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 nice and cozy while others are much colder. Several culprits could be to blame for this heating challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace circulates heated air throughout your home in air and return registers. If these are blocked or covered up, the restricted air circulation creates hot and cold spots 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 warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, rugs or drapes obstructing airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the vents in the other rooms are open and feel like they are putting out about the same amount of air. If a register is open but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a control mechanism or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.

A Clogged Air Filter Is Straining Your HVAC System

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to provide clean and healthy air in your home. However, a clogged filter filled with these particles can severely restrict airflow, making your heating system work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the heat source can be colder.

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

Your Home Needs More Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to seep out of your home, especially in rooms exposed to outside walls or the attic. This makes some rooms challenging to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home feels comfortable.

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to keep heat from rising out of your home. If the insulation in your home now 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, leaky doors are notorious for letting cold air into your home, cooling 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 need to.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows by installing sealing tape or caulk. Heavy-duty curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. If you find that 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 transports heated air throughout your home. If your ductwork has a crack, warmth can leak out of the ducts before it gets to some rooms of your home.

How to fix it: Hire an HVAC specialist like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for leaks, which can usually be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.

You Need to Move Your Thermostat

Your problem: The thermostat regulates 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 result in uneven temperatures.

How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a drafty window or energy-producing appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC specialist 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 read your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and personalized heating schedules.

Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may have difficulty heating all of your home, making some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, an oversized furnace often cycles on and off constantly, 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 assess your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation quality, 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.

Your Home Struggles to Heat Multiple Levels

Your problem: Heat rises, which means the second floor of your home can be comfortable while the main floor is chilly.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different parts of your home using independent thermostats and ductwork valves. This way, you can direct warm air where you need it.

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to work smoothly. Without 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 furnace annually—if possible in the fall before the heating season starts. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix problems before they grow into potentially costly performance issues or total breakdowns.

Call the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Furnace Service in the U.S.

No one likes to be in a ice-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, trustworthy solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let an uncomfortably chilly room ruin your comfort—call 866-397-3787 today to schedule the U.S. furnace services with the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.