Why Are There Hot and Cold Spots in My House?

People struggling with hot and cold spots in their home

Here’s What to Know About Maintaining A Consistent, Comfortable Temperature Throughout Your Home

Do you feel like you’re changing seasons when you change rooms in your house? Certain areas feel like the tropics, while others have you reaching for gloves and a scarf?

Hot and cold spots in a home are common, but they are also annoying and possibly costly. Your house should have a comfortable room temperature throughout, which is why it can be frustrating to find that certain areas feel warmer or colder than they should be.

No matter what time of year you notice temperature swings in your home, you should investigate the problem as soon as you find it. You could end up saving money on your heating or air conditioning bill, not to mention you won’t have to bundle up (or take off layers) in particular rooms!

Identifying the cause of the issue can help you get back to a comfortable, consistent temperature in no time.

4 Causes of Hot or Cold Spots in Your Home

Here are 4 reasons you might encounter uneven temperatures in your home:

1. Your HVAC system is not the right size

Whether your home is old or new, it’s worth taking a look to see if your HVAC unit is the right size to heat and cool it properly. If your unit is too small, it works overtime to heat and cool your home. By contrast, a unit that is too large could leave you hot or cold because one area of the home may be heated or cooled more than needed, and may also struggle to properly dehumidify.

Either way, it’s a recipe for inconsistency and can wreak havoc on how humid or dry your home feels. Ask an expert to recommend exactly what size HVAC system your home needs— particularly if you’ve been renovating or adding rooms.

2. Your ductwork and/or home lacks proper insulation

Since ductwork is commonly made of metal, it needs to be insulated to ensure that it can carry the warm or cool air further away from the HVAC unit. If the pipes aren’t properly insulated — or if they aren’t insulated at all — this can cause random hot or cold spots as the temperature leaks. It’s also an issue if you have exposed ducts in areas like basements or attics.

If your ductwork is well insulated, but your home is not, some rooms will be warmer or cooler than others. For example, a room on the south side of your home may be warmer than one on the north side of your home, because the direct sunlight in the afternoon causes the room to be warm in the evenings and your system can’t keep up.

3. Your ductwork requires servicing

If your home’s air ducts have holes or cracks, they could be letting warm or cool air escape. This causes your HVAC systems to work even harder, since faulty air ducts—even if they’re simply loose or not sealed correctly—can add hundreds of dollars a year to your heating and cooling bill.

Dirty air ducts are another issue, as debris that’s built up within the ducts can affect air flow from room to room. In this case, you can clean or replace the duct filters yourself, or call in a professional to take care of it. An expert can also assess if there are any cracks in your ducts. Sealing them now can save you from more damage down the line.

4. Your heat zones need adjusting

Hot and cold spots in your home can also be the result of improper zoning. If you’ve got a large home, it may be difficult for your HVAC’s output to reach every single area. This is where a zoning system comes in: It allows you to set different temperatures for different rooms, which is especially handy when the heat rises within a multi-level home.

Setting the temperature from room to room can also save money on your heating and cooling bills. And it allows everyone to individually choose how warm or cool they’d like their bedroom to be. An alternate solution is to go ductless, which can offer you excellent filtration, whisper quiet comfort, and room-by-room temperature customization.

Get The Right Fix

You don’t have to live with hot or cold spots in your home, particularly when it could be costing you money. Although the cause could be as small as a dirty duct filter, it could be something more serious like an embattled HVAC straining to service a larger home.

Sila’s Comfort Consultants can quickly and reliably help you diagnose your problem, and recommend the right solutions. Advice is just a phone call away! Contact us for fast, reliable HVAC service.

Additional Resources

Skip to content