Your furnace is working and the thermostat shows a comfortable temperature, but does one room in the house remain unpleasantly chilly?
This problem is quite common, especially in older homes or in rooms directly above a garage. But it can also occur in newer properties.
Before raising the thermostat (to no purpose!), it’s better to find out what’s stopping the heat from warming the room and address the underlying issue.
Too Great a Distance From the Heating System
Some rooms are naturally harder to heat. This holds especially true for a bedroom at the far end of a house, a room added at some point over the years, or a converted basement space.
The greater the distance the warm air has to travel, the more difficult it can be to maintain a consistent temperature. An imbalance in the heating system can then cause one room to receive much less heat than the others.
In this situation, turning up the thermostat is rarely the best solution. Instead, consider having a professional check the system’s balance and the airflow.
Poor Air Circulation
In a house with a forced-air heating system, hot air must be able to circulate easily from one room to another. A piece of furniture placed in front of a heating vent, a door that always stays closed, or a blocked return vent can hinder this circulation.
Sometimes, simply moving some furniture or making sure the vents are clear can improve the situation. Ventilation grilles should also be cleaned regularly, as built-up dust can reduce airflow.
Inadequate Insulation
A room may also feel cold due to rapid heat loss. Inadequate insulation in the walls, ceiling, or floor could contribute to the issue.
This situation often arises in older homes, but the renovated or expanded sections of a property can also be impacted. Or the problem might quite simply stem from bad construction.
A room on top of a garage is another classic example. Since garages generally stay much cooler than living spaces, a poorly insulated floor can leave the room above particularly cold.
Windows That Let in the Cold
Even with well-insulated walls, poorly sealed or old windows can keep a room cold.
A window may be the source of a draft, or it may also simply make a room feel cooler because its glass surface retains much less heat than the walls. Thick curtains can help alleviate the chill, but they obviously won’t fix air leaks.
A homeowner who notices a draft near a window should, therefore, check the weatherstripping and the caulking.
A Thermostat in the Wrong Place
The thermostat’s placement also affects the temperature reading for the house. If it’s in a naturally warmer area, it may indicate the correct temperature, but another room may still be cold.
The thermostat only measures the temperature of the room where it’s installed. It doesn’t realize that a room at the other end of the house is significantly cooler.
And What If the Problem Is the Heating System?
A constantly chilly room may also indicate a problem warranting a professional inspection, such as:
- mis-sized ducts;
- inadequate ventilation;
- inefficient heating system;
- other system faults.
So, it’s best to identify the underlying cause before replacing a window, adding insulation, or changing the heating system. A comfortable home depends not only on the temperature the thermostat displays, but also on the building’s ability to retain and distribute heat.
It’s thus doubly important for homeowners to carry out checks as winter approaches!