Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly

Does your furnace struggle to heat your entire home evenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are noticeably colder. Several causes could be to blame for this heating problem. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to resolve the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace distributes warm air throughout your home in air and return registers. If these are obstructed or shut, the restricted airflow creates warm and cold zones 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 heat. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, mats or blinds 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 a similar 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 forcing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC System Has a Dirty Air Filter

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. But a clogged 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 furnace or other heating system feel colder.

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

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to seep out of your home, especially from rooms exposed to outside walls or the attic. This makes these rooms more difficult to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to prevent heat from escaping from your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more on top of it.

Cold Air Is Getting in Through Doors and Windows

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, thin doors are often to blame for letting cold air into your home, putting a chill on the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they need to.

How to fix it: Stop drafts in and around doors and windows with weatherstripping or caulk. Insulated 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, you may want to think about replacing your windows and exterior doors.

There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to all the rooms in your home. If your ductwork has a crack, warm air can leak out of the ducts 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 controls the heating system in your home. If it’s in a windy or unusually warm spot, it may give distorted readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and create uneven temperatures.

How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a cold 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 a more central location 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 programmable 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, leaving some rooms colder than others. On the other hand, a furnace that’s too big often runs frequently, causing 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 Expert evaluate your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s R-value, windows and other factors. If your furnace is mismatched, 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 is sometimes warm 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 rooms with separate thermostats and ductwork valves. This way, you can direct warm air exactly where you need it.

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to operate smoothly. If you neglect to do 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 furnace annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps identify and fix problems before they result in potentially costly performance issues or major breakdowns.

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

No one likes to be in a ice-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 fast, reliable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let a stubbornly cold 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.