Why Is One Room In My Home Always Colder/Hotter?
Are you wearing a sweater inside your home? Does your bedroom feel like the inside of a refrigerator, and you sweat in your living room? If you answered yes, your HVAC system is out of balance.
Top Reasons for Temperature Imbalances
Here are some reasons why one part of your home feels like the North Pole and the other, the Sahara desert:
Clogged Air Filters
If your air filters haven’t been cleaned or changed for ages, they are disrupting airflow from your furnace. Your system is constantly circulating dirty air, dust, and allergens throughout your home and causing temperature fluctuations. Besides causing severe allergic reactions and temperature issues, the polluted air will make your home dusty faster than you realize. The dusty air could cause breathing issues that develop.
Just like your car filter should be replaced regularly to ensure it runs smoothly, your AC filter should be cleaned or replaced frequently. With time, the clogs will prevent cool or hot air from reaching certain rooms, which can cause uncomfortable temperature inconsistencies.
Poor or Old Insulation
If your home has poor insulation, your HVAC system works overtime to keep it warm or cool. All of the hot/cool air that your system generates seeps outside. This is why certain areas of your home feel more comfortable than others and why your energy bills have increased.
If your home’s insulation is more than 80 years old, it has thinned to the point that it is allowing cool and hot air to escape. A home energy audit by King Heating can help you determine if this is the case. They can also recommend and install solutions that can prevent this issue.
Duct Blockages and Leaks
Your ductwork may be the culprit behind the temperature issues in your home. It vibrates when air circulates through it. Over time, its sections can develop gaps, especially around joints where the ductwork goes around corners. The gaps can let the air out before it reaches certain rooms.
Besides gaps, duct blockages can also throw your system off balance. These usually affect rooms supplied by ductwork where the blockages are located. HVAC professionals can clean those out and locate hidden issues in your ductwork that are causing temperature inconsistencies across your home.
Small Return Ducts
Return ducts take air back to the furnace or AC, which is either heated or cooled before being sent out again. If those are small or insufficient in numbers, your HVAC system has to work harder to maintain the temperature in all of the rooms in your home. Naturally, the furthest rooms away from the furnace or AC will be less comfortable.
If that is the case, installing larger return ducts can improve the energy efficiency in your home. Before the professionals arrive, you can solve the issue temporarily by leaving doors and windows open in those rooms.
Excess Sunlight
The greenhouse effect is excellent for your plants but not for your family. Large glass windows and walls increase temperatures in the part of the house they are installed. Those rooms will feel like a sauna during scorching temperatures compared to the rest. South-facing rooms with glass windows will be hotter than those that face north.
Improperly Located Thermostat
The location of your thermostat may be the reason behind temperature issues in your home. Suppose it is on a wall that faces the exterior of your home or a south-facing window. In that case, it may show you inaccurate temperature readings, especially if you are using large appliances.
For accurate readings and temperature consistencies, make sure that it is located on an inside wall like your living room. Contact a licensed professional to relocate the thermostat for you.
Small AC Unit
Contrary to popular belief, air conditioning units are available in various sizes and shapes. If you install one too small for your home, it will lead to heat pockets. Naturally, areas of your home that are located farthest away from it will be hotter than where it is installed. The humidity level will also increase since the AC will not absorb all of the moisture in your home.
Prevent this from happening by asking a professional to replace your AC unit with the appropriate size for your house. They will also recommend models that can suit your energy and comfort needs.
Contact King Heating for HVAC Issues
Your family’s comfort depends on the performance of your HVAC system. If you think your furnace needs repairs, contact our professionals at King Heating. We have years of experience providing the best heating and cooling solutions to our clients.
Get in touch with us for a consultation if you are unsure which system is suitable for your needs.
If your home is cool in one area and hot in another, your HVAC system is bearing the brunt of the damage. In time, it will break down, and you will find yourself shivering from the cold or sweating in the heat. Prevent that from happening by getting in touch with us as soon as you can. We will send a team over to evaluate your energy needs and problems before they develop a solution that works for you.