Does your home have rooms that feel too hot or too cold, while other rooms feel perfectly comfortable? This issue is common in older homes, multi-story layouts, and houses that have been remodeled or expanded over time. In Erie and the surrounding communities, where seasonal temperature swings are significant, uneven temperatures can become hard to ignore. As your local HVAC experts since 1952, we’re breaking down the causes of this comfort problem and how to fix it.

What Can Cause Uneven Temperatures Inside a Home?

Before your comfort problem can be addressed, you’ll need to identify the cause of the issue. There are several factors that can contribute to uneven temperatures, and it’s not uncommon for more than one of them to be at play:

• Airflow issues: When air cannot move freely through the home, some rooms receive too much conditioned air while others get very little. Blocked supply vents, closed interior doors, or furniture covering return vents can all disrupt proper airflow.
• Ductwork issues: Over time, ducts can develop leaks, loose connections, or poor design layouts that prevent air from reaching distant rooms. When conditioned air escapes into attics, crawl spaces, or walls, rooms farther from the HVAC system may never reach the desired temperature.
• Insulation: Gaps or thinning insulation in attics, exterior walls, and basements allow heat to escape in winter and enter in summer. This often causes upstairs rooms to feel warmer during hot weather and colder during colder months.
• Home layout: Two-story homes, finished basements, and bonus rooms over garages naturally experience different temperature demands.
• Thermostat placement: A centrally located thermostat may not reflect conditions throughout the home.
• System condition: An aging or malfunctioning HVAC system may struggle to distribute air evenly.
• System sizing: An improperly sized heating or cooling system can also fail to heat or cool evenly. Systems that are too small struggle to deliver consistent comfort to every room, while oversized systems cycle on and off too frequently to distribute air evenly. Professional heating and AC installation is important for proper sizing.

Ways to Combat Uneven Temperatures

Depending on the cause of your home’s uneven temperatures, you may be able to solve it with simple adjustments, while other issues require professional evaluation:

1. Improve Airflow and Vent Placement

Airflow is often the easiest place to start:

• Supply and return vents: These should remain open and unobstructed so air can circulate properly. Closing vents in unused rooms may seem helpful, but it can actually create pressure imbalances that worsen uneven temperatures.
• Furniture placement: Large items placed in front of vents or returns can limit airflow and trap conditioned air in certain areas. Interior doors play a role as well. Keeping doors open allows air to move more freely between rooms and helps balance temperatures.

If airflow issues persist even after making these adjustments, the problem may lie deeper within the system. In those cases, professional airflow balancing can help each room receive the right amount of air.

2. Address Insulation Gaps in Key Areas

Proper insulation helps maintain consistent indoor temperatures by reducing heat transfer. It also eases the workload on the HVAC system, allowing it to maintain comfort more evenly. When insulation is missing or deteriorated, heat moves in and out of the home too easily. Attics, crawl spaces, and basements are common trouble spots, especially in older homes.

Look out for these signs that your insulation needs help:

• Drafty rooms
• Noticeable temperature swings
• Rooms that never seem to match the thermostat setting
• Temperature differences between floors or rooms along exterior walls

An experienced HVAC professional can identify whether insulation is contributing to uneven temperatures and recommend appropriate next steps.

3. Seal and Repair Leaky Ductwork

Your system’s ductwork distributes heated and cooled air throughout your home, but leaks, gaps, or disconnected sections allow that air to escape before it ever reaches certain rooms. This is especially common in duct systems that run through unconditioned spaces like attics or basements.

When ducts lose air along the way, rooms farthest from the system often feel the most uncomfortable. Sealing and repairing leaky ductwork helps air reach every part of the home as intended. It can also improve overall system performance and reduce unnecessary strain.

Because ductwork issues are not always visible, professional inspection and ductwork repair is usually needed to correct these problems.

4. Use Zoning or Supplemental Solutions for Hard-to-Reach Areas

Some areas of the home naturally require different temperature control than others. Two-story homes, additions, finished basements, and rooms with large windows often benefit from more targeted solutions.

Zoning systems divide the home into separate areas, each with its own temperature control. This allows different parts of the house to be heated or cooled based on their specific needs. For rooms that remain uncomfortable despite other improvements, supplemental systems such as ductless HVAC can provide focused comfort without overworking the main system.

Choosing the right solution depends on your home’s layout and existing equipment, so it’s best to get an evaluation from an HVAC professional.

5. Schedule Professional HVAC Maintenance and System Evaluation

Routine heating and AC maintenance play a key role in preventing uneven temperatures. During maintenance visits, HVAC technicians check airflow, system components, and overall performance. Small issues can be identified and addressed before they develop into larger comfort problems.

Uneven temperatures that persist year after year may indicate deeper system issues, such as improper sizing or aging equipment that can no longer distribute air evenly. A thorough system evaluation helps determine whether adjustments, repairs, or upgrades are needed.

Schedule Heating Services Today

Uneven temperatures do not have to be a permanent part of your home life. With the right approach, comfort can be restored to every room. Nerthling’s Heating & Air Conditioning has served Erie, Millcreek, Harborcreek, North East, Fairview, and surrounding communities since 1952. As a family-owned company, we focus on fair pricing, honest recommendations, and treating every home with care. At Nerthling’s, We Treat Your Home Like It’s Our Own.

Schedule heating services in the Erie area with Nerthling’s Heating & Air Conditioning today to restore comfort throughout your home!