Almost every house has one: the bedroom that's cold every winter morning, the office that's stuffy every afternoon. The cause is usually one of a handful of things, and most of them can be fixed.
Start with the simple things
- Vents and returns. Is the room's supply vent fully open, and is anything (a rug, a bed, a dresser) blocking it or the return grille?
- The filter. A clogged filter cuts airflow everywhere, and the rooms at the end of the duct run feel it most.
- The door. A room with a supply vent but no return needs its door open, or a gap under it, so air can flow back.
- The sun. West-facing windows can overwhelm a room in the afternoon. Blinds or shades help more than you'd expect.
Common causes underneath
- Ductwork: a long run to that room, a crushed or disconnected duct in the attic or crawlspace, or leaks along the way. A technician can measure the airflow at each vent.
- The thermostat is somewhere else. It keeps its own room comfortable; rooms far from it drift.
- Insulation and windows: a room over a garage, an addition, or a room with lots of glass loses or gains heat faster than the rest.
- The room was added later and tied into a system that was never sized for it.
Fixes, from smallest to largest
- Repairing, sealing or rerouting ductwork, and balancing the airflow between rooms
- Adding a return so air can circulate
- A zoning system, so different parts of the house have their own thermostats. See two-story homes.
- A ductless unit for that one room, independent of the rest. See mini-split or central air.
Tell us which room and when it's uncomfortable. Call 805-965-6326 or send us a message.