How to Address Uneven Heating in Your Home

The first step in solving uneven heating in your home is to schedule a maintenance appointment with one of Cincinnati’s highly-regarded HVAC companies, if you haven’t had your fall visit yet. If you choose Jansen Heating & Cooling, we will make a thorough check to ensure every part of your heating system is working properly.

Here are some additional, simple things you can do:

• Look at your air filters. If they look dirty, replace them. You should usually replace air filters every quarter, or more often in some cases.
• If your system has them, adjust your dampers to send more air to areas that don’t get as much heat.
• Check your ducts for leaks and seal any gaps with duct tape or mastic.

The problem could be gaps around doors or windows, or not enough insulation

Gaps around your doors, windows and other openings could be causing drafts. Caulk or weatherstrip any openings you can find, or hire a handyperson to do it for you.

Inadequate insulation in your walls, attic or crawl space can also cause uneven heating. Consult a highly-recommended insulation specialist to see if you need more insulation.

Check your airflow

If air is not moving properly in some rooms, they can feel colder than other rooms. Make sure all your vents are open, and unobstructed. Move any furniture, curtains or other items keeping air from flowing. Make sure your ceiling fans are running clockwise in the winter. They can help circulate warm air, particularly in rooms with high ceilings.

Add another heat source

Space heaters can be surprisingly cost-effective if the cold spot is small, like a den or bedroom. Radiant heaters and panels are another way to add heat to small spaces.

Consider an energy audit

An energy audit is a thorough assessment of your home’s energy usage, efficiency, and areas of potential improvement, incorporating all of the checks listed above. Your Cincinnati heating service repair company can arrange an energy audit for you.

It can include:

1. An initial consultation to discuss any issues of particular concern (such as uneven heating)
2. A building envelope inspection that looks for gaps, cracks and poor insulation
3. An interior inspection that checks air leakage, insulation levels, the efficiency of your HVAC system, ductwork and windows and doors
4. An assessment of your refrigerators, water heaters, stoves and lighting to determine the energy-efficiency of each appliance
5. Thermographic imaging, where a special camera can spot hot and cold spots in the walls, ceilings and floors—where you may be losing heat or outside air may be coming in
6. A utility systems check that evaluates the placement and settings of thermostats, and the airflow and ventilation in your home.

You will get a report after the technician finishes their inspection. It will include a breakdown of how energy is consumed in your home, and offer specific actions to improve energy efficiency, such as sealing cracks, adding more insulation or replacing appliances.

Estimated costs for these fixes will usually be included.

If your system is older, consider an upgrade

Because of the cost, this is only a good option if your furnace or heat pump is approaching the end of its life (it is not operating cost-efficiently any more, for example, or needs frequent repairs).

When discussing options with your HVAC specialist, ask about zone heating, which allows different areas of your home to be heated independently.

As a factory-authorized Cincinnati Carrier dealer, we are well-versed in the Carrier heating options at every price point. However, we service all makes and models to best help our Cincinnati area customers.

Any time you upgrade your system or purchase a new one from Jansen, you automatically get a one-year membership in our Maintenance Club at no cost.