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

Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly happens when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are much colder. Several culprits could be to blame for this temperature problem. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to resolve the problem.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

Your problem: Your furnace circulates warm air throughout your home via supply and return registers. If these are obstructed or covered up, the restricted air movement creates hot and cold zones in your home.

How to fix it: Confirm that all the vents are clear of obstructions, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, rugs or blinds blocking airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the registers in the other rooms are open and feel like they are putting out a similar amount of air. If a register is unobstructed but not a lot of air is coming out, 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 traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. But a dirty 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 furnace or other heating system will be colder.

How to fix it: Check and change the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your home’s heating system works a lot.

Your Home Needs More Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to escape, especially in rooms along outside walls or your attic. This makes some rooms more difficult to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Enhance your attic insulation to prevent heat from leaving your home. If the material currently insulating your home 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, thin doors are often to blame for letting cold air into your home, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t seal as snug as they should.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk. Thermal curtains and thermal blinds also help prevent cold air from getting in your home. When 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 there’s a hole, warmth can leak out before it gets to some rooms of your home.

How to fix it: Hire an HVAC professional 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 regulates the heating system in your home. If it’s in a drafty or unusually hot spot, it may give distorted readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and result in uneven temperatures.

How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a drafty 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 an area more representative of your home’s actual temperature where it can more accurately gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, consider 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 have difficulty heating all of your home, making some rooms colder than others. On the other hand, an oversized furnace often cycles on and off constantly, resulting in temperature fluctuations and higher wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your HVAC 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 square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation levels, windows and other factors. If your furnace is mismatched, consider 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 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 with multiple thermostats and ductwork controls. This way, you can send warm air where you need it.

Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to function smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may end up with issues that reduce efficiency and stop 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 starts. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix issues before they grow into 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 to be 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 right. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, reliable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let an uncomfortably chilly 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.