Everyone wants to live in a comfortable home. A very large part of the comfort that people know and expect comes from the ability to maintain even indoor temperatures. The temperature of any single room shouldn’t vary significantly from the rooms and spaces around it. When dealing with hot and cold spots in house, however, discomfort and unease ensue.
The good news is that central HVAC systems are capable of providing stable and balanced temperatures throughout all of the rooms in a building. When HVAC systems aren’t able to accomplish this, many people are eager to find out why and resolve the problem.
Does your home have unpleasant hot and cold spots? Following is a quick look at what hot and cold spots are, and the factors that are responsible for them. We’ll also share a few tips on regulating the temperature of your home.
Several issues can be responsible for hot and cold spots. Understanding the cause of these problems can help you determine the underlying cause and the best ways to eliminate hot and cold spots. The following are a few common causes of indoor air balancing issues and their associated solutions.
If the overall design for your home makes proper airflow difficult, certain areas will be more likely to have warm spots. Likewise, certain areas will be more prone to feeling cool. It might be that your home isn’t zoned, which can help quite a bit in keeping temperatures consistent and even throughout specific areas.
When you create zones, you get far better control over indoor temperatures. You can raise or lower temperatures in select zones independently, which is a very effective way to meet everyone’s comfort needs.
Ductwork plays a major factor in determining how well your home can be heated or cooled. There are two cases in which ductwork can be blamed for cold and hot spots throughout the building:
In each of these cases, homes are usually older, and thus, their ducts might not have the ability to meet the demands of new HVAC technologies. Also, they may not be energy-efficient.
If you’re looking for ways to balance out the heat in your multi-story home, you certainly aren’t alone. Even if your home HVAC system is high-performing and highly efficient, you’ll still have uneven temperatures throughout the hours if the airflow is restricted or if any air vents have been blocked. Anything keeping warm or cool air from flowing smoothly will result in areas that feel cooler or warmer than they ought to.
Although you might diligently and regularly maintain your home heating and cooling system, you can still have hot and cold spots throughout the building as the result of solar heat. Solar heat gain occurs in spaces that get ample amounts of sunlight. Homes that have old, low-efficiency windows or windows that are damaged tend to let considerable amounts of heat and light in. As a result, solar heat gain has an impact on the HVAC system’s ability to keep the space at a comfortable temperature.
If you have a thermostat installed in an area that receives direct sunlight, the sun’s heat is going to affect this unit’s ability to read temperatures correctly. Due to this fact, the thermostat will adjust temperatures incorrectly. This is also true for thermostats that are installed in drafty areas or that are routinely exposed to heat from lamps or other heat sources.
Air leaks are known for causing hot and cold spots throughout buildings. Holes, cracks, gaps, and issues at ceilings and walls can let the indoor air outside, which can result in dramatic changes in room temperatures.
The sizing of your HVAC system refers to its ability to heat or cool your living space according to size. If an HVAC system is improperly sized for the environment, this means that it is too large or small to do its job. In either case, extreme inefficiency will result. Moreover, you will likely have problems with lower indoor air quality, short cycling, increased humidity, and uneven temperatures throughout the home.
The good news is that hot and cold spots aren’t an irreparable issue. More importantly, many remedies are both low in cost and easy to use. Following are several simple solutions that you can use.
Check air vents in all rooms throughout your home. Verify that there aren’t any obstructions over or in front of them. Solid items such as plants and furniture can impact the airflow and will keep cooled or warmed air from being properly distributed by the system. This is also the case when the vents are closed. Keep all of your HVAC vents open. Relocate, remove, or simply reposition items to ensure free airflow.
Homeowners wind up spending hundreds of extra dollars in energy each year as the result of drafts. Cracks, holes, and gaps throughout the home allow inside air to seep out, which wreaks havoc on the HVAC system. Look around for drafts in windows, doors, and joints, and then have these things repaired.
If you have outdated insulation or a fairly old home, think about scheduling an inspection to find out whether either of these factors is creating fluctuations in temperature. Certain types of insulation don’t last as long as their alternatives, which could be the reason why basement temperatures are different from temperatures on the first floor, or why your kitchen is cold and your living room isn’t.
One very effective way to eliminate hot and cold spots is through zoning. This allows you to raise or lower temperatures in a specific area. This will allow everyone to enjoy an environment that balanced to suit individual needs. Speak with an HVAC company about your options in zoning. Make sure to ask about ductless, mini-split HVAC systems. You should additionally install a smart thermostat that can help automate adjustments in temperature.
A lot of homeowners make the mistake of ignoring HVAC maintenance until their home heating and cooling equipment starts malfunctioning. Have your system inspected once each year to identify possible problems early on so that they can be resolved.
If your home feels much colder than the thermostat reading implies, or if there are warm spots in spaces that are supposed to be cool, then your HVAC system might not have enough airflow. One very common cause of insufficient airflow is a dirty, clogged filter. Check your filters once each month and then replace or clean them as necessary. Clean air filters will help regulate indoor temperatures and they’ll also limit the number of pollutants being circulated throughout your home.
The easiest and least expensive way to get rid of hot and cold spots is by using window treatments. Blinds and curtains help moderate the amount of sunlight that enters the living space. As such, your HVAC system won’t have to work harder than it’s meant to create and maintain a comfortable indoor environment.
Eliminating hot and cold spots throughout your home does not have to be a frustrating and overly complex task. More often than not, the underlying cause of these issues isn’t as serious as many people believe. Just a few simple steps can be all that it takes to resolve this common problem. Maintaining a good indoor air balance, particularly when it comes to temperature, airflow, and direction, will ensure consistent temperatures and ongoing comfort for all residents.
Tower Energy has a long-standing reputation for providing superior HVAC services throughout the area. Our technicians are all NATE-certified and can offer truly remarkable HVAC installations, repairs, tune-ups, and full system replacements. Furthermore, our techs have ample knowledge and industry experience for meeting your HVAC needs perfectly. Our team is also able to identify the right home comfort solutions for your living environment.
When you hire Tower Energy, you can be sure that you’re in excellent hands. Our HVAC service costs are the most competitive in the region, and our work is always backed with a solid guarantee. When we provide you with one of our heating and cooling services, our top priorities are always helping our customers maintain high levels of energy efficiency, optimum indoor air qualities, and undeniable comfort. To schedule a home visit, call our office now and receive a free, in-home estimate.
Contact us now or call us at (860) 677-7347 to find out more.
