According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), your thermostat must be set at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter. This way, not only do you save energy, but you prevent issues like frozen pipes and hypothermia as well.
Your heating system must also produce even temperature throughout your house. Otherwise, with uneven heating in house, you and your family will experience discomfort. You may also try to compensate for this temperature imbalance by increasing your temperature setting. However, this will only cause your monthly utility bills to increase drastically. Do not let this issue spiral out of control. It would help if you determined the cause of uneven temperature in your home.
Why Are My Rooms Heating Unevenly?
Table of Contents
Read on and find out eight of the possible causes the rooms in your house are heating unevenly.
Wrong-Sized Heating Furnace
A furnace that is too small for the space you have will strain to keep the room warm. Even though your system overworks, it still results in uneven heating because it cannot sustain a balanced temperature throughout your home. The same holds when you have an oversized furnace that leads to short cycling. When this happens, your furnace overheats the rooms and prematurely shuts down. Both issues can result in your system breaking down.
It is vital to ensure that you have the right-sized furnace. This way, it can heat your home evenly while improving comfort and reducing your heating costs. Seek professional help when looking for the right-sized make and model for your home. An expert will conduct a Manual J Load Calculation to find the precise size to meet your household’s needs.
Lack Of Furnace Maintenance
Furnace maintenance includes a thorough and careful check-up of all the furnace components to ensure that it is in excellent working condition. It also ensures that it operates efficiently as expected. Without proper HVAC tune-ups, your system’s efficiency and effectiveness will drastically drop. This also means that you will experience uneven heating around your home. Furthermore, regular maintenance allows you to determine and resolve all HVAC issues before they escalate into bigger problems. Therefore, it is best to have your furnace tuned-up once a year.
Uneven Heating Requirements
Heat rises naturally. As a result, the upstairs in your multi-story home tend to be warmer than the first level. Therefore, the lower level needs more heat. You are likely to experience uneven heating if your whole house utilizes only one thermostat. A quick fix for this problem is to create zones throughout your home. This way, each zone has a thermostat that can accommodate the heating requirement of all occupants.
Air Leaks In Windows And Doors
Any cracks and openings around your house let cold air in, and uneven heating happens. It is essential that you keep all windows and doors closed at all times. This will keep cold air out and help you become more energy-efficient as well. Check around your house for any other holes and gaps. These can be sealed using caulk, foam tape, door sweeps, door snakes, and weatherstrips. Have a professional help you to ensure all openings are sealed properly.
Dirty Furnace Filters
Furnace filters trap dirt, dust, and other debris so that they do not reach the blower. These contaminants will build up over time and obstruct proper airflow. When airflow slows down, the rooms far from the furnace do not receive adequate heating. To prevent this from happening, check the furnace filter regularly. Clean or replace them when necessary. They are typically cleaned or replaced every three months, but the frequency might increase during the cold season. Therefore, it is recommended that you check them at least once a month and conduct the necessary steps as needed.
Clogged Air Vents
The air vents around your house might be blocked or closed. If this is the case, not enough warm air reaches the rooms. It can also lead to pressure buildup in the vents, and your unit might suffer from interior damage. Check all the vents around your house and ensure that there are no obstructions and they are all open.
Leaks In The Air Ducts
The ductwork is responsible for distributing warm air evenly throughout all the rooms in your house. However, holes and gaps along the duct can cause the warm air to leak instead. These openings might be because rodents chewed through them, structural damage, poor installation, or old age. Have a professional check your ductwork system. They can seal the holes using caulk to prevent further duct leaks and check your HVAC system for any damages as well.
Thermostat Fan Settings
A furnace fan that is set to AUTO will distribute warm air when the furnace is heating. It will stop when the heating stops and resume only when your furnace begins the heating cycle again. The repeated starts and stops can cause uneven heat distribution. It can also result in your fan wearing out faster than it should. Avoid this from happening by setting the fan to ON instead. This allows the warm air to flow continuously into your system. However, this can increase your monthly heating costs. You can also opt to install a ceiling fan to save on energy costs.
Conclusion
These are but a few reasons your home is experiencing uneven heating. To ensure this problem is resolved right away, contact your local trusted technician. They are knowledgeable and experienced in determining the root cause of uneven heating in your home. They can also recommend the most practical and affordable solutions for you. Experts can also provide you with the best maintenance tips to ensure that this problem does not occur again.
Call Skylands Energy Service For All Your HVAC Requirements
For all your superior HVAC service needs, call Skylands Energy Service. We have the best professionally certified and highly-trained technicians in the area. Rest assured that we can conduct excellent heating and cooling repairs, installations, replacements, and maintenance. Each of our friendly techs has years of experience and extensive knowledge to service your system accurately at all times.
Do you need affordable HVAC services? No worries. Skylands Energy Service has the most competitive HVAC service prices in the area. Our tune-up services can improve your comfort and energy efficiency while reducing your home heating and cooling costs. We can also help you find the best replacement system for your home and budget. Your satisfaction is essential, so our works come with a guarantee. Schedule a service appointment with Skylands Energy Service today and get a free, in-home estimate.
Contact us now at (908) 707-1776 to find out more!