Nine Ways to Fix a House That’s Not Heating Evenly
Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly happens when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are much cooler. Several reasons could be to blame for this home comfort problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to solve the problem.
Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents
Your problem: Your furnace circulates heated air throughout your home via air and return registers. If these are blocked or shut, the restricted air movement creates warm and cold areas in your home.
How to fix it: Make sure all the vents are open, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warm air. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, rugs or curtains obstructing airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers in the other rooms are uncovered 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 flowing from it, there may be a problem with a control mechanism or the duct isn’t forcing 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 dirty filter filled with these particles can drastically lower airflow, making your heating system work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the furnace or other heating system feel colder.
How to fix it: Check and change the furnace’s air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your heating system runs overtime.
There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home
Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air seep out of your home, especially from 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 keep 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.
You Have Drafty Windows and Doors
Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are notorious for letting cold air into your home, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t close as snug as they should.
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. When 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.
There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts
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 A1 Chesney Service Experts to inspect your ductwork for leaks, which can often be sealed with duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need duct replacement.
Your Thermostat Is in a Bad Spot
Your problem: The thermostat regulates the heating system in your home. If it’s in a drafty 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 cold window or heat-emitting appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC technician from A1 Chesney Service Experts can help you move it to a better place where it can more accurately read your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, consider a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and programmable heating schedules.
You Need a Different Size of Furnace
Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may have difficulty heating all of your residence, making some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big often cycles on and off constantly, resulting in temperature fluctuations and higher wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and air system.
How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling specialist assess 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 too small or large, 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, so the second floor of your home is sometimes warm while the main floor is cool.
How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different areas with multiple thermostats and ductwork dampers. This way, you can direct warm air where you want.
Your Furnace Needs a Tune-Up From a Pro
Your problem: Like any machine, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to work smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may experience issues that lower energy efficiency and hinder 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 kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps identify and fix problems before they cause potentially costly performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.
Trust A1 Chesney Service Experts for Furnace Services in Calgary
No one likes spending time in a ice-cold room. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, count on A1 Chesney Service Experts to get the job done properly. Our certified technicians provide fast, trustworthy solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let a stubbornly cold room get you down—call 587-315-5271 today to schedule Calgary furnace services with the Experts at A1 Chesney Service Experts.
