Dealing With Hot and Cold Spots in Your Home

If you’re experiencing hot and cold spots in your home, you’re far from alone. This is a common problem that many homeowners deal with, though every situation is a bit different. Whether you’re noticing that certain rooms aren’t receiving as much conditioned air as others, or that one floor is consistently warmer or colder than the rest of the house, your home is letting you know that something isn’t right. Hot and cold spots have several potential causes, and you may not immediately be able to determine the origin of your household issue. However, there are a handful of potential remedies that you can try, and with a bit of trial and error, there’s a good chance that one of them will solve your problem.

It Could Be the Air Vents

It’s not uncommon for hot and cold spots to be the result of clogged or blocked air vents. Those vents are responsible for distributing warm and cool air to the different areas of your living space, but if any of them are obstructed, it can easily lead to uneven temperatures. It’s always a good idea to check the vents first when troubleshooting hot and cold spots; the problem could be as simple as a piece of furniture or a pile of random clutter being placed in front of one.

Once you’ve made sure nothing is sitting in front of your air registers, it’s also wise to clean out each vent’s interior chamber. Over time, various contaminants will accumulate inside the vents, and eventually, enough can build up to hamper your HVAC system’s airflow. You’ll need a screwdriver to remove the vent covers and a vacuum cleaner with a hose extension to remove the contaminant particles, but the task should be pretty quick and easy. Even when things seem to be running smoothly in your home, it’s a good idea to clean your vents every month or so.

If It’s Not the Vents, It Could Be the Ducts

If your air vents are all clean and open but you’re still experiencing hot and cold spots, the root of the problem could lie within your ductwork. Just like with your vents, substances like dust, dirt, mold, dander, and small debris will inevitably build up in your air ducts over time. Since your HVAC system is frequently circulating air through the duct pathways, this is unavoidable. However, if you fail to have the ductwork cleaned regularly, those contaminants may start to hamper the airflow of your heating and cooling systems. The appliances will try to push through the obstructions, but certain parts of your home may still not get the appropriate amount of conditioned air. Plus, that extra strain is bad for the health of your HVAC unit.

It’s also possible that your ducts have significant leaks or other damage. If large amounts of hot and cold air are escaping through openings, then it’s unlikely that your living space will be receiving sufficient airflow for even temperatures. And, leaky ducts can also lead to wasted energy and other mechanical HVAC problems. When you hire professional duct cleaners, they’ll get rid of any contaminants clogging up your air ducts. Plus, they’ll inspect for any damage or leaks, which you’ll then be able to have fixed. Afterward, there’s a good chance your hot and cold spots will be a thing of the past.

Consider HVAC Maintenance

Ideally, you should have your HVAC system professionally tuned up at least once per year. If your household unit is overdue for a maintenance visit, its performance could be suffering, and that could be the reason for your uneven temperatures. If you’re in the greater Fox Valley, WI area, you can always enlist Black-Haak to handle your HVAC tune-up. Our technicians will inspect and clean your HVAC system and do everything possible to restore it to peak performance and efficiency. Once the service is complete, you should notice more powerful and consistent airflow when running your heater or air conditioner. The maintenance should also lead to more even air circulation, which will hopefully eliminate your issue with hot and cold spots.

HVAC maintenance is an imperative service to schedule regularly, even when you aren’t trying to troubleshoot a household issue. If you keep up with it each year, your HVAC system will be healthier, more energy-efficient, and more effective at keeping you comfortable. Plus, it could gain as many as five extra years of operation before needing to be replaced.

Does Your Home Contain Air Leaks?

When dealing with hot and cold spots, another thing to consider is whether or not your household is harboring any air leaks. Even small gaps around the edges of your windows or doorways can allow quite a bit of conditioned air to escape, which can seriously mess with the climate and comfort of your dwelling. You can try searching for these leaks visually, but they might be difficult for you to see. One useful trick is to slowly move your hand around the outside of the doors and windows in your home. If you feel any airflow with your hand, you’ve probably uncovered a small leak. You’ll want to thoroughly seal any air leaks that you come across, and you should be able to do so by using caulking and weather-stripping. These items should be available at any hardware store, and if you aren’t sure what you’re doing, it should be easy to find a simple online tutorial.

A Clogged Air Filter May Be to Blame

For your home’s HVAC system to continue running smoothly and efficiently, it’s crucial that you regularly replace the air filters before they become overly dirty or clogged. Otherwise, your heating and cooling appliances won’t be able to circulate air effectively. That can lead to various problems and discomforts, including hot and cold spots around the house.

Fortunately, switching out your HVAC air filters is both easy and inexpensive. Once you’ve replaced the old, dirty filters with brand new ones, you may notice very quickly that conditioned air is being distributed more evenly around the house.

Could You Benefit From a Zoning System?

If you’re unfamiliar with zoning systems, they are a type of HVAC equipment that allows you to directly control the temperatures of individual sections of your home. Having one of these systems can be especially useful if you and the other members of your household have different climate preferences. For example, you could have the heat cranked up in the dining room while your significant other has the AC blasting in the living room. That way, everybody’s happy. Zoning systems are an excellent way to get rid of hot and cold spots, as you’ll have a direct say in how much hot or cold air is distributed to each part of the living space. These systems aren’t cheap, but if you have the extra money to spend, purchasing one could be an excellent investment for your future comfort and household efficiency.

Always Go With Trusted HVAC Professionals

Since 1956, we at Black-Haak have been faithfully serving the Fox Valley area with high-quality workmanship and superlative customer service. Whether you need heating, cooling, plumbing, electrical, or indoor air quality services, our team will handle the job while treating you with honesty and respect. If you’d like to make an appointment, give our offices a call today!