It's blazing hot outside, but why is it so much warmer in different rooms of your house? We hear this a lot from homeowners in Anne Arundel County, Maryland. Whether it's the bonus room over the garage that never feels right or the nursery that's unbearably hot in the summer, uneven temperatures can make your home uncomfortable and drive up your energy bill.
Many of our customers face issues with their HVAC systems that result in uneven cooling or heating. Some common complaints include:
In this blog, we'll dive into the reasons behind uneven room temperatures and offer practical solutions to help you achieve a more comfortable temperature throughout your home. We’ll discuss insulation issues, ductwork problems, and HVAC system inefficiencies and how addressing these can improve energy efficiency and reduce your energy bill.
Stay tuned as we explore these topics and help you understand how to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, ensuring every room in your house is as comfortable as it should be.
Inadequate Insulation: Areas like attics and rooms over garages often have insufficient insulation. This leads to warm air infiltrating in the summer, causing significant temperature variations. Current building code requires R-49 levels of attic insulation which is 18” of insulation, that is one and a half feet of insulation! Homes built before 2000 likely have less than 4 to 12” of insulation.
Attic Air Leaks: Did you know that 20% of all air leaks in a home are in the attic? Homes built before 2000 typically didn't have any attic air sealing, leading to numerous leaks. These leaks are critical because they allow that sweltering 120-degree attic air to infiltrate your home, making it harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. Sealing your attic can significantly improve your home's energy efficiency and comfort.
Leaky Ducts: Did you know that typical duct systems leak 30% of their air before it even reaches the farthest vents in your house? When your ducts have air leaks, the conditioned air from your HVAC system doesn’t effectively reach all rooms, leading to uneven temperatures. Additionally, this duct leakage can draw dusty attic air into your HVAC system, exacerbating allergies and lowering system efficiency.
Improperly Installed Ducts: Poorly designed or installed ductwork can result in some rooms receiving more cold air or heat than others.
Improperly Sized Systems: An HVAC system that's too small or too large for your home can struggle to maintain a consistent temperature. If the system is too small, it will struggle to keep up on the hottest days of the year, leading to discomfort. Conversely, if the system is too large, it will turn on and off excessively throughout the day, failing to remove humidity from the house. This can create a damp and uncomfortable environment. A correctly sized system, possibly an Energy Star-rated unit, is crucial for achieving even cooling and heating throughout your home.
Inefficient Systems: Older, less efficient HVAC systems might not distribute air evenly, causing some rooms to be warmer or cooler than desired.
Blocked Vents: Furniture or other objects blocking vents can restrict airflow, leading to uneven temperature across rooms.
Poor Vent Design: Inadequately designed vents and registers can result in certain areas not receiving enough airflow.
Windows and Sunlight: Rooms with more windows or those facing the sun directly can get much hotter during the summer, affecting the overall temperature balance in your home.
Lack of Window Treatments: Not using blinds or curtains to block out sunlight can cause rooms to heat up quickly.
Understanding these factors can help you identify why your home might have uneven temperatures. Addressing these problems can lead to a more comfortable and energy-efficient home, whether it’s an issue with insulation, ductwork, your HVAC system, or ventilation.
Dealing with uneven temperatures in your home can be frustrating, especially during the sweltering summers here in Anne Arundel County. If you find some rooms are too hot while others are too cold, there are specific reasons and solutions for these temperature imbalances. Before you start making changes on your own, consider an energy audit to accurately diagnose and address the issues. Here are some common scenarios and solutions to help you achieve a comfortable temperature throughout your home.
Insulation Improvements:
Insulate the Garage Ceiling and Walls: Adding insulation can significantly reduce heat transfer, making your bonus room more comfortable year-round. This is particularly important if the bonus room has attic storage spaces through the walls. Proper insulation helps maintain a consistent temperature by preventing heat from entering in the summer.
Seal Air Leaks: Properly sealing gaps and cracks in your attic is crucial for maintaining a stable room temperature. By preventing warm air from entering in the summer, attic air sealing ensures a consistent and comfortable environment throughout your home. This is especially important because attic air leaks are a significant source of energy loss, driving up your energy bills and making it harder to keep your home comfortable.
Duct Sealing Improvements:
Seal the ductwork with Aeroseal: Through the Aeroseal process, you can eliminate 90% of all duct leakage and deliver more air to all the vents throughout your home, especially those furthest from the HVAC system, like bonus rooms over garages. This process not only enhances airflow but also improves the overall efficiency of your HVAC system, ensuring that every room maintains a more consistent and comfortable temperature. By reducing duct leakage, you can also minimize the amount of dust and allergens circulating in your home, contributing to better indoor air quality.
Zoning and Air Circulation:
Seal and Insulate Attic Space: Sealing the air leaks at the tops of all the 2nd-floor walls dramatically improves the 2nd-floor’s ability to reject hot attic air temperatures. This crucial step prevents the intense summer heat from infiltrating your living spaces, keeping your home cooler and more comfortable. Plus, upgrading the attic insulation to 18 inches creates a robust barrier against the 120-degree attic temperatures, significantly reducing heat transfer. This combination of air sealing and insulation ensures a more stable and pleasant indoor climate throughout the hottest months.
Duct Sealing: The Aeroseal process can significantly improve the airflow in your home by eliminating up to 90% of duct leakage. This is especially beneficial for the second floor of your townhouse, which can often suffer from uneven temperatures due to poor air distribution. Aeroseal enhances the efficiency of your HVAC system, ensuring that cool air reaches all rooms, including those furthest from the system. Additionally, by sealing the ducts, you can reduce the presence of dust and allergens, leading to better indoor air quality and a more comfortable living environment.
Balancing Airflow:
Insulate Basement Band Joists: The band joist, located where the floor joists of the first floor meet the foundation wall, is a common source of air leaks in townhouses. This area often has gaps due to plumbing and electrical penetrations, as well as between different building materials. These air leaks can significantly impact the overall energy efficiency of your home, causing the HVAC system to work harder to maintain a comfortable temperature. This increased workload can lead to noticeable temperature imbalances between the basement and the upper floors. Properly sealing the band joist can help reduce these leaks, ensuring a more balanced and comfortable temperature throughout your home.
Duct Sealing: Most of the duct leakage from an HVAC system ends up in the basement. So instead of getting that cold air on the 2nd floor, you get too much of it in the basement. If you seal the ductwork, you get less cold air in the basement and more upstairs -> thus more even temperatures.
Adjust Vents and Registers: Properly adjusted vents and registers help balance airflow between floors, preventing the basement from receiving too much air conditioning.
Use a Dehumidifier: High humidity can affect temperature and comfort in basements. A dehumidifier manages moisture levels, improving temperature balance.
Ductwork and Vent Maintenance:
Inspect and Seal Ductwork with Aeroseal: Aeroseal technology seals duct leaks from the inside, enhancing airflow and ensuring efficient HVAC system performance.
Duct Cleaning and Replacing HVAC: Filters will help improve system airflow and extend equipment life by eliminating dust in the system and reducing air flow restrictions.
Ensure Vents and Registers are Unobstructed: Regular checks to keep vents and registers free from obstructions allow for optimal airflow throughout your home.
Window Treatments and Additional Cooling:
Use Blackout Curtains: Blackout curtains minimize heat gain from windows, keeping the nursery cooler during hot days.
Before you start playing the guessing game with these solutions, consider scheduling an energy audit with Atlas Home Energy Solutions. An energy audit identifies the specific causes of temperature variations in your home and provides targeted recommendations. Our experts will assess your insulation, ductwork, HVAC system, and more, offering a detailed report to improve your home's comfort and energy efficiency.
An energy audit not only helps you save time and money but also qualifies you for up to $10k in rebates through your electric utility. This means you can address your home's energy issues with significant financial assistance, making it more affordable to implement the necessary improvements.
Contact Atlas today to schedule your audit and start enjoying balanced temperatures in every room. Don’t miss out on these valuable rebates and the opportunity to make your home in Anne Arundel County comfortable and efficient year-round.
Living in the beautiful areas of Annapolis, Pasadena, Hanover, and Severna Park, Maryland, we know how important it is to maintain a comfortable and energy-efficient home. At Atlas Home Energy Solutions, we specialize in providing tailored solutions to address your home's unique temperature challenges.
Blower Door Air Leakage Testing: During this test, a big fan is put in place of the front door, and the air is sucked out of the house to simulate a windy day. This test allows the auditor to see how leaky the house is and helps identify the most significant air leaks.
Thermal Imaging: Our state-of-the-art thermal imaging technology helps us pinpoint problem areas in your home. The camera allows us to see the difference between hot and cold spots to see where hot air is leaking into the house or if insulation levels are low or missing. Whether it's insulation gaps, air leaks, or HVAC inefficiencies, we can see exactly where improvements are needed.
"The reviews are legit. Atlas is outstanding. I'm in a cape cod-style home with an extremely hot 2nd level - so I decided to reach out.
- Easy communication & scheduling (via email, text, etc).
- Atlas provided different plan packages, which made the decision about the work less intimidating.
- The inspection and improvements were completed by the most professional group of people I've ever met.
- Atlas seamlessly handles a lot of the rebates & paperwork so I'm not chasing down receipts and stuff.
- Easy communication & scheduling (via email, text, etc).
I knew I liked my house, but after using Atlas Home energy, I love being in my home."
"My experience with Atlas Home Energy from beginning to end was stupendous. Everybody that I had to talk to, from customer service to the people doing the installation, was polite and courteous. They all seemed to enjoy their job, and it shows. Another awesome aspect is that on every day there was an install the team coming to my house was on time. They had a grace period of 8 am-9 am, but every team showed up at 8 am. Plus, every team explained what they were going to do and did a beyond thorough job. I only wish I had done this sooner at my home. It is so much more comfortable!! I have to give a shout-out to Tony and Vincent, the guys who aerosealed my ductwork. Looking at the before and after pictures are mind boggling. Thank you to all the wonderful people at Atlas Home Energy."
"I hired Atlas to perform the PEPCO-sponsored home energy audit and follow-up energy-performance improvements for my 50-year-old house of about 2,400 SgFt. The audit identified several tasks: attic insulation, duct cleaning and sealing, rerouting bathroom fans, and installing a house fresh air vent. Atlas sent several teams of specialists trained in each one of these tasks, all with exceptional customer-oriented performance. The house energy consumption dropped dramatically by 25%! I highly recommend this firm."
By choosing Atlas Home Energy Solutions, you're partnering with local experts who understand the unique climate and housing characteristics of Annapolis, Pasadena, Hanover, and Severna Park. Let us help you achieve a more comfortable, energy-efficient home. Contact us today to schedule an energy audit and start your journey towards better home comfort.
You don't have to live with uncomfortable temperature variations in your home. Whether your upstairs is too hot to sleep comfortably or certain rooms are consistently warmer or cooler than others, there are solutions. By addressing insulation, ductwork, and HVAC system issues, you can achieve a balanced and comfortable home environment.
Are you struggling with uneven temperatures in your home? Let the experts at Atlas Home Energy Solutions help you find the right answers. Schedule a home energy audit with us today, and not only will we ensure your home is comfortable and energy-efficient, but you could also qualify for up to $10,000 in rebates through your electric utility.
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