Cold Rooms? Nine Ways to Fix a Home That’s Heating Unevenly

Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are much cooler. Several causes could be to blame for this temperature problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to solve the issue.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace circulates warm air throughout your home in supply and return registers. If these are blocked or shut, the restricted airflow creates warm and cold spots in your home.

How to fix it: Ensure all your home’s vents are open, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, carpets or drapes hindering airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the vents in the other rooms are open and feel like they are putting out the same amount of air. If a register is unobstructed but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a damper or the duct isn’t forcing 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 to provide clean and healthy air in your home. However, a dirty filter filled with these particles can drastically lower airflow, making your furnace work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the 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 home’s heating system operates overtime.

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially in rooms nearest to outside walls or your home’s attic. This makes some rooms challenging to heat, even when the rest of the home seems comfortable.

How to fix it: Enhance your attic insulation to stop heat from rising out of your home. If the material currently insulating your home is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more on top of it.

Cold Air Is Getting in Through Doors and Windows

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, leaky doors are notorious for letting cold air into your home, putting a chill on the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they should.

How to fix it: Avoid drafts in and around doors and windows by installing weatherstripping or caulk. Heavy-duty curtains and thermal blinds also help prevent cold air from getting in your home. If you find that 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.

There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to all the rooms in your home. If an air duct has a hole, warmth can leak out before it gets to some rooms of your home.

How to fix it: Hire an HVAC specialist like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for breaks, which can often be sealed with duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need duct replacement.

Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings

Your problem: The thermostat manages the heating system in your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually hot spot, it may give misleading readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and lead to uneven temperatures.

How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a drafty window or energy-producing appliance, it might be a good idea to find a new place for it. An HVAC specialist 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 gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which gives you remote temperature control and customized 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 areas colder than others. On the other hand, a furnace that’s too big often cycles on and off constantly, leading to 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 evaluate the size and capacity of the furnace in your home compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s R-value, 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 is why the second floor of your home is sometimes comfortable while the main floor is colder.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system is a way for you to control the temperature in different areas with independent thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can send warm air exactly where you want.

Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular checkups to operate smoothly. When you don’t provide routine care, your HVAC system may end up with issues that reduce efficiency and hinder it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix issues before they become potentially costly performance issues or total breakdowns.

Call the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Furnace Service in the U.S.

No one likes to be in a chilly 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, trustworthy solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot 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.