How to combat cold spots in your home
Do you have an area in your home that never seems to get warm in the winter?
If you do, your home has a cold spot.
A cold spot is a temperature inconsistency between one part of your home and another. It’s annoying and uncomfortable and makes you take a sweater on and off inside your house.
It’s not unusual for certain rooms to be a degree or two warmer than others, but when there is a difference of 5 or 10 degrees, you’ve got a problem.
Some people turn up the thermostat, but you shouldn’t have to overheat the whole house just to make one spot warm. Others resort to buying a space heater, which means incurring a cost and adding a fire risk.
But the best way to combat a cold spot is to identify the cause and fix it. That’s where Pollard & Son can help, by conducting a survey of your home.
Common reasons for cold spots — and their remedies — include:
* Poorly sealed or improperly installed ductwork. Ducts take the heated or cooled air from your HVAC unit to the rooms of your home. If it’s not properly installed or sealed, the heated air will leak out before it gets into the room.
A trained heating and cooling technician will check the ductwork. Metallic tape can be used to ensure that all duct connections are properly sealed.
* Lack of attic insulation. Proper attic insulation is essential for maximum heating and cooling efficiency. It provides a thermal barrier that minimizes heat flow through the ceiling. A technician can tell you if you need more.
* The thermostat is in the wrong location. The thermostat, which controls your home’s heating and cooling, reads the temperature of the room where it’s located. If it’s in direct sunlight, the thermostat’s sensors will register a higher temperature than the actual air temperature of the room.
The thermostat can be relocated to a spot that isn’t in direct sunlight. Another solution is to tint the windows or add blinds or drapes to block the sun.
Or you may want to install programmable thermostats in different zones or rooms of the house, which allows you to program the temperature of each room individually. Zoning works especially well for older homes or larger homes with lots of rooms.
* Cold air is rushing down your chimney and into your home.
Make sure the damper is closed when the fireplace is not in use.
* Leaky doors and windows.
To find out if the door lets cold air into your home, place a lit candle near the closed door. If the flame flickers, it’s a sign that air is leaking.
If it’s leaking at the bottom of the door, screw on a door brush or weather strips — or install a storm door. Sealant can fix drafts between the door and the frame.
To test windows, open the window and place a piece of paper on the bottom of the frame. Close the window, then gently tug on the paper. If you can pull the paper out without ripping it, the windows aren’t sealed properly. The solution may be to add new weather stripping along the bottom of the window frame or add caulk to fill gaps between the frame and the wall. If you have deep pockets, you may want to replace the windows with ones that are more energy efficient.
* Your heating system isn’t working properly.
Regularly scheduled seasonal maintenance is the best way to make sure your unit is in tip-top shape.
The experts at Pollard & Son can conduct an assessment of your home, determine the cause of the cold spots and make necessary repairs or improvements. Call them at 252-752-3661 to schedule an appointment.
