Have you noticed inconsistent temperatures in your home? Uneven heating can be a common problem in the winter. Your first floor may feel fine, but upstairs may be too cold. Raising the heat might make you feel more comfortable upstairs, but then it’s too hot downstairs. This also means using more energy, wasting money on high energy bills, and putting extra strain on your HVAC system.
Here, Haller Enterprises explains why uneven heating happens and how you can resolve this issue.
Common Reasons for Uneven Temperatures in Your Home
There are several reasons why your upstairs may be colder in the winter, including:
- Physics: Many people know that heat rises, but it also escapes. Heat is attracted to the cold, so it will move to where it’s coldest (outside). In the winter, heat will rise from your first floor and escape through any drafts, cracks, or openings it can find in your walls, windows, or roof.
- Lack of insulation: It’s easier for heat to escape without sufficient insulation in your attic or the top floors of your home.
- Thermostat: The location of your thermostat can cause uneven heating. Thermostats are typically located on the first floor, so that’s the space it’s using to gauge the inside temperature. When the first floor gets chilly, your thermostat knows to turn your heater on until it’s the right temperature, but it doesn’t take the upstairs into account.
- Weak air circulation: Your heater transfers warm air into your ductwork to be circulated throughout each room in your home. The further the warm air gets from your heater, the weaker the pressure, so air will escape through other vents before it’s pushed upstairs. By the time the warm air gets to the top floor, the air circulation is too weak to heat the space properly.
Installing Additional Heating Systems
Scheduling professional HVAC services can resolve issues with uneven heating and prevent it from happening in the future. You can also follow these steps to resolve heating problems:
- Investing in baseboard heaters: These are perfect for when you only have a few rooms that are too cold. They’re inexpensive and easy to install. They also work independently so each room can be adjusted accordingly. However, they’re not as energy-efficient as other systems and can’t be blocked, meaning you may need to rearrange your furniture.
- Installing a second heater: Installing another heating system on your top floor means you get a second thermostat for that part of the house. The upstairs temperatures will be registered appropriately, and weak airflow won’t be an issue with the heater nearby. This can be a pricier option, considering the cost of installation and potentially having to reroute your ductwork.
- Switching to a ductless HVAC system: Ductless mini-splits are all-in-one systems that efficiently provide heating and cooling. These systems are zoned so each room can be set to a different temperature. Ductless mini-splits may be more of an investment upfront, but they’ll save you money on energy bills in the long run.
Fix Uneven Heating With This DIY Checklist
If you don’t want to replace or upgrade your HVAC system, there are other steps you can take, such as:
- Replace filters: Check air filters regularly to ensure they aren’t clogged.
- Install insulation: Adding insulation to problem areas such as attics can resolve uneven temperatures in your home.
- Schedule annual tune-ups: Sign up for a maintenance plan to streamline system care and improve its efficiency.
- Keep vents clear: Ensure furniture and other items never block the air vents.
Schedule Heating Services Today
Haller Enterprises has provided expert heating services in Pennsylvania for over 40 years. If you need help with uneven temperatures in your home, our licensed and certified technicians have the tools and expertise to properly identify the cause of the issue and recommend the best solution based on your needs and budget.
Call Haller Enterprises today to schedule heating services in Pennsylvania.
