Why Is My Room So Cold? It May Be Time For a Zoning HVAC System

Sometimes you start to notice your home is harder to heat. You may be hot in one room, only to find the next one freezing cold. Why is there a temperature difference between rooms? And more importantly, what can you do about it?

The first step is realizing that your HVAC system needs maintenance throughout its life. Problems can creep up that prevent it from working well and disbursing warmed air evenly in every room in your home. Many things can impact it, including:

A dirty air filter

A dirty air filter is one of the most common causes of an HVAC system not working properly. Fortunately, it’s also one of the easiest DIY projects you can take on. A dirty air filter prevents your furnace from distributing air evenly into each room. They are easy to change out – just pop the old one out and put the new one in. We recommend changing them seasonally, or even monthly if you have a busy household with pets and kids. 

Blocked ductwork

How old is your home? When was the last time you cleaned your ductwork, or inspected it to ensure it’s not blocked? Inside the ducts, dust, mold, insects, pests, and other contaminants can settle into the ducts and prevent clean air from flowing into each room. While cleaning your ductwork isn’t a regular task, you should consider it if you’ve never had them cleaned, or you’ve gone through a major renovation that may have compromised your ducts. 

Closed air vents

When was the last time you redecorated? Or stored boxes of personal items you no longer use regularly? As you move your personal items around, some invariably may be placed in front of vents and registers, blocking air flow. We also find that some homeowners close off a register in a guest room, thinking it’s a great way to save money. Why heat a room you seldom use? This impacts the functionality of your HVAC system. If it’s not distributing airflow as intended, it can make your HVAC run harder trying to compensate for the “problem” it sees in the system. If you notice a problem with temperature control, walk around and ensure every vent is open and working well. 

While you might be able to fix your heating variances with one of these methods, there’s another option too. With traditional HVAC systems, every room in your house is heated and cooled equally. The thermostat registers the temperature nearby, and adjusts when the furnace turns on and off accordingly. 

Zoning HVAC systems work differently. Homeowners design their homes in zones, and control each zone with its own thermostat. You can program each thermostat differently, meaning you can easily control how warm or cold each zone is throughout the day. 

It’s a great way to keep the bedrooms cooler when you’re gathering in the main living space, or keep colder portions of your home at lower temperatures if the rooms are seldom used. 

What questions can we answer about installing a zoned HVAC system in your home?