Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly

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 triggering these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can 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 the vents are open, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warm air. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, rugs or drapes hindering airflow. If a room is too warm, 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 clear but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a damper or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.

A Clogged Air Filter Is Straining Your HVAC System

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to keep your air clean. But a dirty 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 heat source will be colder.

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

Your Home Needs More Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air escape, especially from rooms along outside walls or your home’s attic. This makes these rooms challenging to heat, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Shore up your attic insulation to keep heat from rising out of your home. If the insulation in your home now is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more on top of it.

Drafty Doors and Windows Are Letting Cold Air In

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 frequently have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they need to.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows by installing sealing tape or caulk. Insulated 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, you may want to think about replacing your windows and exterior doors.

Duct Leaks Are Letting Warm Air Out

Your problem: Ductwork delivers heated air throughout your home. If an air duct has a hole, warm air can leak out of the ducts 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 cracks, which can usually be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.

Your Thermostat Is in a Bad Spot

Your problem: The thermostat controls the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a drafty or unusually hot spot, it may give misleading 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 energy-producing 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 measure your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, opt for 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 struggle to heat all of your residence, making some areas colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big often turns on and off continuously, leading to temperature fluctuations and higher wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and air system.

How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling professional assess your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s R-value, windows and other factors. If your furnace is oversized or underpowered, consider upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Heat Only Reaches Some Floors of Your Home

Your problem: Heat rises, so the second floor of your home can be warm while the main floor is colder.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different parts of your home using separate thermostats and ductwork controls. This way, you can direct warm air where you need it.

Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro

Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to work 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—ideally in the fall before the heating season kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix problems before they become potentially costly performance issues or total breakdowns.

Schedule Furnace Services in the U.S. Today with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

No one likes to be in a cold room. If you aren’t able to fix this yourself, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done right. Our ACE-certified technicians provide efficient, reliable 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.