Nine Ways to Fix a House That’s Not Heating Evenly

Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly is when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are significantly chillier. Several culprits could be to blame for this home comfort challenge. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to solve the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace moves warm air throughout your home in vent and return registers. If these are closed or covered up, the restricted airflow creates warm and cold spots in your home.

How to fix it: Confirm that all your home’s vents are clear of obstructions, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, carpets or drapes obstructing airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the vents in the other rooms are open and feel like they are putting out the same amount of air. If a register is unobstructed but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a valve 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 keep your air clean. However, a blocked filter filled with these particles can significantly reduce airflow, making your heating system work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system can be colder.

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

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air 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 is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Shore up your attic insulation to keep heat from escaping from 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.

Drafty Doors and Windows Are Letting Cold Air In

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, leaky doors are often to blame for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t seal as snug as they need to.

How to fix it: Stop drafts in and around doors and windows with insulation strips or caulk. Thermal curtains and thermal blinds also help keep cold air out of 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 transports heated air throughout 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 professional like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for breaks, which can usually be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need duct replacement.

Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings

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 drafty window or energy-producing appliance, it might be a good idea to find a new place for it. An HVAC technician 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, choose 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 struggle to heat all of your home, making some areas colder than others. On the other hand, an oversized furnace often runs frequently, causing 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 Expert evaluate the size and capacity of the furnace in your home compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation quality, windows and other factors. If your furnace is mismatched, think about 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 is why the second floor of your home is sometimes heated 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 parts of your home using multiple 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 appliance, your furnace needs regular maintenance to operate smoothly. When you don’t provide routine care, your HVAC system may end up with issues that lower energy efficiency and prevent it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season starts. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix problems before they result in potentially expensive performance issues or major breakdowns.

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

No one likes to spend time in a chilly room. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done properly. 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 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.