What Causes Hot & Cold Spots in Your Home

You know what you want to wake up and come home to? Perfectly comfortable indoor conditions so you can get ready for work or relax after a long, grueling day., it might just sound like this: perfectly cool in the summer; warm and inviting in the winter; and all thanks to your well-maintained HVAC systems.

If you’re missing out on that small luxury, the cause might be uneven temperatures throughout your home, otherwise known as hot and cold spots. What, in turn, causes them?  Let’s have a look:     

  • Your heating or cooling system isn’t right-sized. An HVAC system that’s either too big or small for your home is an energy efficiency nightmare. If it’s undersized, for example, it simply can’t heat or cool your home effectively, and some areas of your home are bound to be affected more than others. Conversely, an oversized system frequently will continuously turn on and off which not only can produce hot and cold spots but shorten the equipment’s lifespan.
  • Poor ductwork installation or condition. Your air ducts are vital components of your AC and forced air heating systems. If they develop cracks and leaks, are too small to permit effective airflow, or clogged with dirt, uneven temperatures often can result.
  • Not enough heating registers or vents. A standard 12’ x 12’ room may need only one vent, while a great room with vaulted ceilings will require two, three, or more. Also, their placement is equally crucial to properly heating or cooling each room.
  • Not enough or poor-quality insulation. Proper insulation serves to keep our homes warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Over time, insulation breaks down which then necessitates beefing it up or replacing it. A thorough heat loss assessment can identify areas that are losing heat and where you could benefit from added insulation. That includes outdoor facing walls along with your switches and wall sockets.

Here at McKinzie Heating & Air, we have a world of experience in providing uniform levels of warm and cool air throughout homes of every size and type, including yours.  Contact us today if you could use a boost in home comfort – we’ll be happy to assist you.