Nine Reasons Your Home Isn’t Heating Evenly

Does your home heat unevenly? Heating unevenly occurs when some rooms feel nice and cozy while others are noticeably cooler. Several causes could be to blame for this heating problem. Here, we’ll help you learn what could be triggering these temperature imbalances and show you how to solve the problem.

Something’s Blocking Your Home’s Vents

Your problem: Your furnace circulates warm air throughout your home via vent and return registers. If these are blocked or covered up, the restricted air movement creates hot and cold zones in your home.

How to fix it: Confirm that all the vents are open, especially if some rooms feel like they aren’t getting enough warmth. Next, check to make sure there aren’t any decor, carpets or drapes hindering airflow. If a room is too warm, make sure the vents in the other rooms are clear and feel like they are putting out the same amount of air. If a register is open but not a lot of air is flowing from it, there may be a problem with a control mechanism or the duct isn’t forcing the air to the right place.

A Clogged Air Filter Is Straining Your HVAC System

Your problem: Your furnace air filter collects and removes dust, pollen and other airborne particles so that your air is clean. But a blocked filter filled with these particles can significantly reduce airflow, making your heating system work harder and causing uneven heating. If warm air can’t get through easily, rooms farther from the system will be colder.

How to fix it: Inspect and change the furnace’s air filter every 30-90 days, especially in the winter when the heating system operates overtime.

There’s Not Enough Insulation in Your Home

Your problem: Inadequate home insulation allows heat to escape, especially from rooms nearest to outside walls or your home’s attic. This makes some rooms more difficult to keep as warm as you’d like, even when the rest of the home seems comfortable.

How to fix it: Enhance your attic insulation to prevent heat from leaving your home. If the material currently insulating your home is in good shape, you may be able to simply layer additional insulation right on top of it.

Cold Air Is Getting in Through Doors and Windows

Your problem: Single-pane windows and old, drafty doors are notorious for letting cold air inside, disrupting the indoor temperature. This problem is most common in older homes, which frequently have windows and doors that don’t fit as snug as they need to.

How to fix it: Prevent drafts in and around doors and windows by installing insulation strips or caulk. Thermal curtains and thermal blinds also help block out the cold. When these simple fixes aren’t enough to prevent cold spots in your home, consider replacing your windows and exterior doors.

Duct Leaks Are Letting Warm Air Out

Your problem: Ductwork carries heated air throughout your home. If your ductwork has a crack, warmth can leak out of the ducts before it gets to some rooms of your home.

How to fix it: Hire an HVAC specialist like one of our team members at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to inspect your ductwork for cracks, which can usually be sealed with metal tape or mastic sealant. In more severe cases, you may need air duct repair.

You Need to Move Your Thermostat

Your problem: The thermostat regulates the heating system throughout your home. If it’s in a cold or unusually warm spot, it may give misleading readings, causing your HVAC system to run at the wrong times—and create uneven temperatures.

How to fix it: If your thermostat is near a drafty window or heat-generating appliance, think about relocating it. An HVAC professional from Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing can help you move it to a more central location where it can more accurately gauge your home’s average temperature. For extra convenience, opt for a smart thermostat, which allows for remote temperature control and programmable heating schedules.

Your Furnace Is the Wrong Size

Your problem: A furnace that’s too small may have difficulty heating all of your residence, leaving some areas colder than others. On the other end of the spectrum, a furnace that’s too big often runs frequently, causing temperature fluctuations and higher wear and tear that can shorten the lifetime of your HVAC system.

How to fix it: Have a heating and cooling Expert evaluate your home’s furnace size compared to your home’s square footage, the climate where you live, the home’s insulation levels, windows and other factors. If your furnace is too small or large, think about upgrading to the right size for better heating performance and energy efficiency.

Heat Only Reaches Some Floors of Your Home

Your problem: Heat rises, so the second floor of your home is sometimes comfortable while the main floor is colder.

How to fix it: Zoning your heating system allows you to control the temperature in different parts of your home using separate thermostats and ductwork valves. This way, you can redirect warm air exactly where you want.

You Need to Schedule Regular HVAC Maintenance

Your problem: Like any machine, your furnace needs regular maintenance to work smoothly. If you neglect to do routine care, your HVAC system may develop issues that lower energy efficiency and prevent it from heating your home evenly.

How to fix it: Schedule professional maintenance for your heating system annually—preferably in the fall before the heating season starts. Regular maintenance also helps identify and fix problems before they result in potentially costly performance issues or catastrophic breakdowns.

Call the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing for Furnace Service in the U.S.

No one likes spending time in a chilly room. If one of these simple fixes doesn’t solve the issue, count on Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing to get the job done correctly. Our ACE-certified technicians provide quick, reliable solutions to all your comfort needs backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. Don’t let a stubbornly cold room ruin your comfort—call 866-397-3787 today to schedule the U.S. furnace services with the Experts at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.

Savings For You

See All Offers Here >
Offer

THREE LIMITED-TIME WAYS TO SAVE WITH AN ADVANTAGE PROGRAM BUNDLE

  • Bundle two HVAC systems through the Advantage Program and save $20 a month!
  • Bundle an HVAC and a Water Heater or Water Treatment System through the Advantage Program and save $15 a month!
  • Bundle a Water Heater a Water Treatment System or Indoor Air Quality through the Advantage Program and save $10 a month!

print
Offer

10% OFF FOR ACTIVE DUTY OR VETERANS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

10% OFF Any Product or Service*
For all Active-Duty, Retired, and Veteran Military Personnel 

  • It’s our way of thanking you for your courage, dedication, and sacrifice to protect our freedom
  • All worked performed by licensed experts, and backed by a written, 100% Satisfaction Guarantee

Service Experts is proud to be affiliated with Military Makeover and Hiring Our Heroes

print

© 2025 Service Experts, Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning, and the Service Experts logo and design are registered trademarks of Service Experts LLC and used under license by SE Canada Inc. All Rights Reserved. *Not applicable to the Advantage Program. See your signed Advantage Program Agreement for full details and exclusions. 100% Satisfaction Guarantee is subject to certain restrictions and limitations as set forth in the applicable Terms and Conditions.