Nine Things to Blame for Stubbornly Cold Rooms in Your Home
Are you noticing uneven home heating this winter? This issue comes about when some rooms seem nice and cozy while others are significantly colder. There could be several culprits causing this uncomfortable problem. Discover what could be causing these temperature fluctuations and how to address them.
1. Closed or Blocked Vents
The issue: Your furnace moves heated air throughout your home via vents and ducts. If these are blocked, the altered airflow creates hot and cold spots in your home.
The fix: Make sure all the vents are clear, especially if certain rooms aren’t receiving enough heat. Then, examine furniture, rugs and curtains that might be obstructing airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the registers in the other rooms are unblocked and feel like the same amount of air is coming out. If one or more registers is open but not a lot of air is flowing, there might be an issue with a damper or the duct channeling the air to go where it is not needed.
2. Clogged Furnace Filter
The dilemma: Your furnace air filter collects dust, pollen and other airborne irritants, making your air clean. But a dirty filter obstructs airflow, making your heating system overexert and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through the HVAC system easily, rooms farther from the furnace are often colder than you would like.
The fix: Inspect and swap out the air filter for a clean one every one to three months, especially in the winter when the heating system runs more.
3. Your Home Needs More Insulation
The challenge: Inadequate home insulation enables heat to seep out of your home, especially from rooms next to outside walls or the attic. This problem makes certain rooms more difficult to heat, even when other areas of the house seem comfortable.
The fix: Update your attic insulation to prevent heat from seeping out of your home. If your current insulation looks good, you may be able to put more on top of it.
4. Air Is Escaping Through Windows and Doors
The problem: Single-pane windows and old, poorly sealed doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in older homes, where windows and doors don’t close as tightly as they should.
The fix: Reduce drafts around doors and windows by adding weatherstripping or caulk. Insulated curtains and thermal blinds also keep the cold from entering. When these small fixes aren’t adequate to prevent cold spots, think about replacing your windows and exterior doors.
5. Air Is Leaking out of Your Ducts
The cause: Ductwork moves heated air through your home. If there’s a leak, warmth can leak out of the ductwork before reaching your living space.
The remedy: Hire an HVAC specialist to inspect your ductwork for leaks, which can often be fixed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more serious cases, duct substitution may be necessary.
6. Thermostat Location Issues
The problem: Your thermostat controls the heating system for your whole home. If it’s in a breezy or unusually warm location, it may provide inaccurate readings, making the system to run at the wrong times and resulting in uneven temperatures.
The solution: If your thermostat is positioned near a drafty window or heat-generating appliance, think about relocating it. A technician from Canyon State Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing can help you move it to a more centralized location so that it is able to more accurately gauge the home’s average temperature. For extra ease, consider a smart thermostat, which permits remote temperature control and personalized heating schedules.
7. Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size
The culprit: A furnace that’s too small may fail to produce enough heat, leaving some rooms cold. Conversely, an oversized furnace may cycle on and off frequently, causing temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear on your heating system.
The fix: Have a professional assess the furnace size in relation to your home’s square footage, climate, insulation levels, window orientation and more. If your furnace is mismatched, consider upgrading to the right size for better heating capability and efficiency.
8. Multiple Levels in Your Home
The issue: Heat naturally rises, which means the second floor of your home is often warm while the ground level stays cool.
The fix: Zoning your heating system enables you to regulate the temperature in different parts of your home using separate thermostats and ductwork dampers. By doing this, you can get warm air when and where you want it.
9. Your Home Needs HVAC Maintenance
The issue: Like any machine, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to operate efficiently. Without routine tune-ups, the system may experience issues that reduce efficiency and prevent it from heating evenly.
The fix: Schedule professional maintenance once a year, preferably in the fall before the heating season starts. Regular HVAC maintenance helps find and fix problems before they result in performance issues.
Get Dependable Furnace Services Today with Canyon State Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing
Uneven heating is annoying. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, reach out to Canyon State Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing to fix the problem. Our ACE-certified technicians provide prompt, quality solutions to all your home heating needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot cause a chill down your spine— contact Canyon State Air Conditioning, Heating & Plumbing by calling 602-649-6304 today to schedule furnace services with us.
