Winter isn’t a particularly comfortable time of the year for many homeowners in our area–at least, not without a fully functional and efficiently operating heater. If you detect cold spots in your home, for example, it means something is amiss with your heating system. While this isn’t necessarily an emergency, it is a nuisance, and is probably contributing to wasted energy—and subsequent higher energy bills.
If you do notice cold spots, you likely noticed hot spots during the summer, which is a bit more common of a complaint. Homeowners usually blast their AC systems and feel more comfortable, but still notice a room or two that is warmer than the rest of the house. Sound familiar? Read on! We’ve gone into details below about how these form, what sort of problem they cause, and what you can do about them.
What Causes Cold Spots?
There are several possible answers. In some instances, it can be a problem with the HVAC system itself—in which case a professional repair might get you back the comfort you deserve. Only a professional HVAC technician will be able to tell you if this is the case. Other possible causes:
- Improper Insulation: The insulation in your home forms a barrier between your interior living space and the outdoor temperatures. If there is a section of your home that is not insulated as it should be, it can enable conditions that form these cold spots. The same is true in the summer with hot spots—many people assume insulation is just for winter but it actually keeps the cool, conditioned air inside and the heat of the sun outside during the summer, too.
- Ductwork Damage: This may be in the form of leaks due to holes in your air ducts. This would compromise airflow to the rooms of your home. Another problem with this is that it contributes to bad indoor air quality. Rhe same can be said for ductwork obstructions. If your ducts weren’t properly installed, they could have bent connections or loose joints that aren’t allowing for proper airflow, thus resulting in cold spots during the winter.
- Clogged Air Filter: The air filter of your HVAC system is in place to protect the system from dirt, dust, and other debris. What happens if it becomes too clogged is that it blocks airflow, which can cause some rooms to not receive the same level of heating that others do.
How to Respond
First, we’re going to tell you how not to respond. Don’t turn up your thermostat to compensate for the cold spots and call it a day. All you’ll be doing is using up more energy than you should have to without fixing the problem—and literally paying for it as a result.
Instead, call our pros and have your system inspected, particularly your ductwork. You may have leaks or obstructions that can be easily repaired. But remember, this is a job only to trust to the pros.
You can’t just slap some duct tape up there and expect everything to be okay. Duct tape is actually not appropriately named, and becomes brittle after only few months due to the temperature fluctuations within the ducts. Our pros use a special mastic sealing to effectively solve this problem.