Nine Things to Blame for Stubbornly Cold Rooms in Your Home
Have you experienced uneven home heating this cold season? This issue occurs when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are significantly colder. There may be several reasons behind this comfort conundrum. Learn what could be creating these temperature fluctuations and how to solve them.
1. Your Vents Are Blocked or Closed
The cause of your problems: Your furnace distributes heated air throughout your home via supply and return registers. If these are shut, the disrupted airflow creates hot and cold spots in your home.
The solution: Make sure all the vents are clear, especially if certain rooms aren’t receiving enough heat. Then, inspect furniture, rugs and curtains that might be obstructing airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers in the other rooms are able to let air flow freely and feel like the same amount of air is emerging from the register. If one or more registers is open but not a lot of air is flowing, there could be a problem with a damper or the duct forcing the air to go where it is not needed.
2. Your Air Filter Is Dirty
The issue: Your furnace air filter captures dust, pollen and other airborne contaminants, making your air clean. But a filthy, dirt-filled filter obstructs airflow, making your heating system strain and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through the HVAC system easily, rooms farther from the furnace are often colder than you want them to be.
The remedy: Inspect and change the air filter for a new one every one to three months, especially in the winter when your 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 exposed to outside walls or the attic. This problem makes certain rooms challenging to heat, even when other areas of the house are comfortable.
The remedy: Improve your home’s attic insulation to prevent heat from seeping out of your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to add more on top of it.
4. Your Windows and Doors Are Drafty
The dilemma: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in old homes, where windows and doors don’t shut as tightly as they should.
The fix: Reduce drafts around doors and windows by applying weatherstripping or caulk. Insulated curtains and thermal blinds also prevent the cold from coming in. When these small fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots, consider replacing your windows and exterior doors.
5. Duct Leaks
The cause: Ductwork transports heated air around your home. If there’s a break in the ducts, warmth can escape before reaching your living space.
The solution: Employ 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 dilemma: Your thermostat manages the heating system for your entire house. If it’s in a breezy or overly warm location, it may provide inaccurate readings, forcing the system to run at the wrong times and creating uneven temperatures.
The fix: If your thermostat is placed near a drafty window or heat-generating appliance, you might be better off relocating it. A professional HVAC technician from Mark Allen can help you move it to a more centralized location where it can accurately gauge the home’s average temperature. For extra comfort, consider a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and tailored heating schedules.
7. Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size
The problem: A furnace that’s too small may fail to produce enough heat, leaving some rooms cold. Conversely, a furnace that’s too large 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 incompatible, consider upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and efficiency.
8. Multiple Levels in Your Home
The cause of your problems: Heat naturally rises, which means the second floor of your home is often hot while the main floor stays chilly.
The solution: Zoning your heating system enables you to control the temperature in different areas using independent thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can guide warm air when and where you want it.
9. Your Home Needs HVAC Maintenance
The issue: Like any machinery, your furnace requires regular tune-ups to perform efficiently. Without routine tune-ups, the system may develop issues that lower efficiency and prevent it from heating evenly.
The fix: Schedule professional maintenance once a year, preferably in the fall before the heating season begins. Routine HVAC maintenance helps identify and fix problems before they result in performance issues.
Arrange for Furnace Services Today with Mark Allen
Uneven heating is a pain. If a quick fix doesn’t do the trick, reach out to Mark Allen to get it straightened out. Our ACE-certified technicians provide prompt, quality solutions to all your home HVAC challenges backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot get you down— reach out to Mark Allen by calling 412-484-3317 today to schedule furnace services with us.
