Cold Rooms? Nine Ways to Fix a Home That’s Heating Unevenly

Does your furnace struggle to heat your entire home evenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are much chillier. Several reasons could be to blame for this heating problem. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can solve the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace moves warm air throughout your home using vent and return registers. If these are closed or shut, the restricted airflow creates warm and cold areas in your home.

How to fix it: Make sure all your home’s vents are clear of obstructions, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, mats or curtains hindering airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the registers in the other rooms are clear and feel like they are putting out the same 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 damper or the duct isn’t directing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC Air Filter Is Clogged

Your problem: Your furnace air filter catches 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 system will be colder.

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

There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially in rooms along outside walls or your home’s attic. This makes these rooms challenging 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 prevent heat from leaving 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, leaky doors are a common culprit for letting cold air inside, putting a chill on 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 need to.

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

Duct Leaks Are Letting Warm Air Out

Your problem: Ductwork delivers heated air to your entire home. If an air duct has a leak, warm air can escape 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 duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.

Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings

Your problem: The thermostat manages the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually hot spot, it may give misleading 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 energy-producing appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC specialist from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a more central location where it can more accurately gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, choose a smart thermostat, which gives you remote temperature control and customized heating schedules.

You Need a Different Size of Furnace

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 higher wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling system.

How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling Expert evaluate your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s size, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation levels, windows and other factors. If your furnace is oversized or underpowered, consider upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Your Home Struggles to Heat Multiple Levels

Your problem: Heat rises, which is why the second floor of your home is often heated while the main floor is colder.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different areas using separate thermostats and ductwork controls. This way, you can redirect warm air where you want.

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any appliance, 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 hinder 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 detect and fix problems before they become potentially costly performance issues or total breakdowns.

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

No one likes to spend time in a chilly 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, trustworthy solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let a stubbornly cold 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.