Blog
When you stop to think about it, doesn’t it break the laws of physics for your bedroom to be too cold in the winter? After all, heat rises. So, why do you need extra blankets and still wake up with cold toes?
While it’s true (sort of) that heat rises, there’s much more going on. That means you end up with a cold room or two on the second or third floor of your home. Fortunately, there are always ways to keep that room warm, even if it always feels too cold.
That’s our topic for this article: How to improve your heating and cooling system. Or make the most of what you have to finally heat that one room in your home that’s always too cold in the winter.
And, you may even be able to save money on your heating bills while feeling more comfortable in the cold weather. We’ll cover:
- Four Reasons Your Bedroom Is Too Cold In The Winter
- Four Ways To Add Heat To Your Bedroom In The Winter
Now, here’s a quick spoiler alert: We often recommend a ductless mini-split with a heat pump. It’s an excellent way to supplement your heating system for the one room in the house that needs extra attention.
But, that’s not the only strategy we’ll outline here. There’s plenty more to say on the subject.
If you’d like to learn more about ductless or need a professional to look over the current heating system in your South Central Pennsylvania home, click below or call Air Comfort Technologies for a free consultation.
I Need Help With My Heating System
Four Reasons Your Bedroom Is Too Cold In The Winter
The four most common reasons a bedroom is too cold in the winter are:
- Heat Rises (And Keeps Going)
- Poor Air Circulation
- Vents Are Blocked
- Heater Is The Wrong Size
Heat Rises
Remember how we said it’s only “sort of true” that heat rises? Well, the whole truth is that heat doesn’t necessarily rise. Hot air does. And, that’s enough to cause problems in your home.
In the winter, that hot air rises to the top floor. Then, it keeps going. Since warmth is attracted to cold air, the heated air from your furnace finds any way out of the house to the low temperature outside.
If you have poor insulation, the problem’s even worse.
One Thermostat
Related to this problem is the fact that you only have one thermostat. And, it’s not on the second floor. And, the first floor is warmer than the second.
As a result, the thermostat in the living room or dining room turns off the furnace as soon as that room is warm enough. But that’s often well before your bedrooms get to the temperature you want.
Poor Air Circulation
You’d be surprised how many homes — from older homes to newer construction — suffer from poor air circulation. The ductwork in older homes often tapers on the way up. As a result, you don’t get as much pressure on the top floor.
Meanwhile, newer homes with high ceilings or open floor plans are just plain tricky to heat. You need more registers and more pressure to get the upstairs comfortable. Sometimes, that’s just not possible.
Read More: What Is Static Pressure In Your HVAC System?
Vents Are Blocked
Here’s a simple problem: Your vents on the second or third floor are either closed or blocked. If air can’t pass through or can’t move too far, it won’t circulate and warm the room.
On top of that, you can cause problems for your furnace. If hot air backs up into the system, the heater itself can overheat. Then you’re looking at breakdowns or even a replacement.
Read More: Why Isn’t There Enough Air Coming Through My Vents?
Heater Is The Wrong Size
As you can imagine, a heater that’s too small for your house won’t provide enough warm air — especially upstairs.
But, you can get the same problem from an oversized furnace!
In this case, there’s too much pressure. A blast of warm air hits the thermostat, which then registers as warm. So, it shuts off the furnace.
However, forced air needs to run for 10 or 15 minutes at a stretch. Otherwise, the temperature drops quickly. When this happens, your bedrooms never get the heat they need.
Ductless Vs. Baseboard Heating In York, PA Homes
Four Ways To Add Heat To Your Bedroom In The Winter
Here are four ways to warm up that bedroom in the winter! We’re starting with the least expensive and then moving up.
- Clear Your Vents
- Seal Your Ductwork
- Have Your System Inspected
- Install A Ductless Mini-Split
Clear Your Vents
This one’s simple: Make sure your vents are open. And that you have a foot of open space around each one.
Seal Your Ductwork
Leaks in your ductwork will reduce the amount of pressure pushing the air up through your home. So, have an HVAC contractor look over the ducts. Plugging some splits, holes, or leaks can make a big difference.
Have Your System Inspected
If you’ve never had a tune-up before, have a professional check out your system. Your blower may be weak. Or, this is the opportunity to find out if the system is the right size for your home. Plus, there are other benefits to a fall tune-up.
Click to Schedule Service For Your System
Install A Ductless Mini-Split
If you’re up against the laws of physics and the size and design of your home, then a ductless mini-split may be your best option. The upside? Your home will be more comfortable than ever before
If you’re not familiar with ductless heating and cooling, check out our articles here, here, and here. When it comes to fixing one or two problem rooms, these mini-split systems work great!
You can adjust the temperature in each room individually. And, every room you treat has a dedicated air handler. Plus, mini-splits are whisper-quiet, easy to install, and hardly cost anything at all to run.
Mini-Split Installation In Manchester, PA
Air Comfort Technologies is the expert when it comes to mini-split installation in Manchester, PA. We service homes from Lancaster and Gettysburg out through York, PA. If you’d like to learn more, click below or call us for your free consultation.
