Fall is fast approaching, but summer heat may still flare up. When it happens, you want to be comfortable inside your home. But what do you do when some rooms are cooler than others? This article explains why this happens and suggests practical ideas on how to remedy the situation.
Poor Airflow
Rooms won’t be cool on a hot day if the conditioned air can’t reach them. One common cause for this is a clogged air filter. Dirty air filters restrict the amount and velocity of air that can enter the ductwork. In these cases, the rooms closest to the air handler will be the coolest. To avoid this situation, you should replace your air filters when they’re dirty, which is typically every two to three months.
Dirty ducts can also slow the airflow through the system, resulting in uneven cooling. Over time, debris may accumulate in the passageways, which requires professional assistance to remove. To eliminate this problem, schedule a cleaning every three to five years and after any dusty home renovation.
Even if your air filter and ducts are clean, you can still experience uneven cooling if the air vents are closed or blocked. Inspect the rooms and make any required changes to fix the problem.
Poor Insulation
Gaps around doors and windows allow conditioned air to escape. Fixing this is an easy DIY weatherstripping task. However, insulating ductwork is a project that’s best left to the professionals. Well-insulated ductwork prevents the heat in the crawlspaces from warming the conditioned air in the ducts. The insulation acts as a barrier against the radiant heat, allowing the air inside the ducts to stay cool.
Differing Sun Exposures
Rooms on the south side of a home have the highest level of sun exposure. Without any preventive measures, these rooms will be the warmest. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to remedy this. Double-pane windows are very effective at keeping radiant heat out and cool air in. Insulated curtains and blinds also work well.
Poor Thermostat Location
Thermostats should be located in a central living area, away from drafts, direct sunlight, and heating sources. Otherwise, the thermostat may display a higher reading that does not accurately reflect the ambient temperature in the rest of the home. This results in the AC running longer to cool the warm area, making the other rooms too cool. You’ll need to relocate the thermostat to resolve this issue.
Incorrect Size
The most expensive corrective measure occurs when the AC is not appropriately sized for the home. If it’s too big, the system runs in short spurts, which may not be long enough to remove the moisture in the air. If it’s too small, it will run longer trying to maintain the set temperature, and some rooms may stay too warm. In this case, you need to replace the AC with a properly sized unit.
Contact R Buck Heating, Cooling, Plumbing & Electrical in Pueblo, CO for all your HVAC maintenance, repairs, and replacement needs today!