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

Are some rooms in your home colder than others? Heating unevenly happens when some rooms feel warm while others are significantly colder. Several reasons could be to blame for this heating challenge. Here, we’ll explore what could be triggering these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

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

How to fix it: Confirm that all your home’s vents are clear of obstructions, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warm air. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any decor, carpets or curtains blocking airflow. If a room is too hot, 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 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 collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to keep your air clean. However, a dirty filter filled with these particles can drastically lower airflow, making your furnace work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the furnace or other heating system feel colder.

How to fix it: Check and swap out the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your home’s heating system runs often.

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to leak out, especially in rooms along outside walls or your attic. This makes some rooms more difficult to heat, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Shore up your attic insulation to prevent 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.

Drafty Doors and Windows Are Letting Cold Air In

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, thin 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 seal as snug as they should.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows by installing sealing tape 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, it may be time to look into replacing your windows and exterior doors.

You Have Leaky Ductwork

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air throughout your home. If your ductwork has a leak, warmth can leak out 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 cracks, which can usually be sealed with duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.

Your Thermostat Is in a Bad Spot

Your problem: The thermostat regulates the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually sunny 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 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 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 personalized heating schedules.

Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may not heat all of your home, making some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, an oversized furnace often turns on and off continuously, causing temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling 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 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, so the second floor of your home can be comfortable while the main floor is cool.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different rooms with multiple 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 appliance, your furnace needs regular maintenance to function 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 heating system annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season begins. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix problems before they result in potentially costly performance issues or major breakdowns.

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

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 fast, trustworthy solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let another cold spot 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.