OT: Uneven Heating... Recommendations?

xeladragon · #1 10-09-2019, 10:39 AM

I have forced air heating in my home. My daughter's room is on the same floor as mine, but hers is noticeably colder during the winter. Last winter, I installed window insulator kits in her room, and that helps a little bit, but the temperature difference is still noticeable.

I also have a Nest thermostat (my room) and sensor (her room), so that at night, the heat comes on based on the temp in her room.

Anything else I can do to try to even out the uneven heating?

I don't think there are any space heaters that are safe for running overnight.

I used to close vents in room(s) that we don't use much, but then I read online that that's not necessarily good for your HVAC system, so I stopped doing that.

Tips/recommendations appreciated. Thanks guys!

unterhausen · #2 10-09-2019, 10:55 AM

her room must be further along the ducting. You can generally adjust dampers to even out the airflow. Also check to see if the ducts are properly insulated or leaking

xeladragon · #3 10-09-2019, 11:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unterhausen

her room must be further along the ducting. You can generally adjust dampers to even out the airflow. Also check to see if the ducts are properly insulated or leaking

Her room is further along, but heat comes out of the vent pretty well. I definitely have some weaker vents in the house, and the one in her room is not one of them. Checking if the ducts are property insulated or leaking sounds reasonable, but not something a non-HVAC professional like myself can do.

MattTuck · #4 10-09-2019, 12:02 PM

I've used those shrink wrap kits before and never found them to be particularly impressive.

If you think the window is the main culprit for heat loss, I'd go all the way and install some blinds (like from select blinds) and a curtain. We have that set up in our nursery, and it is typically 5-8 degrees warmer at night in there, than at the thermostat in the hall (door is shut, but not latched over night).

If you're not sure about the window, consider checking the insulation above her room. perhaps there are some spots where the insulation is uneven, not installed properly. Most heat escapes by rising.

But, if you have old drafty windows, and the draft is the cause of the heat loss, the shrink wrap kit may be the only thing you can do to stop air flow.

cash05458 · #5 10-09-2019, 12:14 PM

I understand your hesitance on space heaters...but maybe try one of those ones that has a bit of oil in it and heats slowly...they have no fans etc...apologies that I don't know exactly how they are called but they sort look like old style room radiators on wheels...we use one in our house here in vermont in a room that doesn't get enough heat and it really helps...and they don't get hot enough to burn a child...just put out a slow steady area heat and as far as I know are fairly immune from accidents that might involve a young kid...

donevwil · #6 10-09-2019, 12:27 PM

After unsuccessfully trying to track down heat loss in the coldest room in my house I borrowed an infrared camera from work, showed clearly the heat loss was from a 4' section of uninsulated wall as opposed to the two windows I suspected.

Most big hardware stores rent them (Home Depot, etc.) as well as tool rental shops.

AngryScientist · #7 10-09-2019, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donevwil

After unsuccessfully trying to track down heat loss in the coldest room in my house I borrowed an infrared camera from work, showed clearly the heat loss was from a 4' section of uninsulated wall as opposed to the two windows I suspected.

Most big hardware stores rent them (Home Depot, etc.) as well as tool rental shops.

ha, i've done the same thing. flir cameras are really awesome.

Ozz · #8 10-09-2019, 12:47 PM

We had some problems with heating in our house (a remodeled 1952 house) and it turned out that the owners who did the remodel didn't install sufficient ductwork for good airflow and such....figured this out when looking at installing A/C.

We ended up installing a couple ductless heating/cooling units and they work great....a bit pricey, but so far worth every cent. No real impact on power bills either, even with A/C running in summer.

Cheers.

R3awak3n · #9 10-09-2019, 01:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AngryScientist

ha, i've done the same thing. flir cameras are really awesome.

woah I need to rent one of these things.... to tell me my whole house needs insulation.

xeladragon · #10 10-09-2019, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by donevwil

After unsuccessfully trying to track down heat loss in the coldest room in my house I borrowed an infrared camera from work, showed clearly the heat loss was from a 4' section of uninsulated wall as opposed to the two windows I suspected.

Most big hardware stores rent them (Home Depot, etc.) as well as tool rental shops.

Hmm... interesting idea. Thanks for the tip.

And the windows are pretty new... new construction just a few years ago.

AngryScientist · #11 10-09-2019, 12:48 PM

also - a ceiling fan may help if the heat is stratifying in the room.

foo_fighter · #12 10-09-2019, 01:18 PM

How about a register booster?

daker13 · #13 10-10-2019, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cash05458

I understand your hesitance on space heaters...but maybe try one of those ones that has a bit of oil in it and heats slowly...they have no fans etc...apologies that I don't know exactly how they are called but they sort look like old style room radiators on wheels...we use one in our house here in vermont in a room that doesn't get enough heat and it really helps...and they don't get hot enough to burn a child...just put out a slow steady area heat and as far as I know are fairly immune from accidents that might involve a young kid...

Welp, you might be at the point where you're getting more input than you can handle, but I agree with all night lotus party.. I used to have your exact same problem. Our house has been renovated here and there, but my daughter's room has always been colder and draftier than the other rooms, in spite of new windows--I suspect there's little insulation in her walls.We have big 1" baseboard copper pipes and everything heats up quickly (except for her room), but it made no sense to jack up the heat for the whole upstairs at night just to keep her room warm. I bought one of the Delonghi space heaters that Cash is talking about. It uses little electricity, keeps the room nice and warm, and has worked great. It needs some space and I kept an eye on it to make sure she didn't pile stuff up around it inadvertently, etc.

This specific kind of heater was an easy solution to my problem. Granted, I have baseboard heating but we do have central AC as well, and there are some rooms that just don't get very cool due to the duct routing--some rooms are farther from the action and I don't see any solution to that (unless there's an obvious blockage, etc.).

Hilltopperny · #14 10-09-2019, 01:32 PM

I would to see if everything is insulated properly as well. There should be silver tape around your duct work at the seams if it is a metal system. If it is flexible venting you shouldn't be able to see through it.

You can check for a draft by the window as well. Windows should be insulated around the outer perimeter in order to fully retain heat.

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benb · #15 10-09-2019, 01:50 PM

Huh.. we have some cold spots we should rent one of these cameras too.

They are mostly around the corners of the house and/or rooms with lots of windows.

But our house is relatively new (2006) and we have very nice Anderson windows.

I could definitely see something like a missing piece of insulation being a factor.