The colder winter weather is working its way into your area and making your home unbearably cold.

As your furnace continues to run and your monthly energy bills skyrocket, you are left asking yourself one question – why is my house so cold?

Whether it’s your entire house or just one room in your home that is cold, you need to get to the bottom of the problem and fix it.

RetroFoam of Michigan has more than 17 years of experience fixing thousands of cold rooms and houses across the lower peninsula and greater Toledo area. We know the common cause of a cold home and how to fix it, while also saving you money on monthly heating bills.

In our continuing efforts to educate homeowners, we have provided the most common reasons your home is so cold this winter and the best way to remedy it.

Why is My House So Cold in the Winter?

The quick and straightforward answer to why your home is so cold is because the wintery winds are getting inside. Now it’s time to determine how that unwanted guest is getting in.

Leaky windows and doors could be allowing cold temperatures from the outside into your home.

If you notice cold drafts coming from your windows, the best option is to cover them with plastic. Covering your windows can cut about 25 percent of heat loss in your home. It would help if you also sealed around the windows to ensure cold air doesn’t get in, and your heated air isn’t escaping.

The doors leading to the outside of your home could be facing similar issues. Make sure the weather stripping around the door is doing its job. If not, you may need to replace it.

One of the biggest contributors to a cold and uncomfortable home is little to no insulation throughout the house. If you have traditional insulation, like cellulose or fiberglass, then it is not creating the necessary air seal to keep those cold temperatures out.

There are more than a dozen signs and symptoms your house needs new insulation, and your home being cold is just one of them. The air can escape through the attic, as heat rises, and cold air can get inside through the walls, rim joist, and crawl space if there is no air barrier.

18 Signs and Symptoms it May be Time to Update Your Insulation

Injection foam and spray foam insulation throughout the home will create an air seal that keeps the cold air out and the heated air in.

Why is One Room So Cold in My House?

Now, what if the majority of your home is fine and comfortable, but there is that one room that is always cold in the winter?

Here are a few reasons that just one room in your house is colder than the rest of the house.

The Cold Room is an Addition to Your Home

Chances are this room is colder because the way it was insulated compared to the rest of the house.

The addition of an air seal in this part of the house can make a difference in the comfort of the space.

There May Not Be Any Heat Runs in That Cold Room

When the room was built, the HVAC wasn’t extended to it.

That means there isn’t any heated air being pushed into the room, making it significantly colder than the rest of the house. Having an HVAC specialist out to your home to make sure the room is heated is the best option.

The Cold Room is Located on the North or Northwest Side of the Home

Are you wondering why this would make a difference?

In Michigan, we see some brisk and cold winds coming from the north. This can cause drafts in this room and make it colder than the rest of the house, especially if the insulation isn’t creating an air barrier.

The Ceiling of the Garage isn’t Insulated

This specifically relates to a bonus room that has been built over the top of your garage.

If the garage ceiling isn’t insulated, all of that cold air getting into the garage is now going up into the bonus room. Insulating the garage ceiling with a material that creates an air barrier will make that bonus room much more comfortable.

How to Fix a Cold Room or Cold House

Foam insulation creates the air seal you will need to keep your home nice and toasty this winter.

This air barrier will also keep your warm air circulating throughout the house as it seals the building envelope. At the same time, you and your family sit back in comfort and watch the snowfall.

Since most homeowners have no way of knowing what kind of insulation is in certain areas of their home, it is easier to take a look at the uncomfortable symptoms you’re experiencing to diagnose if you need new insulation.

Check out our 18 Signs and Symptoms it May Be Time to Update Your Insulation checklist to see if you’re experiencing any of these issues in your home.

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