Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly

Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly happens when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are much cooler. Several reasons could be to blame for this heating problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be triggering these temperature imbalances and show you how to fix the problem.

Closed or Blocked Vents

Your problem: Your furnace distributes warm air throughout your home via supply and return registers. If these are blocked or shut, the restricted air movement creates warm and cold zones in your home.

How to fix it: Confirm that all the vents are clear of obstructions, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough heat. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, mats or blinds blocking airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the vents 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 coming out, there may be a problem with a valve or the duct isn’t directing 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 keep your air clean. But a blocked filter filled with these particles can significantly reduce airflow, making your heating system work harder and leading to uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the heat source feel colder.

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

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air seep out of your home, especially from rooms along outside walls or the attic. This makes some rooms harder to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home feels comfortable.

How to fix it: Shore up your attic insulation to prevent heat from escaping from 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, leaky doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, cooling the indoor temperature. This problem is most often seen 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 by installing insulation strips or caulk. Heavy-duty curtains and thermal blinds also help prevent cold air from getting in your home. If you find that 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 delivers heated air to all the rooms in your home. If there’s 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 air duct repair.

Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings

Your problem: The thermostat controls the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a drafty 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 heat-emitting 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 measure your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, consider a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and customized heating schedules.

Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may struggle to heat all of your residence, leaving some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big 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 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 levels, windows and other factors. If your furnace is mismatched, think about upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Your Home Struggles to Heat Multiple Levels

Your problem: Heat rises, so the second floor of your home can be heated while the main floor is chilly.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different rooms using multiple thermostats and ductwork valves. 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 checkups to function 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 starts. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix issues before they cause potentially costly performance issues or major breakdowns.

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

No one likes to be in a cold room. If you aren’t able to fix this yourself, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done correctly. 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 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.