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 nice and cozy while others are noticeably cooler. Several reasons could be to blame for this temperature challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be causing these temperature imbalances and show you how to solve the problem.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

Your problem: Your furnace circulates warm air throughout your home using vent and return registers. If these are obstructed or covered up, the restricted air circulation creates warm and cold spots 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. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furniture, rugs or drapes blocking airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the vents in the other rooms are clear and feel like they are putting out about the same amount of air. If a register is clear but not a lot of air is coming out, there may be a problem with a valve or the duct isn’t directing 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 significantly reduce airflow, making your furnace work harder and resulting in uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system feel colder.

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

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

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

How to fix it: Update 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, drafty doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, disrupting 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 used to.

How to fix it: Stop 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. However, if 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.

There’s a Leak in Your Air Ducts

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air to your entire home. If there’s a crack, warm air can escape before it gets to some rooms of your home.

How to fix it: Hire an HVAC technician like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for leaks, which can often be sealed with metal 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 controls the heating system in your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually warm spot, it may give inaccurate 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 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 a better place 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 personalized heating schedules.

Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may not heat all of your home, leaving some rooms colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big often runs frequently, leading to temperature fluctuations and increased wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and air 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 quality, windows and other factors. If your furnace is oversized or underpowered, you may opt for upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Heating Challenges of Multilevel Homes

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

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 dampers. This way, you can redirect warm air where you need it.

It’s Time for Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any appliance, your furnace needs regular checkups to operate smoothly. Without routine care, your HVAC system may end up with issues that lower energy 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 begins. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix issues 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 spending time in a ice-cold 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 properly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide fast, 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.