How to Troubleshoot Cold Spots in Your Home

Cold spots in your home can be uncomfortable and are a sign that your HVAC system is not up to snuff. This can also decrease your indoor air quality. If you’re noticing cold spots throughout your home, there are steps you can take to troubleshoot what’s going on, which will allow you to schedule a service call with a professional who can remedy the problem.

Checking the Condition of Your Ductwork

Oftentimes, your HVAC system may be running perfectly fine. However, damage to your ductwork or other issues can cause cold spots in your home. If you have gaps or cracks in your ducts that allow conditioned air to escape, this means there’s less warm air to make its way through your vents. Your HVAC system will work harder to try and increase your interior temperature. This can lead to equipment strain and malfunction, and it can also reduce its life expectancy.

You can have professionals seal gaps and cracks in your ductwork using materials like mastic tape or sealants. You can also schedule a duct sealing, which uses specialized products to seal the inside of your ductwork. This prevents conditioned air from escaping. Make sure ducting is always professionally installed to prevent airflow issues.

You may also want to consider adding insulation around your ductwork. This material will keep warm air where it belongs so that it can exit your vents and maintain a comfortable interior temperature. There are different materials you can use for this process, including spray foam insulation, fiberglass batting, and loose fill insulation.

Sealing Up Gaps Around Your Home

Your ductwork isn’t the only area of the home where gaps and cracks can lead to uncomfortable interior temperatures. You can find these around your windows, doors, and foundation as well. You can seal these areas using expanding spray foam, weatherstripping, or caulk to reduce cold spots caused by heat loss.

Adjust Your Vents and Dampers

Make sure that all the vents in your home are open. Many homeowners think that they can save money by closing off vents in rooms that aren’t used very often. This decreases airflow in your HVAC system, often causing problems. Not to mention, you’ll notice there are cold spots around your home where vents are closed.

If you have dampers in your ductwork that help direct the flow of conditioned air to different branches of your home, you can adjust them to try and deliver warm air to the areas that feel cold and uncomfortable. Just make sure you don’t completely close off airflow to any areas. This could cause extensive airflow restriction that can damage your HVAC equipment due to the static pressure rising inside the ducts.

Have Your Heating Equipment Inspected

Issues with your heating equipment can leave your home feeling cold. Start by checking if warm air is coming out of your vents. If your furnace is blowing air but not producing heat, there may be underlying problems. Common issues include a malfunctioning pilot light or ignition, a clogged air filter, or a faulty blower motor. Necessary repairs may be required to restore your furnace’s ability to produce warm air.

To prevent such problems, we recommend scheduling routine maintenance for your HVAC system. Regular maintenance allows our team to identify and address minor issues before they escalate into major concerns, such as a lack of warm air from your vents. It is a good idea for you to schedule your inspection once each year.

Check Your Furnace Filter

The filter in your furnace is designed to remove particulate matter from your indoor air before it circulates into your living space and impacts the function of your HVAC system. You should be changing this filter approximately once every 30 to 90 days. The time frame varies and is dependent on things like the type of filter you’re using, how often your system runs, etc. If your filter is clogged because you’ve failed to replace it, this can impede airflow in your HVAC system and can lead to cold spots.

Consider Solar Impact

Areas of your home that receive significant sunlight during the day tend to feel warmer, which can affect how your furnace operates. If your thermostat is in one of these warmer areas, it may prevent your furnace from turning on to heat the rest of your home. To address this, consider closing blinds or shades to limit excessive warming from sunlight. You can also improve temperature balance by using circulation to distribute heat evenly throughout your home. Turn on ceiling fans to push warm air from the ceiling back down into the room. Ensure the fans are set to rotate in a counterclockwise direction to achieve this effect.

Thermostat Positioning

Consider where your thermostat is placed. If it is an area of your home that tends to be warm, this can prevent the rest of your home from being heated. Just as thermostats should never be installed in areas with direct sunlight, you should also avoid having them in or near your kitchen or bathroom. These are areas that see higher temperatures because of cooking and bathing. They also tend to be more humid, which can make the temperature in these areas feel warm.

Insulating Your Home

In addition to gaps and cracks allowing cold air from the outside to come indoors, lack of insulation can cause a similar effect. Schedule an inspection of your home to check if you have enough insulation. Key areas that require insulation include your attic, foundation, and exterior walls. If you have specific rooms that tend to feel cold and lack insulation, consider upgrading. You can use materials like spray foam insulation to create a very airtight seal against the outside elements. Tax incentives can make this process affordable.

Undersized Heating Equipment

It’s possible that the size of your furnace isn’t large enough to keep up with the heating demands of your household. Undersized heating equipment can cause trouble with efficiency. This is because your equipment will work harder to heat your home. This leads to frequent repair needs and a shortened system life span. You’ll also experience high energy bills each month, especially during the winter months. An HVAC professional can help you choose an appropriately sized furnace that will eliminate cold spots throughout your home and promote efficiency.

Reach Out to the Pros for Help

For assistance with troubleshooting the cold spots in your home, Lightfoot Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical is available. Homeowners can think of us as their one-stop shop for home maintenance needs because we also offer services such as air conditioning installation, repair, ductless system services, routine maintenance, furnace installation, repairs, emergency plumbing, leak detection, fixture installation, drain cleaning, and whole-house water filtration. In addition, we offer electrical services from certified professionals, such as wiring and rewiring, routine inspections, panel upgrades, and whole-house surge protection.

Contact Lightfoot Plumbing, Heating, Air & Electrical in Weatherford, TX today to schedule an appointment.