Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly

Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly is when some rooms feel warm while others are noticeably cooler. Several causes could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be causing these temperature imbalances and show you how to solve the issue.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

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

How to fix it: Confirm that all your home’s vents are open, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, rugs or curtains blocking airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the registers in the other rooms are uncovered and feel like they are putting out a similar amount of air. If a register is open but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a damper or the duct isn’t forcing 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. However, a dirty filter filled with these particles can significantly reduce airflow, making your furnace work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the heat source can be colder.

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

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 these 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: Shore up your attic insulation to prevent heat from escaping from 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.

Cold Air Is Getting in Through Doors and Windows

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are a common culprit for letting cold air into your home, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which frequently 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 by installing 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, consider replacing your windows and exterior doors.

Duct Leaks Are Letting Warm Air Out

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to your entire home. If your ductwork has a hole, warmth can escape 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 often be sealed with metal 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 in your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually sunny spot, it may give inaccurate readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and lead to 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 more central location 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 have difficulty heating all of your residence, making some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, an oversized furnace often cycles on and off constantly, resulting in temperature fluctuations and excessive 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 the size and capacity of the furnace in your home compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s R-value, windows and other factors. If your furnace is too small or large, 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 means the second floor of your home is often comfortable 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 rooms using independent thermostats and ductwork valves. This way, you can redirect warm air where you need it.

It’s Time for Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular maintenance 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—ideally in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix issues before they cause potentially expensive performance issues or total 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 correctly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide efficient, dependable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot 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.