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 colder. Several reasons could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

Your problem: Your furnace moves warm air throughout your home in vent and return registers. If these are closed or shut, the restricted air movement creates hot and cold areas in your home.

How to fix it: Make sure all your home’s vents are clear of obstructions, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, mats or blinds blocking airflow. If a room is too warm, 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 flowing from it, there may be a problem with a valve or the duct isn’t directing the air to the right place.

A Clogged Air Filter Is Straining Your HVAC System

Your problem: Your furnace air filter catches dust, pollen and other airborne particles to keep your air clean. But a blocked filter filled with these particles can drastically lower airflow, making your furnace work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system feel colder.

How to fix it: Inspect and change 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 escape, especially from 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: Shore up your attic insulation to keep heat from rising out of your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to simply layer additional insulation right on top of it.

Cold Air Is Getting in Through Doors and Windows

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, leaky doors are often to blame for letting cold air into your home, 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 need to.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows with insulation strips or caulk. Insulated 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.

There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts

Your problem: Ductwork transports heated air throughout your home. If there’s a leak, warm air can leak out 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 cracks, which can usually be sealed with duct 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 throughout your home. If it’s in a drafty 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 heat-emitting appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC technician from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a better place where it can more accurately gauge 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 have difficulty heating all of your residence, making some areas colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, an oversized furnace often runs frequently, causing 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 specialist 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 insulation quality, windows and other factors. If your furnace is oversized or underpowered, you may opt for 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 heated 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 controls. This way, you can direct warm air exactly where you need it.

It’s Time for Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to work smoothly. If you neglect to do routine care, your HVAC system may develop issues that lower energy efficiency and prevent it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your furnace annually—if possible in the fall before the heating season kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix issues before they result in potentially costly performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.

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

No one likes spending time in a ice-cold room. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done properly. 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 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.