Have you ever been trapped inside a stinking hot room in your home?
But then, as you leave the room to see what the problem is, you realize the AC is working in all the rest of your home, and it was only the one room that was having problems.
If you're dealing with a situation like that right now, we've got the solutions to your problems.
Here are some expert tips for keeping all the rooms in your house cool come summertime.
So, Why is My Room So Hot Compared To The Rest of The House?
There are many reasons why one room might have more heated air than the rest.
Here are some of the most likely causes.
1. Too Much Direct Sunlight
Almost every room in your house has windows. After all, why wouldn't you want some natural sunlight in your room?
However, this can cause problems in warm weather. Windows, especially open windows, will let extra heat in, leading to an unbearably warm room.
Fortunately, the solution is fairly simple. Window treatments, such as curtains or blinds, can block out direct sunlight while still allowing you to let some light in.
More modern windows can also solve this problem. Older windows, such as single-pane windows, are not very good at regulating heat.
Newer double-glazed or double-pane windows will reduce the heat in your room without sacrificing light, as window treatments do.
2. Dirty Air Filter
Air filters are inarguably one of the most important parts of your air conditioning system.
Keeping unwanted substances like dust and dirt out of your system ensures your air conditioner can run as efficiently as possible.
Yet a clogged air filter, which is what happens when air filters aren't regularly cleaned, can lead to the same issues they're made to prevent.
The dust and dirt on a clogged filter get into your cooling system, stopping it from cooling your home.
If you notice little or less cool air coming from your air conditioner, check to see if the air filter is dirty. If it is, you can very cheaply get it replaced with another.
3. Closed Air Vents
Sometimes air vents can be a little annoying. If you get stuck under one, it can mess up your hair and leave you feeling chilly.
Despite this, you shouldn't close your air vents or put anything in the way of them.
Why? Because this can prevent proper airflow and cause problems with your air conditioning.
Most notably, closed vents stop air conditioning from reaching parts of your house. Without any avenue in, the cold air in the supply vents will be forced to skip your room and move on to the next.
Closing vents can also seriously put pressure on your HVAC system, leading to damage or system failure.
For this reason, every HVAC technician will tell you to always keep all your vents open while using your air conditioning system.
4. Thermostat Issues
Air conditioners rely on thermostats to regulate their temperature and their function.
Logically then, if your thermostat runs into problems, you might feel it in certain rooms.
- Faulty thermostat
A malfunctioning thermostat can cause different rooms to receive different amounts of cooling, leading to temperature inconsistencies.
If you notice unusual temperature readings or noises coming from your thermostat, it's likely broken and needs to be fixed or replaced.
- Misplaced thermostat
If your thermostat appears to be functioning, yet you're still getting too much warm air in one room, your problem may be thermostat placement.
Thermostats do not monitor the temperature of the entire house but only a specific zone around the thermostat.
So if your thermostat is in a place that is cooler or hotter than the rest of the house, it will not accurately cool all your rooms.
You should place your thermostat on an interior wall away from any direct sunlight or natural light. This will ensure your thermostat accurately monitors the indoor temperature and cools your home appropriately.
5. Problems With the Home's Ductwork
Damage or problems with the air ducts in your home can lead to one room becoming hotter than the rest of the house.
Air ducts move air in and out of your vents, allowing your AC system to produce cool air. For this reason, every room in your house should have an air duct.
Exposure to elevated air pressure and unwanted substances damages these ducts.
If this happens, the cool air produced by your ac system won't evenly disperse throughout your home, leading to air leaks and uneven temperatures.
You can undo this damage and increase airflow by resealing and re-insulating your poorly insulated ductwork.
However, if you've had your ductwork for more than 15 years, it might be time to inspect it for leaks.
6. Poor Insulation
If your problems don't seem to be coming from your air conditioning systems, poor insulation may be to blame for a room hotter than the rest of the house.
Heat stays in your house due to insulation. Tucked in your exterior walls, roof space and the frame of your house, insulation determines how much heat comes into your house and air circulation.
When certain rooms aren't properly insulated, this leads to them being warm compared to the rest of the house.
If you're noticing temperature inconsistencies even when your AC is off, and there doesn't seem to be any way for heat to come in, it's probably due to your insulation.
If you've never checked your insulation, you absolutely need to give it a thorough inspection.
Otherwise, you can verify your current insulation to see if anything's changed.
Even insulation won't just cut down on hot and cold spots, but it'll also save you money on energy bills as your conditioned air isn't wasted.
7. Wrong-size Air Conditioner
No matter whether you have an air conditioner or any other HVAC system, your heating and cooling system is not made as a one-size-fits-all.
All systems are made to cool specific square footage and will run into problems in houses not made for them.
- Too Big vs. Too Small
Air conditioners that are too small will not have enough power to cool your entire house properly. As a result, rooms further away from the thermostat will be hot compared to closer rooms.
This is especially notable in multi-story homes. This is because heat rises, and higher floors have more direct contact with outside weather conditioners than lower floors.
On the other hand, air conditioners that are too big won't cool your home properly either.
Oversized systems shut off before cooling all the rooms, which can lead to having one room hotter than the other rooms.
- How to make sure you have the right sized air conditioner
To know the best size for your air conditioner, you can calculate it using British Thermal Units.
First, calculate your square footage. If this falls between 100 to 150sq, you'll need a system with 5,000 BTU. For every increase of 50sq beyond that, add an extra 1,000BTU.
Almost all electronics generate heat that can cause non-even temperatures.
These electronics are not the components of your HVAC system, like your blower fan or box fan. We are instead talking about other electronics like televisions, fridges, and even LED clocks.
By ensuring you only have the necessary appliances, you can get the best-conditioned air possible in the room. Not running excess appliances will save you on energy bills, too.
Final Thoughts
A range of factors, from your HVAC settings to problems with insulation heat flow, can cause one room in your house to become hotter than all of the others.
If you're struggling with the heat and live in Pensacola, Florida, consider contacting us at Air and Energy of NWFL. We offer renowned attic insulation and duct sealing services, which will restore balance to your home in no time.
We also offer full furnace, HVAC, and air conditioning services. So if you need to beat the heat this summer and need to restore your system, we're more than ready to help you.
