Why Isn’t My Furnace Heating My Entire Home?
If your furnace seems to be producing heat inconsistently around your Albany home to you, you’re not alone. Many homes have varied conditions from room to room, causing spotty heating or cooling.
On cold days, this can be a nuisance. For example, you may be confined to only a few rooms in your home. Or you might have to wear a coat and blanket just to function around the house.
Our team at Mill Creek Heating, LLC wants you to be comfortable at home; you deserve to be! Here are seven solutions that could solve uneven heating issues:
1. Poor insulation
If your ducts, windows, attic, or walls have poor or nonexistent insulation, you might have a problem. Heat is escaping, which can cause inconsistent heating. However, you can fix this relatively quickly.
Your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) professional can perform a thermal analysis in order to figure out which areas need insulation. A professional can install insulation within hours, and when compared to other home improvements, it is relatively affordable.
2. Duct problems
Leaky or blocked ducts can lead to patchy heating. You should take a walk around inside your home to see if any ducts are being blocked by furniture or carpeting.
Additionally, the insides of your ducts can have blockages, especially if they haven’t been cleaned recently. Leaks in your ducts are another enemy of even heating. If you think you might have leaky or blocked ducts, have a trained technician perform a thermal analysis.
3. Thermostat problems
Try changing your thermostat settings. If your furnace is set to Auto, change it to the On setting. This will cause it to run consistently instead of incrementally, which may lead to more even heating.
Your thermostat also might have heat-sensor issues or faulty wiring, causing it to produce the wrong temperature reading. A professional can diagnose this issue.
4. Improperly sized furnace
When a furnace is sized incorrectly for your Oregon home, it will usually produce poor heating. Undersized units lack the capacity to ventilate your entire living area.
Similarly, larger units short cycle, leading to inadequate heating. One of our experts can perform heat load calculations to determine whether your system is the correct size.
5. Lack of maintenance
When you don’t schedule routine maintenance visits, your system can lose its finesse. Dirty coils, worn/unsecured belts, and clogged filters are common mishaps. Due to these issues, you’ll have a weakened heating system.
Routine maintenance saves you money. You can reduce your energy costs by up to 30 percent with seasonal tune-ups and professional maintenance. Regular HVAC maintenance can also reduce costly breakdowns by as much as 95 percent.
6. Wrong-sized filter
Good airflow is key to dispersing hot air throughout your Albany home. If your filter is too thick for your furnace, it creates excessive resistance, leading to compromised airflow. You can have your technician perform a static resistance test to see if it’s the right size.
7. HVAC zoning
Some homes have varied heating needs for different rooms. Fortunately, with a zone control system, you can adjust the temperature settings in multiple areas. If you live in a home with multiple stories, large windows, or a furnished basement, zone controls may be the best solution.
Call Mill Creek Heating, LLC for All Your Heating Needs
Our professionals at Mill Creek Heating, LLC provide furnace installations, repairs, and maintenance to our neighbors in Albany, Oregon, and surrounding regions. Call us today at 503-749-1000 or request service online for any additional questions or to schedule service.