty curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. If you find that 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 transports heated air throughout your home. If your ductwork has a leak, 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 breaks, 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 controls 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 cold window or heat-emitting appliance, it might be a good idea to find a new place for it. An HVAC technician from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a more central location where it can more accurately gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, opt for a smart thermostat, which gives you 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, making some areas colder than others. On the other hand, a furnace that’s too big often turns on and off continuously, causing temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and air system.
How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling specialist evaluate your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation levels, windows and other factors. If your furnace is mismatched, 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, which is why the second floor of your home is sometimes comfortable while the main floor is chilly.
How to fix it: Zoning your heating system is a way for you to control the temperature in different areas using separate thermostats and ductwork valves. This way, you can direct warm air where you need it.
Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro
Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to work smoothly. If you neglect to do routine care, your HVAC system may experience issues that lower energy efficiency and stop it from heating your home evenly.
How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—ideally in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix issues before they become potentially expensive performance issues or major breakdowns.
Schedule Furnace Services in the U.S. Today with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing
No one likes to be in a cold room. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done right. Our ACE-certified technicians provide efficient, dependable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let a stubbornly cold room get you down—call 866-397-3787 today to schedule the U.S. furnace services with the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.
