Cold Room With Forced Air Furnace

Q: This summer we moved into an older home. With the colder weather, I have turned my furnace on and have noticed that one of my children’s bedrooms appears to be cold. Do I need a new furnace?

A: Before you run out and buy a new furnace you need to look at the house and the position of the air ducts, especially the cold air returns. It is not uncommon that what was once a central location for a cold air return has changed due to the addition or removal of walls and doors.

There are other factors that come into play and you should read the article that is linked to this post.

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Heating Floors

Q: My kitchen floor is always cold in the winter, and I have heard of heated flooring. I wondered what it cost, and if it could be done in a first floor condo where I wouldn't be able to get underneath the floor.

A: I believe you are talking about electric radiant heating - it would go under, ceramic or natural stone tile, hardwood or laminate. It is also available for under rugs and carpets.

Follow the link for additional information.

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Hot Room

Q. I have one room in the house that is hotter than the rest of the house. The house is a two-story wood frame colonial. The room in question is a 2nd floor bedroom. I have baseboard radiators with an oil-heat boiler.

A. Hot air rises and if this room happens to be at the top of a stairway you are getting all of the heat from the rest of the home flowing into it. A southern exposure could also have a radiant heat effect on that room.

Try turning off that baseboard radiator, shutting that room's door and closing window blinds and see if makes a difference.

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Radiator Heating Problem

Q: I have forced hot water heat and I have the old cast iron radiators. My problem is this, I have a couple of heaters that don't want to heat, (they are located directly above each other). When I first moved into the house, these heaters worked fine the first winter, while the ones in the bathrooms didn't work. Then the second year the ones in the bathrooms worked , but these two don't. I really didn't do any work on them between the two years. Any ideas?

A: If they are directly above one another it sounds to me as if you have an air
bubble in the line and the lines need to be purged or bled.