Are some rooms in your house broiling hot while others are freezing cold? Do you swear there are ghosts lurking in your living space from how often you get the chills?
If these problems sound a little too familiar, you’re far from alone. In fact, uneven home heating is one of the most common HVAC issues faced by Virginia homeowners.
Thankfully, there are a few strategies you can use to restore a balanced, comfortable environment. If you find yourself reaching for your coat indoors this winter, try these 6 tips from our Roanoke heating repair experts instead!
Check That Thermostat
You may be experiencing uneven heating issues due to a startlingly simple mistake: incorrect thermostat programming. Both old-school and modern thermostats can be finicky creatures, especially when your heating system is working hard to control temperatures on a chilly winter night. Alternatively, if you live with other people, they might be adjusting the controls themselves, inadvertently causing those mysterious hot and cold spots.
Troubleshoot this issue by heading over to your thermostat and checking all settings, including both AC and heat. Make sure that the system is set to “heat” instead of “cool,” check that the heat is programmed to kick on at the right temperature, and ask around to see if anyone’s been fiddling with the controls.
Once you’ve made the desired temperature changes, give your furnace, heat pump, or other heating system some time to properly warm up your house. In some cases, this simple adjustment may be all you need to even out temperatures.
However, if you’re still experiencing uneven heating after a few hours or days, it’s time to search for another solution or call our HVAC technicians.
Let Warm Air Circulate
Poor airflow is another common reason for uneven heating issues. When you turn on your furnace, heat pump, or other forced-air system, it begins to continually circulate warm air through your ducts until your home warms up. However, if the heating vents or other duct system components are obstructed, trapped air pockets can develop, resulting in those dreaded hot and cold spots. Restricted airflow can also force your HVAC equipment to work harder than necessary and waste more energy since the system’s fan stays on until the desired temperature is reached.
If you’ve noticed an uneven temperature in your home, perform a quick walkthrough to make sure that your air vents aren’t obstructed by furniture, curtains, or other household items. If you have a two-story residence, take special care to check the vents on both the first and second floors, since the way heat rises directly affects how hot air travels through your ductwork.
Finally, always keep all floor vents in the open position to circulate air as evenly as possible. While some homeowners assume that closing vents in unused rooms saves money, it doesn’t actually make your heating system produce “less” warm air. Instead, the closed vent redirects warm air back into your ductwork system, where it loses precious thermal energy.
Don’t Hate, Insulate
Imagine trying to fill up a huge bowl with water, only to look closer and realize that the bottom is full of holes. This metaphor is a perfect example of the many problems caused by insufficient insulation. As your HVAC system tries to circulate hot air through your living space, air leaks around windows and door frames suck the air back out, preventing it from reaching its destination. This not only leads to those infuriating hot and cold spots, but also drives up your utility bills, decreases equipment lifespan, and may even affect your home’s access to heated water.
Luckily, adding insulation to your house is relatively simple. First, caulk leaky window seals and install foam weather-stripping tape around all window and door frames to minimize air leaks. Then, use thermal tape and reflective pipe wrap (available at most hardware stores) to add insulation to air ducts, exposed plumbing, and water heater components. Finally, don’t forget to insulate your attic, basement, and other vulnerable areas.
Whether you’re experiencing uneven heating problems or simply want to save on energy bills, improving your home’s insulation has a whole host of benefits. However, if your DIY job doesn’t seem to do the trick, more substantial measures may be necessary.
Don’t hesitate to call our HVAC technicians for a professional ductwork inspection. We’ll look over your ductwork and heating system, recommend necessary repairs, and implement strategies to fix your building’s temperature imbalance.
Let Your Air Filter Breathe
Be honest: When’s the last time you changed your heater’s air filter?
If it’s been a while, you may have just found the hidden culprit behind your home’s temperature imbalance. Dirty furnace filters can harm more than just your unit’s heating cycle and your wallet — they also affect the way warm air reaches different parts of your property.
A blocked air filter can compromise efficiency, put excessive stress on your heating system, and can even result in your thermostat giving inaccurate readings (which can make it way more confusing to try to fix uneven heating problems!). Plus, clogged air filters cannot effectively trap dust, pet dander, and other allergens, potentially causing unpleasant health symptoms for your whole household.
To ensure your heat pump or furnace filter can do its job properly, we recommend changing it every 1-3 months, depending on factors like filter type, household size, and whether you have pets. Our technicians can help you find the right model for your home and suggest ideal changing intervals — or perform the replacement ourselves at your annual tune-up appointment.
Divide & Conquer With a Zoning System
If checking your thermostat, adding more insulation, having a professional inspect your air ducts, and swapping out dirty air filters has resulted in no positive changes, it’s time to consider adding a zoning system to your home. Installing a zoning system is one of the most effective ways to fix uneven heating, especially for properties with both first and second floors.
Ductless mini-splits are small but powerful combined heating and cooling units. As their name suggests, they don’t connect to your air ducts the way a forced-air system does — rather, they serve as a way to directly control heating and cooling in one specific room or “zone.” These units can be placed almost anywhere and the straightforward installation process ensures minimal disruption to your living space. Many modern ductless systems also come packed with innovative features, such as programmable thermostat technology, filter change reminders, and energy usage monitoring.
Make Time for Annual Maintenance
While having your heating system and ductwork inspected is a smart choice if you suspect something might be wrong, there’s an even better way to prevent uneven home heating: invest in the long-term health of your equipment! We recommend booking a heating system tune-up at least once per year, or more often if your system has had problems in the past.
Book a service appointment at the beginning of the heating season, and our friendly, efficient technicians will provide both your indoor and outdoor unit with a full workup. We’ll check for air leaks, repair poorly installed ductwork, and change clogged air filters so that toasty warm air reaches every room in your house.
(P.S.: When spring rolls around, we’re ready to perform the same process for your air conditioner, keeping you supplied with nice cool air on those sweltering summer days!)
Say Goodbye to Uneven Heating — Call Davis Today!
Uneven home heating can be a huge headache, but by checking your thermostat, ensuring proper air circulation, adding insulation, changing your air filters regularly, installing a zoned heating system, and investing in routine maintenance, you can fight back against the winter chill for many years to come.
If you’ve tried all these tips and you’re still struggling to fix uneven heating, help is just a click or call away at Davis Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electric. From simple filter changes to complete unit replacements, our HVAC experts are ready to keep your heating system purring along all winter long.
If you live in or around Roanoke, Danville, Smith Mountain Lake, or Salem, VA, contact us now to book a professional heating system tune-up or installation consultation. We’re looking forward to serving you!
