Why is My Heater Not Hot Enough?

There can be several reasons why your heater is not hot enough. Many of those reasons involve low-level furnace maintenance or negligence that can be alleviated with one visit from your favorite HVAC contractors.

How Heating Works

Contrary to popular belief, no matter the temperature you set on the thermostat for heating, the air that comes out of the vents will be the same, somewhere around 80 to 90 degrees. As that air circulates throughout the home, mixing with unconditioned air, the desired temperature is reached.

Turning up the temperature on the thermostat will not necessarily make the air hotter, but will have the central air system run for longer periods of time.

Thermostat Support

Before energy efficiency regulations were placed on heating and air conditioning, air running through the furnace would heat up to 140 degrees or more. This method consumed a great deal of gas and was inefficient in heating homes comfortably.

Most exhaust pipes are built to handle up to 80 degrees, which means that when air is heated above 80 degrees in the furnace, the difference must be released before heated air can enter the ductwork.  With older furnaces, almost half the heat was lost before making it into the house.

Today, furnaces that have between 80 to 90 percent efficiency ratings heat air to just about 100 degrees. With exhaust pipes handling up to 80 degrees of heat safely, less heat is wasted, saving energy and heating homes comfortably.

What Is A Furnace

Reasons for Low Quality Heat

The firepower of furnaces has little to do with actual temperature of the air, so what are other reasons why your air is not hot enough?

• There are leaks and holes in the ductwork.

When there are holes in the ductwork, heated air escapes into the attic instead of emptying into the home. Ductwork should be repaired in order to restore the efficiency of your central air system.

• The air filter is dirty.

A filter packed with pet hair, lint and other particles stops the flow of air, which means that less air runs through the conditioning process. Filters should be changed regularly to avoid additional stress on the central air system.

• The blower motor is worn.

The blower motor is responsible for pushing air through the air duct. When the blower motor endures wear and tear, it doesn’t work as well as it should, leaving air stranded in the ducts. Because conditioned air fails to reach inside the home, it feels as though heat is insufficient.

Service Champions for Absolute Heating and Air Conditioning

Air conditioner maintenance and heating maintenance are key to healing your central air system of these ailments. Before these conditions grow worse and cut years off your central air service time, have your HVAC contractor visit to provide the attention it needs.

Service Champions Heating & Air Conditioning technicians know what goes into superior air conditioning maintenance and furnace maintenance. Our teams provide complete care with excellent customer service and expert technical care.

To give your central air system the care it deserves, contact one of our friendly representatives in our call center or schedule an appointment online.