Fixing Hot And Cold Spots In Your Home
Many of us experience hot and cold spots in our home, whether it’s from one room to the next or from one level to another.
If you don’t want to resort to adding or subtracting layers of clothing as you move around the house, you’re going to have to get at the root of the issue. Let’s look at some common causes of uneven temps in your home.
Reasons For Uneven Heating And Cooling
Hot and cold spots in your home are typically caused by three factors: inadequate airflow within your HVAC system, insufficient insulation, or air leaks.
More specifically, causes of hot and cold spots include:
- Poor airflow between the furnace or A/C and its vents
- Leaky or poorly installed ductwork
- A mis-sized HVAC system
- Drafts around windows and doorways between conditioned and unconditioned spaces
- A thermostat giving inaccurate readings (often due to placement)
As you might imagine, these problems aren’t always easy to diagnose without the right tools and training. A well-trained HVAC professional can help you identify the real cause of your heating and cooling issues and determine the best way to solve the problem.
Six Solutions To Hot And Cold Spots
If you’re experiencing uneven heating and cooling in your home, here are some possible solutions an expert might suggest, in order from the simplest to the most complex:
- Close unused vents – If you have a forced-air system, redirect conditioned air to rooms you use most.
- Check your air filter – In a forced-air system, a blocked air filter will make it difficult for your blower to force air through your ductwork; reduced airflow means less warm air in winter and less cool air in summer reaches your living space. Try replacing your air filter before moving on to more substantial measures.
- Seal air leaks – Caulk leaky window and door frames, install door sweeps, and add weatherstripping to door jambs to reduce drafts.
- Take care of your ducts – As much as 15 percent of the air you paid to heat or cool could be lost via cracks in your ducts before it ever reaches your living space. If you notice steadily rising bills, consider investing in a professional ductwork inspection – since many leaks are located behind walls and in hard-to-reach spaces, it’s not a DIY job.
- Service your equipment – Uneven heating and cooling could be a sign of a larger problem with your HVAC system, so make sure a heating and cooling expert takes a good look during his annual heating and cooling inspections.
- Add supplemental heating and cooling units – If you have a larger home with problem areas, it might make sense to supplement your central HVAC unit with a mini-split ductless heating/cooling system. Mini-splits provide targeted high-efficiency comfort year-round without the need to connect to your central duct system. They’re easy to install, run quietly, and work great!
Experiencing uneven heat in your home? Holden’s expert technicians can help. Contact us today to learn more about heating system service in the North Shore!
