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

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

Closed or Blocked Vents

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

How to fix it: Ensure 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, rugs or curtains hindering airflow. If a room is too hot, 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 open but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a valve or the duct isn’t routing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC Air Filter Is Clogged

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to keep your air clean. However, a clogged filter filled with these particles can severely restrict 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: Inspect and swap out the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when the heating system runs often.

There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to seep out of your home, especially in rooms exposed to outside walls or your attic. This makes some rooms challenging to heat, even when the rest of the home seems comfortable.

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to keep heat from rising out of your home. If the material currently insulating your home 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 notorious for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most prevalent in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t seal as snug as they used to.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows with 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.

There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to your entire home. If your ductwork has a hole, 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 duct tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.

You Need to Move Your Thermostat

Your problem: The thermostat controls the heating system in your home. If it’s in a drafty or unusually warm spot, it may give inaccurate 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 drafty window or energy-producing appliance, you may want to move it to another area of your home. 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 measure your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, consider a smart thermostat, which gives you remote temperature control and programmable heating schedules.

Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may have difficulty heating all of your residence, making 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 HVAC system.

How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling specialist evaluate 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 too small or large, you may opt for upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Heat Only Reaches Some Floors of Your Home

Your problem: Heat rises, so the second floor of your home is sometimes warm while the main floor is cool.

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

It’s Time for Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular maintenance to operate smoothly. When you don’t provide routine care, your HVAC system may end up with issues that lower energy 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 kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix problems before they become potentially expensive performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.

Schedule Furnace Services in the U.S. Today with Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

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