You don’t have to walk around with a thermometer to know where the cold spots in your home are. Those are the places you tend to avoid when you want to relax in a comfortable chair on a wintry day. Kids are very aware of chilly areas, as well, as are pets (particularly cats.) You can try to heat cold spots by cranking up the thermostat. Then, however, the rest of the house becomes overly warm.
Here are ways to eliminate cold spots while still keeping a comfortable temperature elsewhere:
Verify airflow.
Can you feel warm air coming out of the nearest supply vent? If you can’t, check to see if the vent louvers are closed. If there’s no airflow, or air volume feels insufficient, schedule a ductwork inspection for leaks, disconnected segments, obstructions or internal air dampers that have closed.
Feel for drafts.
If exterior doors or windows are nearby, check for cold air leaking in. If you notice drafts, examine the weatherstripping around the door or window and replace if it’s worn. If cold air is entering along a baseboard or at the joints between walls and ceiling, fill gaps with silicone caulking.
Check thermostat location.
If the system thermostat is in an area that’s unusually warm due to a nearby supply vent or continuous exposure to sunlight, it could cause certain rooms or areas located far from the thermostat to be too cold.
Get heat next door.
If one room is stubbornly cold, move warmth from an adjacent rooms that gets adequate heat. A jumper duct can be run through the ceiling from one room to the next for continuous passive airflow. Another option is a room-to-room ventilator installed in the wall between rooms. This compact, quiet fan pulls air out of the warmer room and into the cold space. It can be actuated by a manual switch or a thermostat in the colder room. Professional installation is quick and uncomplicated.
Whether it’s cold spots in winter or hot spots in summer, Paitson Bros. has been your year-round source for HVAC advice and service since 1922.
Our goal is to help educate our customers in Terre Haute, Indiana about energy and home comfort issues (specific to HVAC systems). For more information about cold spots and other HVAC topics, download our free Home Comfort Guide or call us at 812-645-6859.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922