Like many homeowners, you may find yourself wondering why one room in your home is either too cold or too hot. While other rooms in your home are at the perfect temp, your bedroom is freezing, or your upstairs space is sweltering hot. These temperature imbalances are frustrating and uncomfortable — you’re paying for heat and air, so what’s the deal?
Rather than turning up your thermostat or opening all your windows, consider finding the sources of your problems. This makes it easier to find and fix temperature imbalances in your home. Here are some tips on how you can fix cold and hot rooms in your home and get back to living comfortably.
1. Seal drafts around windows and doors.
Drafts around windows and doors are likely the result of a broken seal. When a seal cracks or breaks, the insulation offered is compromised and air can seep between panes and into your home. Keep cold air out (or warm air hot) by installing weatherstripping around your exterior doors and windows. You can also caulk around your windows; just make sure you’re using caulk intended for exterior or interior surfaces.
2. Add or upgrade insulation
Poor insulation is a leading cause of why the temperature of your home does not stay consistent. This is especially true for older homes as they tend to have little to no insulation. But even in new houses, unless your home was constructed for energy efficiency, you may find yourself having to add insulation. If your home doesn’t retain cool air or heat, look for opportunities to add or upgrade existing insulation. The attic is the most common source of heat loss for homes. Warm air naturally rises and without proper insulation, the heat escapes through the attic. Heat also easily escapes through basement walls. Don’t overlook these two areas when adding more insulation.
Also, make sure that you know what r-value is suitable for your environment. The R-value of your insulation measures its insulating effectiveness. So, depending on where you live and the part of your home you’re insulating you need this value to determine how much insulation you should add and where. For this, it’s best to bring in an expert to examine your home.
3. Add an HVAC system
If you have an older home you may consider buying an HVAC system to better regulate the temperature in your home. Old houses are known for being challenging to heat or cool. Most were built before air conditioning existed and many rely on radiator systems for heat. When different rooms and floors have different temperature ranges, it becomes hard to make temperatures consistent throughout. For example, in warmer months your basement will stay coolest, while the upstairs rooms are sweltering hot. You may find yourself buying air conditioners for some rooms and fans for others. Buying a new cooling system may be a no-brainer.
If you have an older home, a ductless HVAC system is a great energy-efficient option. Ductless HVAC systems don’t require running ductwork through your home or cause major renovations. Just make sure you have an HVAC professional help you pick the right size HVAC unit for your home. If you buy a unit “too big” or “too small” the system will struggle to bring your home to an even temperature.
4. Locate and seal leaky ductwork.
Over time, ducts can develop leaks allowing air to escape before ever making it throughout your home. Even small leaks can cause weak airflow and reduced heating and cooling power. Luckily this problem is a fairly easy fix: locate the leaks and seal with duct tape.
5. Add a zoning system.
A zoning system allows you to control the temperature in various rooms of your home independently of one another. Instead of heating the entire house, you can heat or cool individual rooms instead. Best yet, you can turn off heat or air in unoccupied rooms saving you money in energy cost.
Choose BGE HOME in Maryland
Still have questions about cold or hot spots in your home? BGE Home has been servicing homes in Maryland for decades. Contact us today at 410-918-5600 or reach us online and we’ll answer any questions you have. If you want to stay comfortable in your home and improve its efficiency, contact BGE HOME today.
