Winter temperatures are dipping, and heaters are working overtime in many areas of the country. If your home is well-insulated, then you will struggle less with the cold. One issue many homeowners have is cold spots in the home. These spots can be found in certain rooms in the house and sometimes a room will have varying temperatures. You might find yourself comfortable in one spot, and freezing cold just a few feet away! Cold spots in your house are a pain, to put it lightly.

The problem with cold spots in your house is it makes it difficult to heat your home evenly. You may be turning up the heater to warm up in a cold spot, but find that the rest of your home becomes overheated. In addition to issues of comfort, your heating bill is going to rise as you struggle to keep indoor temperatures under control. If you are experiencing cold spots in your home, here are some things you should be looking for:

1. You Have An Improperly Sized Furnace

If your furnace is too small for your home, this will leave some rooms in your house out in the cold. A too-small furnace simply can’t generate enough heat for the amount of square footage. Not only that, but it has to work too hard, which is costing you more money. Talk to an HVAC expert about replacing your furnace with an energy-efficient model that is the right size for your home.

2.  Your Air Ducts Are Leaking

Leaky air ducts are a sneaky problem that will cost you money and create uncomfortable variations in temperature throughout your home. These issues affect you all year long, because they hurt your air conditioning, too. During the winter months, you’ll find that areas of your house are chilly while others are warm. Not only that, but leaky air ducts cause issues with indoor air quality, as well. This is a big problem, especially in the winter when your home is closed up tight. This issue can result in headaches, allergy symptoms and increased illness.

3. You Have Improperly Sized Ductwork

Similar to the issue of an improperly sized furnace, the wrong sized ductwork creates uneven heating in your home, causes the furnace to work too hard and results in increased energy costs and costly repairs to your furnace.

4. Your Furnace Does Not Have Zoning Capabilities

Even if your furnace and ductwork are adequate, if your furnace doesn’t have zoning capabilities, you are still going to run into temperature fluctuations throughout your home. This is because different areas of your home are simply going to be colder. This may be due to large windows, exposure, lack of carpeting/high ceilings and other factors. Zoning allows you to increase the temperature in some rooms and reduce or eliminate it in others. For example, if you don’t use one area of the house as much, there is little reason to heat it. If you have a room that is just naturally colder than another, you can increase the temperature in that particular room without overheating the rest of the house.

5. Your Thermostat Is Broken Or Needs To Be Replaced

This is a relatively easy fix, but people are often unaware that their thermostat is no longer functioning optimally. This is something that should be checked during your yearly maintenance and inspection.

6. Your Home Is Not Properly Insulated

Often, the problem isn’t with your furnace or your ducts, it is with your home. If your home isn’t properly insulated, you’ll have cold spots. A poorly insulated home is not only uncomfortable, it’s expensive! Get your home’s insulation evaluated by an expert to determine if you need to revamp your existing insulation. This  can be costly and sometimes complicated, so get more than one opinion on how to proceed, and remember that you can save money in the long run by addressing the issue.

7. You Didn’t Inspect Your Home For Leaks When The Season Began

Aside from insulation, leaks are a major culprit when it comes to cold spots in the home. Leaks around vents, ductwork, windows and doors are common and can be addressed fairly easily. A quick fix is to place towels in front of doors and use insulating drapes on your windows. You’ll need to get someone out if you have leaks around vents or ducts, but these are relatively easy fixes. 

So how do you know what is causing the problem? When it comes to your furnace the only way to know for sure is to schedule a maintenance and inspection appointment. At this appointment you can discuss your concerns, ensure that your furnace is the right model for your home and make sure everything is in good working order. This is a good time to talk about your options and determine if you need more extensive repairs or replacement. Addressing these issues can help save you money on your ongoing energy bills, and keep your home comfortable throughout the winter months.

Call McHale’s for heating service today! Fix any cold spots in your house!

Schedule a consultation with a call to McHale’s today!

Read Reviews From Our Happy Customers!

By McHales