Why Isn’t My Furnace Heating My Entire Home?

If your furnace seems to be producing heat inconsistently around your Richmond 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.

We at DeltaTemp want you to be comfortable at home; you deserve to be! Here are seven furnace problems that could be causing uneven heat:

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 insulating. 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 isn’t in the right-size class for your Central Virginia 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. 

But with proper maintenance, they are easily preventable. According to the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA), regular HVAC maintenance reduces costly breakdowns by as much as 95 percent.

6. Wrong-sized filter

Good airflow is key to dispersing hot air throughout your home. If your filter is too thick for your furnace, it creates excessive resistance, leading to compromised ventilation. You can have your technician perform a static resistance test to see if it’s the right size.

7. Need of zone control

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 having multiple stories, large windows, or a furnished basement, zone controls may be the best solution.

Call DeltaTemp for All Your Heating Needs

Our professionals at DeltaTemp provide furnace installations, repairs, and maintenance to our neighbors in Richmond, VA, and surrounding regions. Call us today at 804-739-5854 or request service online for any additional questions or to schedule service.