Nine Ways to Fix a House That’s Not Heating Evenly

Does your furnace struggle to heat your entire home evenly? Heating unevenly is when some rooms feel warm while others are much cooler. Several culprits could be to blame for this temperature challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be causing these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.

Closed or Blocked Vents

Your problem: Your furnace distributes heated air throughout your home via vent and return registers. If these are obstructed or covered up, the restricted air movement creates warm and cold spots in your home.

How to fix it: Ensure all the vents are open, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any decor, carpets or blinds blocking airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers in the other rooms are open and feel like they are putting out the same amount of air. If a register is unobstructed but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a damper 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 collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to keep your air clean. But a dirty filter filled with these particles can severely restrict 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 will be colder.

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

Your Home Needs More Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially from rooms along outside walls or your attic. This makes some rooms more difficult 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 keep heat from rising out of your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to simply layer additional insulation right on top of it.

Cold Air Is Getting in Through Doors and Windows

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are a common culprit for letting cold air inside, 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 insulation strips or caulk. Thermal 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.

Duct Leaks Are Letting Warm Air Out

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to all the rooms in your home. If there’s a leak, warm air 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 breaks, which can often 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 throughout your home. If it’s in a windy or unusually hot spot, it may give distorted 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 cold window or heat-generating appliance, it might be a good idea to find a new place for it. An HVAC technician from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a better place where it can more accurately gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and personalized heating schedules.

Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may have difficulty heating all of your home, leaving some areas colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big often turns on and off continuously, leading to 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 evaluate 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 too small or large, think about upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Heating Challenges of Multilevel Homes

Your problem: Heat rises, which means the second floor of your home is often warm while the main floor is chilly.

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 dampers. This way, you can redirect warm air where you want.

It’s Time for Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any machine, your furnace needs regular maintenance to work smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may end up with issues that lower energy efficiency and prevent it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix issues before they become potentially costly performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.

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

No one likes spending time in a ice-cold room. If an easy fix doesn’t do the trick, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done correctly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide efficient, 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.