Rooms Too Hot/Cold?

Nothing is quite as frustrating as having uneven temperatures throughout your home. This is not a problem that’s limited to just hot or cold weather extremes; it can be something you notice year-round. It’s a problem that many homeowners face, and the solution may be as simple as making sure your vents aren’t obstructed, or as complicated and expensive as buying replacement HVAC units.

Regardless of the cause and the fix that’s necessary, it’s something you should be mindful to take care of before your family has to contend with the upcoming winter in a home that has some cold and miserable spaces. Read on to learn more.

Multi-level homes

If your home has more than one floor, it can be difficult for your air conditioner or furnace to evenly cool or heat all the rooms on each level. We know that heat rises, so this means that your AC may not be able to adequately cool rooms on the upper floors of your home. And during the winter, these same rooms may be warm while the first-floor rooms are freezing.

A solution to the problem is to have your home’s HVAC system “zoned.” This divides your home into different “regions,” each of which is controlled by its own thermostat. A professional heating and cooling technician will be able to assist you with zoning your system so that the temperature inside your home can be consistent from room to room, and level to level.

Type of room

Many times, the way a room is used, as well as the number of windows it has, could make it warmer or colder. For example, a home office likely has your computer, printer and other electronics. These devices all give off heat, which could make the room too warm during both the summer and winter months.

To remedy this issue, you could do something as simple as running a floor fan, or you could work with a heating and cooling professional to adjust the airflow to this room. This can be done by using dampers in the ductwork connecting to your room.

Improperly sized system

If you have an air conditioner or furnace that isn’t the right size for your home’s cooling or heating needs, it’s not going to be able to keep your family comfortable consistently.

When an AC or heating system is too big, it’ll cycle on and off at rates not appropriate for what’s required to adequately cool or heat your home. This extra use could cost you quite a bit of money on your monthly energy bills. Not just that, but you also have an unevenly cooled or heated home as a result of having the wrong size system. If the units are too small, then they may never be able to properly heat or cool your home. You may consider replacing the systems so that you can help to decrease your energy use.

Bonus tip!

You may be able to fix your unevenly cooled or heated home just by making sure vents aren’t blocked or obstructed. Before calling in an HVAC professional, check each room to make sure air flow from your vents ’aren't blocked by rugs, curtains or furniture.

Be sure to also schedule a routine duct cleaning for your home. Your ducts become full of dirt and dust over the years, making it nearly impossible for your AC or furnace to push conditioned air out evenly to all spaces.