Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly

Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly is when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are much colder. Several reasons could be to blame for this heating challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be causing these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can fix the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace distributes warm air throughout your home via vent and return registers. If these are closed or shut, the restricted air movement creates hot and cold areas in your home.

How to fix it: Ensure all the vents are clear of obstructions, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any decor, mats or drapes obstructing airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the vents in the other rooms are clear and feel like they are putting out about the same amount of air. If a register is unobstructed but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a damper or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC System Has a Dirty Air Filter

Your problem: Your furnace air filter traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles to provide clean and healthy air in your home. But a blocked filter filled with these particles can drastically lower airflow, making your heating system work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system feel colder.

How to fix it: Inspect and replace the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when the heating system operates a lot.

There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially in rooms nearest to outside walls or your attic. This makes these rooms challenging to heat, even when the rest of the home seems comfortable.

How to fix it: Enhance your attic insulation to prevent heat from leaving your home. If the insulation in your home now 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, drafty doors are often to blame for letting cold air into your home, cooling the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they used to.

How to fix it: Stop 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, you may want to think about replacing your windows and exterior doors.

Duct Leaks Are Letting Warm Air Out

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air throughout your home. If your ductwork has a hole, warm air 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.

Your Thermostat Is in a Bad Spot

Your problem: The thermostat manages the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually hot spot, it may give misleading 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 energy-producing appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC specialist 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 personalized heating schedules.

Your Furnace Is the Wrong 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 end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big often runs frequently, 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 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 mismatched, you may opt for 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 sometimes heated while the main floor is cool.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system is a way for you to control the temperature in different parts of your home with multiple thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can send warm air exactly where you need it.

Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro

Your problem: Like any machine, 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 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 kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps identify and fix problems before they grow into potentially costly 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 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, reliable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let an uncomfortably chilly 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.