Having hot and cold areas in your home is a common problem with many potential causes. For example, if you have the AC running, you might walk from your comfortable living room into the dining room and feel the temperature rise dramatically. Alternatively, you may notice that your first floor is getting far more of that cool, conditioned air than your second floor. These types of uneven temperatures would not occur if your household systems were running smoothly and correctly. However, it will probably take some troubleshooting to get to the root of the problem. There are a few common solutions you’ll want to try first.
Check Your Air Vents
Clogged or obstructed air vents are a common cause of uneven home temperatures. If one vent is blocked, more than likely the area it’s located in will receive less of the conditioned air that your HVAC system circulates. Fortunately, this is a simple problem to resolve. Visit each of the vents in your home and confirm that nothing is obstructing their airflow, such as furniture or clutter placed in front of them. After that, you’ll want to remove their protective covers and clean the interior of each vent. A vacuum cleaner with an extension hose should work perfectly. If your hot and cold spots are still occurring after you’ve cleaned every vent, it means there may be another issue.
Install Attic Insulation
If you don’t have quality attic insulation, large portions of your home’s conditioned air may float to the top of your house. When you’ve got the AC cranked up, lots of that cool air may end up lingering in your attic or even escaping through your roofing. As a result, you may notice that the temperatures are very different between the lower and upper parts of your home. With quality attic insulation, such as spray foam insulation, there will be a barrier preventing the hot or cool air from reaching the top of your house. Additionally, you’ll save money on energy bills, and your HVAC appliances won’t have to work so hard to compensate for the air that escapes.
Switch Your Thermostat Settings
Most thermostats will have a setting called “auto” and a setting called “on.” Because it tends to conserve energy, most homeowners keep their thermostat set to auto. That way, your HVAC system will automatically stop circulating air once it’s finished cycling. However, this can sometimes lead to certain parts of your home not receiving as much of the heated or cooled air. If you switch the setting to “on,” the unit will continue circulating air until you manually turn it off. Try letting it run for an extra few minutes; there’s a chance this will allow the temperatures around your home to even out.
Have Your Ducts Checked for Leaks
Ductwork leaks are a very common reason for uneven household temperatures. It’s a straightforward concept; if one section of your air duct system is harboring leaks, conditioned air will seep out whenever your HVAC system is running. As a result, whichever part of the house that’s fed by that section of ductwork will be a different temperature than the rest of the living space. Not to mention that it puts extra wear and tear on your heating and cooling systems, shortening their lifespans and increasing the chances of equipment failure. Locating a leak will save you money in the long run and will help keep your home an even, comfortable temperature.
Consider a Zoning System
If you’re willing to commit to a significant investment, a zoning system might be a good choice for your household. With these handy systems, you can manually control the climate for individual sections of your home. That way, you’ll have a much firmer grasp on your own comfort during the upcoming summer heat.
At Twin Peaks Plumbing, Heating & Gas, we’re proud to provide top-notch heating, cooling, and plumbing services to the greater Nanaimo area. Our team is dedicated to supplying the best possible customer service as we help you find personalized comfort solutions. With excellent communication and expert information, we’ll help you decide on the best possible service options to fit your household’s needs. Our business is BBB accredited, active in the local community, and always available to provide you with the service you need. Contact us at Twin Peaks Plumbing, Heating & Gas today to make an appointment or learn more about what we offer!
