How Do I Heat My Home Evenly?

Hot or cold spots in your home during the winter are a common problem for people who have multi-level homes, especially older homes. The furnace is running, but one room or floor may be warmer than another. For places like Colorado and Wyoming that are cold in the winter and hot in the summer, achieving even temperatures throughout your home can be a year-round struggle. There are several likely reasons uneven heating (or cooling) occurs:

• Restricted airflow from the furnace to the registers.
• Inadequate or improperly sized and sealed ductwork.
• A heating and cooling system that’s not sufficient for the size of the home.

Here are some things you can try to fix the problem:

Partially Close the Vents Upstairs

Two-story homes often require more warm airflow downstairs during the winter months. Partially closing the upstairs vents while making sure the downstairs vents are open and unobstructed, can force more heat to the lower levels of your home. However, keep in mind that your HVAC system is designed to work with all vents open, and partially or fully closing vents can interfere with the pressure levels, causing pressure to build up.

Add a Zoning System

Zoning allows you to control the temperature on the upper and lower floors of your home independently of one another by adding a second thermostat and a system of dampers. When the room reaches the correct temperature, the dampers close, and reopen when more heat is needed.

Switch Your Thermostat from “Auto” to “On”

Setting your fan to “On” continuously circulates the air in your home, even between floors, creating a more even temperature throughout.

Upgrade Your HVAC Equipment

A furnace equipped with a variable speed blower motor is designed to overcome airflow problems by keeping the airflow steady all over the home. These types of furnaces also use about 1/3 of the electricity of a standard furnace. Rather than being either “on” or “off,” variable speed blowers can operate at a range of speeds for more precise adjustments.

Add Additional HVAC Equipment

A second system is a pricey fix, but in some cases may be the best option for gaining more control over the temperature on each level of a two-story home.

Add a Ductless System

Ductless systems are another way to add more temperature control to your home. These are individual mounted units that can go in the rooms that need them. Air passes through these small air handlers without the need for ductwork, and the temperature can be adjusted for each room that has a unit.

Have Your Ductwork Inspected

Ducts that leak or are improperly installed can cause your home to heat inconsistently.

There is no cookie-cutter answer for why your home is not heated evenly. For the best solution, contact your HVAC professional to evaluate your particular situation. He or she will have the best advice for how to correct the problem.

Contact a Rheem Pro Partner today for all your heating needs and concerns!