One annoying problem that many homeowners experience is the presence of hot and cold spots throughout the house. For example, you might be relaxing in the cool, comfortable living room, then walk up the stairs to your bedroom and suddenly be sweating. This is obviously a major annoyance, and when everything is running smoothly in your home, the temperatures around the living space should generally be pretty consistent. So, why do these hot and cold spots show up? In truth, there are several potential reasons for the issue, and there are a handful of troubleshooting techniques you can attempt to solve it.
1. Check Your Air Vents
Your air vents are spread around your home, and they serve as the means for your HVAC system to circulate air to different rooms and areas. So, it stands to reason that if one of those vents is obstructed, it could lead to uneven household temperatures. Stop by each of your vents and check its status. Make sure no furniture or clutter has been accidentally placed in front of it. If nothing visible is blocking the airflow, consider removing the protective panel and cleaning out the interior chamber. The easiest way to do so is with a vacuum cleaner extension hose. It’s generally a good idea to do this occasionally anyway, and it may just solve your issue with hot and cold spots.
2. Find and Seal Air Leaks
Air leaks are another common cause of uneven home temperatures. If a part of your home is harboring multiple small leaks or one big one, it can lead to large amounts of conditioned air escaping. As a result, that section of the house won’t be maintaining a temperature consistent with the rest of the dwelling. If you’re dealing with hot and cold spots, thoroughly check any windows or doors in the affected rooms for small gaps or cracks. They may be small and hard to see, but you can try feeling around with your hand for any moving air. If you come across any leaks, seal them up tightly with weather-stripping and caulking, which you can purchase at any local hardware store.
3. Have Your Ductwork Cleaned
In many cases, clogged or otherwise obstructed air ducts can be the source of household hot and cold spots. Over time, particles of dust, pollen, mold spores, and small debris will accumulate in your ducts. If you don’t periodically have those ducts professionally cleaned, the contaminants can build up to the point of obstructing your HVAC system’s airflow. As a consequence, certain sections of your home may no longer be receiving a sufficient amount of conditioned air. Ideally, you should schedule duct cleaning every year or two to keep your home functioning smoothly and efficiently.
4. Change the Thermostat Setting
By default, most homeowners tend to keep their thermostats set to “auto.” Generally, this is a prudent choice, as it usually results in less energy being used than having it set to “on.” However, if your thermostat is set to “auto,” it could be responsible for your hot and cold spots. When it’s on that setting, your HVAC unit will only circulate air until it thinks it has run long enough to bring the home to a comfortable temperature. However, if you set it to “on,” the system will continue cycling until you manually stop it. By letting it run for a few extra minutes, you’ll give the warm or cold air a bit of extra time to circulate to every area of your home. It’s possible that this will be an effective remedy for your uneven household temperatures.
5. Schedule an HVAC Tune-Up
Sometimes, hot and cold spots are caused by something as simple as your HVAC system needing professional maintenance. If you’re in the Greater Davenport, FL area, our HVAC technicians at Underwood AC LLC can conduct one of these tune-ups for you. We’ll clean out your HVAC unit, inspect for problems, and make adjustments to improve its performance. Once we’re finished, you may just find that air is being circulated throughout your home more effectively and consistently, making your hot and cold spots things of the past.
At Underwood AC LLC, we’re a family-owned HVAC company specializing in heating and air conditioning. We offer quality maintenance, repair, and installation services for all kinds of heating and cooling systems. We also offer indoor air quality, ductwork, and pool heating services for residents of the Davenport area. If you’d like to schedule an appointment, give us a call today!
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