Your home is where you should be the most comfortable. If you find yourself feeling like one room in your home always feels like a furnace and another feels freezing cold, or if you’re experiencing different temperatures in different areas of the same room, comfort is probably not what you're experiencing. That’s a pretty good sign that your HVAC unit is creating hot spots. But why does this happen?
Sizing Problems
Sizing problems can be caused by two things. First, the problem may be that your ducts and ductwork aren’t the right size for your home. If they’re too small, your HVAC unit won’t be able to put enough hot or cold air into the room to keep it at the right temperature.
The other sizing problem you could be having is that the unit itself is the wrong size for your home. A unit that’s too small will have to work too hard to get the job done. That uses more energy and can shorten the life of the unit. A unit that is too big can cause one area of your home to get too much hot or cold air.
Insulation Problems
Sometimes the problem isn’t actually with the HVAC unit. Sometimes the problem lies within the home itself. If your home has insulation problems, even the best HVAC system out there isn’t going to be as effective at keeping your home evenly warm or cool as it should be. Old homes are especially vulnerable to insulation problems that create hot spots in a home. An inspection can check for areas where insulation just isn’t adequate or is resulting in air leaks so you can get the problem fixed.
Zoning Problems
Different parts of your home are going to need different amounts of hot or cool air to be the right temperature. Just ask anyone with a basement. Basements are naturally cooler than other parts of a house. They won’t need as much air conditioning as an upper level in the summer, so it doesn’t make sense for them to get the same amount of cool air. An HVAC unit with a zoning system allows you to take control over the temperature of as many as eight different parts of the house.
In many cases, understanding the why behind a problem is key to finding the right solution. Such is the case with an HVAC unit that’s creating hot spots in a home. Do yourself a favor and get your home inspected if you’re having a problem keeping things comfortable. We’ll be able to tell you if the problem lies with your HVAC or a different area of your home.
Ready to have your home inspected? Schedule your inspection now so we can help you better understand the condition of your home.