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

Does your furnace struggle to heat your entire home evenly? Heating unevenly happens when some rooms feel comfortably warm while others are significantly cooler. Several culprits could be to blame for this temperature challenge. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be triggering these temperature imbalances and provide tips on how you can resolve the problem.

Air Vents Aren’t Open

Your problem: Your furnace circulates warm air throughout your home using air and return registers. If these are closed or covered up, the restricted air movement creates hot and cold zones in your home.

How to fix it: Ensure all the vents are unblocked, especially if certain rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Then, check to make sure there aren’t any furnishings, rugs or drapes 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 about the same amount of air. If a register is clear but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a control mechanism or the duct isn’t directing the air to the right place.

Your HVAC Air Filter Is Clogged

Your problem: Your furnace air filter traps dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. However, a clogged filter filled with these particles can severely restrict airflow, making your furnace work harder and causing 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: Inspect and replace the air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when your heating system operates a lot.

Your Home Has Poor Insulation

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation lets warm air escape, especially in rooms exposed to outside walls or your home’s attic. This makes some rooms challenging to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home is nice and comfortable.

How to fix it: Update your attic insulation to prevent heat from rising out of your home. If the insulation in your home now is in good shape, you may be able to simply add more 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, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most often seen in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t close as snug as they need to.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows with insulation strips 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 throughout your home. If there’s 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 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 metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need duct replacement.

Your Thermostat Is Giving Misleading Readings

Your problem: The thermostat regulates the heating system in your home. If it’s in a drafty or unusually hot spot, it may give inaccurate readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and result in uneven temperatures.

How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a drafty window or heat-generating appliance, it might be a good idea to find a new place for 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 personalized heating schedules.

Your Home Has an Incorrect Furnace Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may not heat all of your residence, leaving some areas colder than others. On the other hand, an oversized furnace often cycles on and off constantly, causing temperature fluctuations and excessive wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your heating and cooling 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 insulation quality, windows and other factors. If your furnace is oversized or underpowered, think about upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Your Home Struggles to Heat Multiple Levels

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

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

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any system with moving parts, your furnace needs regular tune-ups to operate smoothly. If you neglect to do routine care, your HVAC system may develop issues that reduce 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 starts. Regular maintenance also helps spot and fix problems before they lead to potentially expensive performance issues or major breakdowns.

Call the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Furnace Service in the U.S.

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 fast, dependable 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.