During the winter, you may find that most of your house is nice and warm, but one or more rooms are colder. There can be several reasons for that. You may be able to address the problem yourself, or you may have to call an HVAC technician.
Things You Can Try Yourself
A colder room may have drafts. In some cases, closing the curtains or hanging heavy drapes can help retain heat and keep the room warm. If one or more windows are old and damaged, adding caulk or weather stripping may eliminate drafts. If those strategies don’t work, you may need to replace old windows.
A vent that provides warm air to a room may either not be fully open or there may be an obstruction. Check to see if the vent in a cold room is open and make sure that there is no furniture blocking it.
If necessary, use soap and water or a cleaning solution to clean the grate that covers the vent. Use a vacuum to remove whatever dirt and debris you can from inside the vent. If you think there might be something deeper inside the ductwork that is blocking airflow, have an HVAC technician conduct an inspection. If you look inside the vent and see rodent droppings, contact a pest control company.
Your HVAC filter needs to be replaced regularly. A dirty filter can reduce airflow. Check the filter and replace it if necessary. That may take care of the issue.
Sometimes an HVAC system needs to be balanced to give each room an appropriate amount of airflow and keep the entire house at a consistent temperature. HVAC systems have supply runs that come off the supply trunk and provide heat to individual rooms. If your system has dampers in the basement or attic, you can adjust them to regulate airflow to different parts of the house. If your HVAC system doesn’t have dampers, you may be able to make adjustments at the supply registers.
When to Contact a Professional
Ductwork may be damaged and may need to be repaired by a professional. In some houses, ductwork was installed in a way that makes it difficult for adequate airflow to reach certain rooms. In those situations, an HVAC professional may have to repair or modify the ductwork.
The location of a room may be responsible for the difference in temperature. If a room is located along an exterior wall in an area that doesn’t get a lot of sunlight, if it’s poorly insulated or if it’s above an uninsulated space, such as the garage, you may need to hire a professional to install more insulation.
