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Reasons You’re Getting Cold Spots When the Heater Is Running

cold-man-and-woman-in-parkas

When your home’s central heating system comes on in the winter, you expect it to heat the home. And, under normal circumstances, that’s what it will do: send warmth around the rooms through a ventilation system so you enjoy an even spread of comfort all throughout the house. 

There will be a few temperature fluctuations in rooms that are difficult to avoid, such as places that have less insulation or rooms higher in the house that may get a bit warmer from rising heat. But you can still expect an effective heating system to provide a generally even distribution of warmth.

Except that now you’re discovering cold spots in your house when the heater is running. That’s not right, and we’re here to help you find out why so you can solve the problem with the proper heating repair or basic troubleshooting.

Check the Air Filter First

When you encounter uneven heating, we always recommend checking on the air filter for the heating system first to find out if it’s clogged. This filter will become dirty after one to three months and begin to cut off the airflow to the heater. Less air to heat, less air getting into the house—and you’ve got cold spots! Put in a clean filter and this may solve the problem. (And keep up with future changes on a regular basis.)

The Heater is Short-Cycling

Listen to how often your heater turns on and off. Does it seem to be doing it faster than you expect, such as turning on and off five times in an hour? If so, the heater is short-cycling, cutting off its normal heating cycle too early (< 10 mins) and coming back on. When this occurs, the heater won’t stay on long enough to distribute warmth evenly around the house. Short-cycling is a general problem for a heater, so please call for technicians to discover what’s causing it and have it corrected.

Thermostat Trouble

Often, a malfunctioning thermostat is lurking behind troubles getting a heating system to behave the way it should. One common problem is thermostat miscalibration: if the thermostat’s temperature sensor registers the house is several degrees hotter than it is, it won’t run the heater for long enough to warm up all the rooms. Technicians can easily correct thermostat issues, often by replacing the thermostat. 

Leaking Air Ducts

Warm air may not get to all the rooms because air leaks in the ductwork to those rooms is letting the heated air escape. Not only will this affect heat distribution, it will also cause a general drop in air pressure throughout the ventilation system that will lower HVAC energy efficiency and affect airflow from the vents. You can call our professionals for duct services to repair problems like this.

Aging Heater

If your heating system is approaching the end of its service life, it will start to lose its heating capacity. Uneven heating is one of the major warning signs that a heater is starting to fail and needs replacement. You can ask a technician to inspect the system and offer professional advice about whether it’s cost-effective to fix the heater or have it replaced.

Dewees HVAC proudly serves the Conway area—we’re here to keep you comfortable! Contact us when you need any heating help in your home.

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