Nine Ways to Fix a House That’s Not Heating Evenly
Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel warm while others are noticeably cooler. Several reasons could be to blame for this heating problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and show you how to fix the problem.
Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents
Your problem: Your furnace moves heated air throughout your home via air and return registers. If these are closed or covered up, the restricted air movement creates warm and cold zones in your home.
How to fix it: Make sure all your home’s 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 furnishings, carpets or curtains blocking airflow. If a room is too warm, 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 clear 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 collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to provide clean and healthy air in your home. 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 heat source will be colder.
How to fix it: Check and replace the furnace’s air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when the heating system runs overtime.
There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home
Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air leak out, especially in rooms along outside walls or your home’s attic. This makes certain rooms harder to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home feels comfortable.
How to fix it: Enhance your attic insulation to keep heat from rising out of 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 a common culprit for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they used to.
How to fix it: Avoid drafts in and around doors and windows by installing insulation strips or caulk. Thermal curtains and thermal blinds also help prevent cold air from getting in your home. When these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, consider replacing your windows and exterior doors.
You Have Leaky Ductwork
Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air throughout your home. If an air duct has a leak, warm air can leak out before it gets to some rooms of your home.
How to fix it: Hire an HVAC technician like one of our team members at McKinley Heating Service Experts to inspect your ductwork for leaks, which can often be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need to replace the ducts.
Your Thermostat Is in a Bad Spot
Your problem: The thermostat manages the heating system in your home. If it’s in a drafty 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 windy window or heat-generating appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC technician from McKinley Heating Service Experts can help you move it to an area more representative of your home’s actual temperature 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 customized heating schedules.
Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size
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, a furnace that’s too big often turns on and off continuously, resulting in temperature fluctuations and excessive wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your HVAC system.
How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling Expert assess your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s R-value, windows and other factors. If your furnace is oversized or underpowered, think about 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 colder.
How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different rooms using separate thermostats and ductwork controls. This way, you can direct 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 maintenance to work smoothly. When you don’t provide routine care, your HVAC system may experience 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 spot and fix problems before they cause potentially expensive performance issues or total breakdowns.
Call the Experts at McKinley Heating Service Experts for Furnace Service in Edmonton
No one likes spending time in a cold room. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, count on McKinley Heating Service Experts to get the job done right. Our certified technicians provide quick, reliable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let an uncomfortably chilly room ruin your comfort—call 780-800-7092 today to schedule Edmonton furnace services with the Experts at McKinley Heating Service Experts.
