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 colder. Several causes could be to blame for this heating challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can fix the issue.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

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 spots in your home.

How to fix it: Confirm that all the vents are open, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, carpets or drapes obstructing airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the vents in the other rooms are open and feel like they are putting out a similar amount of air. If a register is unobstructed but not a lot of air is coming out, 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 catches dust, pollen and other airborne particles to provide clean and healthy air in your home. However, a blocked filter filled with these particles can severely restrict airflow, making your furnace work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the furnace or other heating system can be colder.

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

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

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

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to stop heat from leaving 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.

You Have Drafty Windows and Doors

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, thin doors are often to blame for letting cold air inside, putting a chill on 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 should.

How to fix it: Avoid 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 all the rooms in your home. If an air duct has a crack, 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 cracks, which can usually 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 throughout your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually sunny spot, it may give distorted 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 professional 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 gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, opt for a smart thermostat, which gives you remote temperature control and programmable heating schedules.

Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may have difficulty heating all of your residence, leaving some areas colder than others. On the other hand, a furnace that’s too big often turns on and off continuously, leading to temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling system.

How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling Expert evaluate the size and capacity of the furnace in your home 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, consider upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Heating Challenges of Multilevel Homes

Your problem: Heat rises, which is why the second floor of your home can be 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 with independent thermostats and ductwork controls. This way, you can send warm air where you want.

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular maintenance to operate smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may develop 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 starts. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix issues before they result in potentially expensive performance issues or total breakdowns.

Trust Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Furnace Services in the U.S.

No one likes to spend time in a chilly 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 quick, dependable 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.