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

Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel warm while others are noticeably cooler. Several culprits could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be causing these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can solve the problem.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

Your problem: Your furnace distributes warm air throughout your home in air and return registers. If these are blocked or covered up, the restricted airflow creates hot and cold spots 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 warm air. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, carpets or drapes obstructing 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 clear but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a control mechanism or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC Air Filter Is Clogged

Your problem: Your furnace air filter traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles to keep your air clean. However, a blocked filter filled with these particles can severely restrict airflow, making your furnace work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system will be colder.

How to fix it: Check and replace the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your heating system works often.

There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially in rooms exposed to outside walls or the attic. This makes these rooms challenging to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to stop heat from escaping from your home. If your existing insulation 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, putting a chill on the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which commonly 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 with weatherstripping or caulk. Insulated curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. If you find that these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, it may be time to look into replacing your windows and exterior doors.

You Have Leaky Ductwork

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to all the rooms in your home. If an air duct has a leak, warmth can escape 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 cracks, which can often be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need to replace the ducts.

Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings

Your problem: The thermostat controls the heating system in your home. If it’s in a windy or unusually sunny spot, it may give inaccurate 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 professional from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a better place 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 personalized heating schedules.

Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may not heat all of your residence, leaving some areas colder than others. On the other hand, an oversized furnace often turns on and off continuously, leading to 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 your home’s furnace size 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 too small or large, 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, which means the second floor of your home can be comfortable while the main floor is colder.

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 controls. This way, you can redirect warm air where you want.

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular checkups to operate smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may experience issues that reduce efficiency and prevent it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your furnace annually—ideally in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps identify and fix problems before they grow into potentially expensive performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.

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

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 right. Our ACE-certified technicians provide efficient, trustworthy 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.