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 warm while others are noticeably colder. Several causes could be to blame for this heating challenge. Here, we’ll explore what could be behind these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can fix the issue.

Closed or Blocked Vents

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

How to fix it: Make sure all your home’s vents are clear of obstructions, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warm air. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, mats or blinds obstructing airflow. If a room is too hot, make sure the registers in the other rooms are uncovered 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 control mechanism or the duct isn’t forcing the air to the right place.

A Clogged Air Filter Is Straining Your HVAC System

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles to provide clean and healthy air in your home. But a clogged 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 system feel colder.

How to fix it: Look over and swap out the furnace’s air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when the heating system works often.

Your Home Needs More Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to seep out of your home, especially from rooms exposed to outside walls or the attic. This makes some rooms harder to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home seems comfortable.

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to stop heat from rising out of your home. If your existing insulation is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more on top of it.

Drafty Doors and Windows Are Letting Cold Air In

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are often to blame for letting cold air inside, cooling the indoor temperature. This problem is most often seen in older homes, which commonly have windows and doors that don’t seal as snug as they should.

How to fix it: Stop drafts in and around doors and windows by installing weatherstripping or caulk. Insulated curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. However, if 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 an air duct has a crack, warmth can leak out of the ducts before it gets to some rooms of your home.

How to fix it: Hire an HVAC professional 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 to replace the ducts.

You Need to Move Your Thermostat

Your problem: The thermostat controls the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually warm spot, it may give distorted 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 cold window or heat-generating appliance, you may want to move it to another area of your home. An HVAC professional from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a better place where it can more accurately measure your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, consider a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and programmable heating schedules.

Your Furnace Is the Wrong 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 cycles on and off constantly, 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 square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s R-value, windows and other factors. If your furnace is mismatched, consider 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 heated while the main floor is chilly.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different rooms with independent thermostats and ductwork valves. This way, you can send warm air where you need it.

It’s Time for Routine HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any machine, your furnace needs regular checkups to function smoothly. If you neglect to do routine care, your HVAC system may experience issues that lower energy efficiency and stop it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—if possible in the fall before the heating season kicks off. Regular maintenance also helps detect and fix problems before they become potentially costly performance issues or total breakdowns.

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

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.