If you’ve ever been curious why your room is much warmer than any other bedroom in the house or why the living area is so much cooler, your home likely has an air balancing (airflow) issue. This can be caused by a variety of factors, some of which you may be able to fix on your own, while others will require the expertise of a professional HVAC technician. Let’s look at some of the top reasons for hot and cold spots in the home and what you can do about them.
Top Reasons for Uneven Home Temperatures
You rely on your heating and cooling systems to keep every inch of your home comfortable. So, when one area is too hot or another is too cold, you naturally want to know what’s causing the problem so you can take steps to resolve it. Thankfully, our air conditioning and heating repair technicians are here to explain what typically causes uneven home temperatures.
Dirty Air Filters
Clogged air filters restrict airflow and can cause your HVAC system to work harder than necessary. The poor airflow then results in uneven heating and cooling.
Blocked Vents and Registers
If an air vent (supply register) is blocked by furniture, covered by a rug, or clogged with dust and debris, the conditioned air can’t circulate into the room. Similarly, blocked return air grilles prevent air from being pulled back into the HVAC system for reheating or re-cooling, disrupting the entire cycle.
Leaky or Poorly Designed Ductwork
When your home’s ductwork develops leaks, cracks, or loose connections, a significant amount of heated or cooled air can escape into your attic, crawl space, or behind walls before ever reaching its destination. This means that a room at the end of a long duct run may receive very little conditioned air if there are leaks along the way. You, of course, will notice the problem by the way certain rooms are much warmer or colder than others.
Sunlight Exposure and Windows
Rooms with south-facing windows receive intense, direct sunlight for most of the day, making them warmer than shaded rooms. Conversely, north-facing rooms get very little direct sun and tend to be cooler.
It’s also important to note that the quality of your windows matters. For example, older, single-pane windows are poorly insulated, which allows heat to transfer easily in and out of your home. The result? A much colder room!
Incorrect Thermostat Placement
If your thermostat is located in a spot that isn’t representative of the home’s overall temperature (like in direct sunlight, near a hot kitchen, or in a drafty hallway), it will get inaccurate readings. It will then think the whole house has reached the desired temperature and shut the system off prematurely, leaving rooms farther away uncomfortable.
Poor Insulation
Insulation is the thermal barrier that keeps your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer. If the insulation in your attic, exterior walls, or crawl space is old, compressed, or missing in spots, it can’t do its job effectively. In return, a poorly insulated room will lose heat quickly in the winter and gain it rapidly in the summer.
Improperly Sized HVAC System
An HVAC unit that is too large or too small for your home’s square footage will struggle to maintain even temperatures. For example, an oversized unit will run in short, powerful bursts, satisfying the thermostat quickly but failing to circulate air long enough to reach every room. An undersized unit will run constantly without ever being able to adequately heat or cool the entire space.
The Stack Effect
Because heat rises, warm air from the lower level will naturally flow upwards through stairwells and gaps, while cooler, denser air settles on the ground floor. Due to this phenomenon, upper floors are almost always warmer than lower floors.
Troubleshooting Hot and Cold Spots
Are you tired of having some rooms that are warmer or colder than others? Try these steps for resolving the issue:
- Change Your Air Filter: Check your filter and replace it if it is covered in dust and debris. Be sure to do this again every three months to avoid problems in the future.
- Inspect and Clear All Vents: Walk through your home and check every supply and return air vent. Move any furniture, drapes, or rugs that might be blocking them. Use a vacuum with a brush attachment to clean away any visible dust and debris from the grille slats.
- Manage Sunlight Exposure: For rooms that get too hot, use window coverings like blackout curtains or reflective blinds to block solar heat gain during the day. For rooms that are too cold, make sure your windows are properly sealed. You can check for drafts with an incense stick; if the smoke wavers, you have a leak that can be sealed with caulk or weatherstripping.
- Keep Interior Doors Open: Closing doors can restrict airflow and create pressure imbalances. Keeping doors open, especially to rooms with return air vents, allows your HVAC system to circulate air more effectively.
- Use Ceiling Fans: Running fans clockwise in winter and counterclockwise in summer helps move air where it’s needed.
- Have Your Insulation Inspected: If you suspect your home is under-insulated, especially in the attic or crawlspace, have a professional assess your insulation’s R-value (its ability to resist heat flow) and determine if it’s settled, damaged, or insufficient for your climate. They can then recommend replacing or adding insulation if necessary.
When It’s Time to Call an HVAC Professional
If you’ve tried the troubleshooting steps above and are still experiencing significant hot and cold spots throughout your home, the problem likely stems from a more complex issue that requires specialized tools and knowledge to diagnose and repair. That means it’s time to call in a heating and cooling expert. They can resolve:
- Leaky Ductwork: Ductwork repair technicians can perform a pressure test to find and seal leaks in your duct system so that conditioned air gets where it needs to go.
- A Poorly Positioned Thermostat: If your thermostat is giving false readings because it’s in direct sunlight or next to a drafty window, an HVAC technician can assess the best location for your thermostat and move it to a central spot.
- An Unbalanced System: Your system may have dampers within the ductwork that need professional adjustment to properly direct airflow to different zones of your home.
- An Improperly Sized Unit: If your system is constantly struggling, Alltemp Air’s HVAC professionals can perform a load calculation to determine if your unit is the right size for your home.
Balance the Temperatures in Your Home With Help From Alltemp Air
You shouldn’t have to put up with rooms that are consistently too hot or too cold. Thankfully, the technicians at Alltemp Air have the experience to accurately diagnose airflow problems and provide lasting solutions that keep every room in your home as comfortable as it should be.
If you’re tired of fighting with your thermostat, contact our heating and A/C repair team in Lewes, DE, today. And if you’re experiencing hot and cold spots throughout your office, retail space, or healthcare center, know that we can help with your commercial air conditioning and heating repair needs as well!