When winter temperatures dip below freezing, too much heat might seem more like a benefit than a drawback. However, excessive heat can boost monthly energy bills as well as make living spaces less comfortable, even during the colder months of the year.
A winter indoor temperature range of 68 degrees to 72 degrees is recommended by the U.S. Department of Energy. This range represents the most favorable compromise between optimum comfort and affordable heating costs. Under certain circumstances, however, homeowners may find that recommended moderate temperature range difficult to maintain due to too much heat in the entire house or in specific rooms.
If you’re staying a bit warmer this winter than you’d actually prefer, here are some potential causes of too much heat:
Thermostat Problems
Begin with the most likely suspect: Maybe your programmed thermostat setting is too high. Perhaps someone input a temporary higher temperature and did not reset the thermostat to normal settings. Verify programmed temperatures just to be sure.
Is the thermostat malfunctioning? If the unit doesn’t signal the furnace to turn off at the desired setting, it may not be detecting temperatures properly. The furnace may be cycling on and off at extremely high temperatures or even running nonstop. If you suspect a malfunction, manually turn the furnace off at the main thermostat on/off switch and contact a qualified HVAC contractor.
Airflow Issues
If the return air vent in a room — or a central return vent elsewhere — is obstructed or closed, heated air cannot be removed and circulated back to the furnace. This may cause temperatures in a single room or area of the home to rise above normal.
Excess supply airflow can deliver too much heat to a specific room. The cause may be too many closed supply vents in adjacent rooms or airflow dampers inside ductwork that are out of adjustment.
For more about possible causes of too much heat in your home, contact the problem-solvers at Paitson Bros., now keeping Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley comfortable for 98 years.
Jeff Paitson is a third generation business owner who continues to run the business with the same values that have been passed down from previous generations since 1922.
Jeff’s belief is that the business belongs to Jesus Christ; therefore 10 percent of the company’s profits go toward the Maryland Community Church.
Jeff is a Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce member and in his spare time, he enjoys 
Ethan Rayburn is a lifelong resident of Terre Haute and a 2005 graduate of Purdue University.
An Eagle Scout, Ethan spent four years as a non-profit executive with the Boy Scouts of America before joining Paitson Bros. as a comfort advisor and later General Manager. In that role, Ethan has brought a renewed enthusiasm for customer care, integrity, value, and service to Paitson Bros. Heating & Air Conditioning.
Ethan enjoys singing and was a member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club. He also enjoys playing and coaching soccer, spending time with his family and two young boys, and volunteering his time and resources with his church, Terre Haute First Baptist Church, which he has attended from a very young age.
Paitson Bros
1 (812) 232-2347
Serving the Wabash Valley, IN Area Since 1922