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

Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly is when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are noticeably chillier. Several causes could be to blame for this home comfort challenge. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

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

How to fix it: Make sure all your home’s vents are unblocked, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any decor, carpets or curtains hindering airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers 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 flowing from it, there may be a problem with a damper or the duct isn’t directing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC Air Filter Is Clogged

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes 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 heating system work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system can be colder.

How to fix it: Check and swap out the furnace’s air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when the heating system works often.

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air leak out, especially in rooms nearest to outside walls or your attic. This makes certain rooms more difficult to heat, even when the rest of the home seems comfortable.

How to fix it: Shore up your attic insulation to prevent heat from escaping from your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more on top of it.

You Have Drafty Windows and Doors

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, thin doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, cooling the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they should.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows with sealing tape or caulk. Thermal curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. When these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, consider replacing your windows and exterior doors.

You Have Leaky Ductwork

Your problem: Ductwork transports heated air to your entire home. If an air duct has a crack, 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 leaks, which can usually be sealed with duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need duct replacement.

You Need to Move Your Thermostat

Your problem: The thermostat controls the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a windy or unusually hot spot, it may give misleading 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-generating appliance, you may want to move it to another area of your home. An HVAC specialist 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 customized heating schedules.

You Need a Different Size of Furnace

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may not heat all of your residence, making some areas colder than others. On the other hand, an oversized furnace often turns on and off continuously, causing temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your HVAC system.

How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling professional evaluate your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s square footage, 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.

Your Home Struggles to Heat Multiple Levels

Your problem: Heat rises, which means the second floor of your home is often warm 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 independent thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can direct warm air where you need it.

Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro

Your problem: Like any machine, your furnace needs regular checkups to function 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 furnace annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix issues before they lead to potentially costly performance issues or major 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 one of these simple fixes doesn’t solve the issue, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done properly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, dependable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot 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.