Hot Room Causes & Solutions
It’s really getting hot out there! It’s time to get ready for the heat that always comes to Arizona in the summer. And while you may have an air conditioning system that works well and keeps your house cool, you may also have a room that just never feels as comfortable as the others. These rooms that don’t seem to ever quite get cool enough are commonly referred to as hot rooms.
There are a number of reasons why certain rooms do not cool adequately. There are also a lot of options for homeowners when it comes to getting that hot room cool again! With the help of the comfort experts at Hobaica, we’ll help you determine why there is one room in your home that is hotter than the rest and what you can do about it.
Reasons Why You Have A Hot Room
Air Vent Issues
One of the most common reasons for an uneven temperature in a home is air vent issues. If conditioned air is not able to flow freely through the vents, it can cause the room to feel hot and stuffy.
In some cases, the issue may be with the ductwork itself. If there are leaks or blockages in the ducts, conditioned air can escape, causing the room to feel hotter than it should. Another possibility is that the vents are not properly sized for the room. If the vents are too small, they may not be able to circulate enough air to keep the room comfortable.
Some air vent issues can be resolved by simply rearranging your furniture to ensure no vents are blocked. In other cases you may find your vents are partially or fully closed, and opening them up will make that hot room cool again. However, deeper problems with your ventilation system will require professional help. A licensed HVAC technician will be able to assess the situation and recommend the best course of action.
Insulation Issues
Many times, a hot room in your Phoenix area home is caused by insulation issues. Uneven temperatures in your home can be due to hot spots where there is less insulation or no insulation at all. This allows heat to leak into the room from outside, making it warmer than the rest of the house.
If you have hot spots in your home, it's important to address the issue as soon as possible by having a qualified professional inspect your insulation for proper coverage. Insulation issues can lead to higher energy bills and make your home uncomfortable to live in. By taking care of the insulation problem now, you can avoid these potential issues and keep your home comfortable all year long.
The Right Addition
If your home has ever had an addition built on, it may be the source of your hot rooms. Many times, homeowners will build an addition and not think to upgrade their HVAC system to accommodate the additional square footage. Because the HVAC system is no longer sized correctly for your home, it ends up working overtime to cool your home, resulting in high energy bills and hot rooms. If you suspect this is the case, have your HVAC company do a load calculation and recommend a properly sized HVAC system for your home.
In other cases, the new addition doesn’t get tied into the existing HVAC system correctly - or at all! In cases like these, the hot rooms have insufficient air vents to provide enough cool air. You can solve this problem by running new ducts and vents, or you may prefer to add a ductless mini split system to the addition for supplemental cooling.
Windows
A surprising source of overheated rooms in Phoenix are the windows in your home. Your windows can increase room temperatures in a number of ways. If you have an older home with original windows, they’re probably allowing air leakage. Older windows are generally single-paned and uninsulated, making them a source of greenhouse effect heating in your home. Upgrading to modern insulated windows can significantly increase your home comfort and decrease your energy bills.
If a window upgrade isn’t currently in your budget, here are a few simple and inexpensive things you can do to cool your rooms down:
- Seal the edges around your windows with caulk to eliminate potential drafts.
- Close your blinds and curtains when your room is in full sunlight.
- If any windows have cracks that could be causing a draft, get those panes fixed. Keep the cracks covered with tape until they can be repaired.
Don’t Suffer A Hot Room - Get Help From Hobaica!
Here at Hobaica, we want to help you keep your home comfortable all year long. That’s why we offer a free ducting & insulation inspection. We can identify any air leaks or insulation issues in your home and provide solutions that will make your living space more comfortable and energy-efficient. If you’re experiencing problems with hot rooms, contact us today for a free consultation. We look forward to helping you get the most out of your home!
