Uneven Cooling & Weak Airflow in East Texas Homes

The living room is comfortable. The master bedroom is fine. But the back bedroom? It's ten degrees hotter, and no amount of thermostat adjustment fixes it.

Uneven cooling is one of the most common complaints from homeowners in Smith County — and it's rarely about the AC unit itself.

Why This Happens

Your AC system doesn't just cool air — it distributes it through a network of ducts to every room. When that distribution is unbalanced, some rooms get plenty of cool air while others get almost none.

Ductwork Problems

This is the most common cause in East Texas homes, especially those built before the 1990s.

Leaky ducts. Gaps and disconnections in ductwork — often in attics — let cooled air escape before it reaches distant rooms.
Undersized ducts. Ducts that are too small for the airflow needed create bottlenecks. Rooms at the end of long duct runs suffer most.
Poor duct insulation. Ducts running through 140°F+ attics absorb heat. By the time air reaches far rooms, it's warmed up significantly.
Crushed or kinked flex duct. Flexible ductwork can get compressed or bent during installation or from storage items in attics, restricting airflow.

Room Location and Sun Exposure

Rooms on the west side of your home take direct afternoon sun during the hottest part of the day. Upstairs rooms sit directly under a hot roof. These rooms have a higher cooling load than others — and if the duct system wasn't designed to compensate, they'll always run warm.

Return Air Imbalance

Your AC system needs to pull air back (return air) as well as push air out (supply air). If a room has a supply vent but no return path — especially with the door closed — pressure builds up and airflow drops.

This is why some rooms feel stuffier with the door closed than open.

Single-Zone System Limitations

Most homes in Tyler, Lindale, Whitehouse, and surrounding areas have single-zone HVAC systems — one thermostat controlling the whole house. The thermostat reads the temperature in one location, and the system responds to that reading.

If the thermostat is in a naturally cool spot, the system shuts off before warmer rooms are comfortable.

Signs of Airflow Problems

Weak airflow from certain vents — hold your hand up and compare rooms
Temperature differences of 5°F+ between rooms
Rooms that never reach the set temperature
Upstairs significantly hotter than downstairs
Vents that whistle or make noise — often indicates restriction

What You Can Check

Vents and Registers

Make sure all supply vents are fully open and unobstructed by furniture, curtains, or rugs. Closing vents to "redirect" air often backfires — it increases pressure and can make problems worse.

Air Filter

A clogged filter restricts airflow to the entire system. Check it monthly during heavy use.

Doors and Returns

If problem rooms have no return vents, try leaving doors open slightly to allow air circulation back to the system.

Attic Ductwork (Visual Check)

If you can safely access your attic, look for obvious problems: disconnected ducts, crushed flex duct, or sections with damaged insulation. Don't touch or move anything — just observe.

What Fixes Uneven Cooling

Depending on the cause, solutions range from simple to involved:

Duct sealing. Sealing leaks can dramatically improve airflow to distant rooms.
Duct insulation. Adding or improving insulation on attic ducts reduces heat gain.
Balancing dampers. Adjustable dampers in the duct system can redirect more air to problem rooms.
Additional returns. Adding return air paths improves circulation in closed-door rooms.
Zoning systems. For persistent problems, zoning allows different areas to be controlled independently.

Most of these require professional assessment to diagnose correctly and implement effectively.

The Bottom Line

Uneven cooling usually isn't about your AC unit — it's about how air moves through your home. The system might be working perfectly, but if the ductwork can't deliver air where it's needed, some rooms will always suffer.

If you've checked the basics (vents open, filter clean, doors allowing airflow) and the problem persists, the issue is likely in the duct system or air distribution — something that requires professional evaluation.

Need help with uneven cooling in your Smith County home? Call 844-782-0080 to speak with a local HVAC professional.