Hot and cold spots throughout your home can be frustrating, especially when you expect a cool room during peak summer temperatures in Mount Airy. These problems often stem from problems with your AC’s supply vents and return vents, which are the main distribution points between your HVAC system and indoor rooms. Learn about common causes of hot and cold spots, DIY strategies, and when to call Jay’s Heating, Air, and Plumbing for professional HVAC assistance.
Why Your House Has Hot and Cold Spots
Numerous underlying problems can cause hot and cold spots in your house, and they often relate to airflow and pressure balance. Ducted HVAC systems rely on static pressure to push air through the system and throughout your home, and even small changes can affect pressure, efficiency, and overall performance.
Common issues include:
- Inadequate airflow: Broken fans and other mechanical problems can prevent your HVAC system from evenly distributing air.
- Ductwork problems: Leaks or blockages in ductwork result in uneven airflow and temperature differences. Likewise, poor layout design with insufficient vents inhibit airflow balance and efficiency.
- Blocked vents: Closing your vents or leaving them blocked with furniture or other obstructions causes HVAC airflow problems and imbalanced pressure.
- Insulation issues: Poor insulation allows heat to escape or enter your home, leading to uneven temperatures.
- Solar heat gain: South-facing rooms with many windows receive more direct sunlight than other areas of your home. This sunlight exposure results in solar heat gain, where sunlight becomes heat when it reaches a window or other surface.
- Thermostat problems: Thermostats far from your HVAC unit, near warm appliances, or in direct sunlight can cause inaccurate temperature readings and affect your system’s operation.
- Improper AC size: An undersized AC unit won’t have power to maintain even temperatures throughout your home.
Identifying the Culprit: Your Supply and Return Vents
Supply and return vents facilitate the flow of air to and from your ductwork and indoor areas, and problems with vents are often a contributing factor to temperature imbalances.
Return vents pull air from your rooms and into the ductwork, where it travels to the HVAC unit for cooling. They’re generally located low on a wall or recessed into the floor, and you can identify them by feeling for a slight suction against your hand or a piece of paper. Some return vents also feature filters that aid in purifying air before it reaches the AC system’s main air filter.
Supply vents deliver conditioned air to your indoor spaces. You can typically find them high on the walls or the ceiling — just as a return vent sucks air in, you can test a supply vent by feeling for air pushing outward. Supply vents also may have slats that allow you to control the airflow.
DIY Solutions to Fix Hot and Cold Spots
If you suspect your return or supply vents are responsible for uneven temperatures in your house, try these DIY solutions to optimize your HVAC system’s airflow and pressure balance.
Check and adjust vents
Inspect supply and return vents for obstructions, such as furniture, curtains, or other items, and rearrange furnishing as needed to allow for proper airflow. Look for clogged vents, and periodically clean them to ensure they’re clear of dust and debris.
Clean or replace air filters
Clean air filters are essential for proper airflow, and dirty or clogged filters can strain your system and cause poor performance. Replace your air filter every 12 weeks or less to improve airflow and efficiency.
Inspect and seal ductwork
Check visible ductwork for loose connections, leaks, or other damage. Wearing rubber gloves, apply duct sealant to leaking areas. Refer to an HVAC technician for more extensive AC ductwork damage and repairs.
Adjust dampers
Dampers control airflow throughout your HVAC system, each functioning as a type of valve in the system’s ductwork from major junctions. Some dampers require manual adjustment while others adjust automatically, such as in zoned HVAC systems.
Dampers can help ensure cold air reaches the room it needs to during the summer, but improper configuration can restrict airflow and efficiency. During peak cooling season, dampers should be open to maximize the distribution of conditioned air. Starting from the AC unit, locate and open the dampers. Make small adjustments to even the temperature in your home.
Seal drafty windows and doors
Properly sealed windows and doors can prevent air from leaking in or out of your home, helping your AC system to evenly cool your home. Remove and replace damaged caulk and weatherstripping around drafty doors and windows.
Use a programmable thermostat
Upgrading to a programmable or smart thermostat allows you to set temperatures according to zones in your home. This helps even out hot and cold rooms, especially in multilevel homes where hot air rises and upper floors are warmer than lower levels.
When to Call an HVAC Professional
While you can resolve many problems with DIY fixes, some may require professional HVAC service. A licensed HVAC professional can inspect and assess your home to pinpoint underlying factors potentially causing hot and cold spots. They’ll provide a long-lasting solution that improves energy efficiency, air quality, and comfort as well as offloads strain on your system and extends its service life.
Refer to an HVAC technician for routine maintenance, repairs, or upgrades you’re unprepared to take on, such as:
- Persistently uneven temperature
- Extensive ductwork issues or damage
- System malfunctions
- New insulation needs
- Resizing and replacing AC unit
Call Jay’s Heating, Air, and Plumbing for AC Performance in Mount Airy
Serving homeowners in Mount Airy, Winston-Salem, and other North Carolina areas, Jay’s Heating, Air, and Plumbing provides skilled and friendly services when you need them. You can take advantage of financing, maintenance plans, and more — contact us or book online today for expert HVAC repair, maintenance, and installation services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can closing vents in unused rooms save energy?
Closing vents may redirect airflow to other areas, but it can also imbalance the system’s pressure and reduce overall system efficiency.
Can I use a fan to even out my home’s temperature?
Ceiling and room fans can help circulate air and even temperature distribution, but they aren’t permanent solutions to underlying HVAC problems.
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