Uneven temperatures are one of the most common commercial HVAC complaints. One area of the building feels too cold, another is too warm, and adjusting the thermostat does not seem to solve the problem.
For property managers and building owners, these complaints can be frustrating because the issue is not always obvious. The heating or cooling system may still be operating. The thermostat may appear to be set correctly. Yet tenants, employees, customers, or residents continue to experience uncomfortable spaces.
The cause may be a simple maintenance issue, a control problem, an airflow concern, or a larger system issue. Understanding the possibilities can help building teams address the right problem instead of repeatedly making temporary temperature adjustments.
Why Uneven Temperatures Matter
Temperature complaints are not only about comfort.
When parts of a commercial building are too hot or too cold, the issue can affect:
- Tenant satisfaction
- Employee comfort and productivity
- Customer experience
- Building energy use
- Equipment wear
- Indoor air quality and ventilation
- Maintenance workload
- The risk of frozen plumbing in cold or poorly heated areas
In Edmonton, uneven heating can become more serious during winter. A cold storage room, vacant suite, mechanical area, parkade-adjacent space, or exterior-facing area may not only create complaints. It may also leave plumbing or building equipment more vulnerable during extreme temperatures.
Thermostat and Sensor Problems
A thermostat may control more than one area of the building, but it can only respond to the temperature where it is located.
If the thermostat or temperature sensor is installed near a window, exterior door, sunny wall, kitchen, equipment room, or high-traffic area, it may not accurately represent conditions elsewhere in the space.
Common thermostat and sensor issues include:
- A thermostat located in direct sunlight
- A sensor near a drafty entrance or exterior wall
- A thermostat affected by heat-producing equipment
- A device that is no longer calibrated correctly
- A thermostat blocked by furniture, shelving, or partitions
- A sensor located in one zone while the problem occurs in another
- Settings that no longer match the building’s occupancy schedule
For example, an office thermostat located near a sunny south-facing window may sense a higher temperature than the rest of the floor. The system may reduce heating even while employees farther from the window remain cold.
Before assuming the HVAC unit is failing, a commercial HVAC technician should review whether the thermostat and controls are receiving accurate information.
Airflow Restrictions
Heating and cooling equipment cannot keep a space comfortable if air is not moving through the building properly.
Restricted airflow is a common cause of uneven temperatures. It can affect one office, one tenant suite, an entire floor, or specific areas such as meeting rooms, hallways, washrooms, and storage spaces.
Potential airflow concerns include:
- Dirty or clogged air filters
- Blocked supply or return vents
- Damaged, loose, or worn fan belts
- Failing blower motors
- Dirty coils
- Closed or improperly positioned dampers
- Obstructed ductwork
- Furniture, storage, or tenant improvements blocking air paths
- Damaged or disconnected ductwork
- Exhaust or make-up air systems that are not operating as intended
A supply vent may still be blowing air, but if the volume is weak or the return-air path is blocked, the space may not maintain a consistent temperature.
Routine mechanical maintenance can help identify airflow concerns before they become a larger tenant-comfort issue. Filter replacement, fan and blower inspection, coil cleaning, and system checks are common parts of a commercial HVAC maintenance program.
Zoning Problems
Many commercial buildings use zones to manage heating and cooling in different areas. A zone may serve a tenant space, floor, corridor, office group, retail area, common area, or section of the building with similar heating and cooling needs.
Zoning helps improve comfort, but it also adds complexity.
A zoning issue may involve:
- Dampers that are stuck, damaged, or incorrectly positioned
- Valves that are not opening or closing properly
- Zone thermostats that are not communicating with the system
- Actuators that have failed
- Controls programmed for outdated space use
- A zone that has changed after renovations or tenant improvements
- Heating or cooling equipment that is no longer properly balanced for the building layout
If one suite is always cold while nearby areas are comfortable, the problem may not be the entire HVAC system. It may be isolated to the zone serving that space.
This is why a building-wide assessment is important. Adjusting one thermostat may temporarily improve one area while making another area less comfortable.
Problems With Heating or Cooling Equipment
Uneven temperatures can also point to equipment that is not performing consistently.
Depending on the property, the issue may involve:
- A rooftop unit that is struggling to maintain demand
- An air handler with weak airflow
- A boiler or hydronic heating system with circulation problems
- A furnace or heating component that is not operating reliably
- A heat pump that is not switching or performing properly
- A pump, valve, or actuator issue
- A make-up air unit affecting pressure and airflow
- Cooling equipment that cannot keep up during warm conditions
- Mechanical components that need repair or replacement
A building may have more than one piece of HVAC equipment. One rooftop unit may be operating properly while another is not. A central boiler may be producing heat, while a circulation issue prevents that heat from reaching part of the building.
The goal is to identify whether the issue is affecting the entire system, one piece of equipment, or one part of the distribution system.
Building Controls and Schedules
Commercial HVAC systems depend on controls to determine when equipment operates, how long it runs, and which areas receive heating, cooling, or ventilation.
If controls are not configured correctly, a building may experience uneven temperatures even when the equipment itself is in working condition.
Potential control issues include:
- Heating and cooling schedules that no longer match occupancy
- Incorrect temperature setpoints
- Equipment turning on or off at the wrong times
- Sensors providing inaccurate readings
- Controls that are not communicating with connected equipment
- Manual overrides that were never reset
- Seasonal settings that were not updated
- Older control systems that do not provide clear visibility into HVAC operation
A building may be cold in the morning because the heating schedule starts too late. It may overheat in the afternoon because the controls do not respond properly to sunlight, occupancy, or internal heat loads.
Karlen-Kada provides commercial building controls and mechanical system integration support for properties with older pneumatic controls, outdated operating strategies, or connected systems that need better coordination.
Tenant Improvements and Layout Changes
A space that was comfortable for one tenant may not remain comfortable after the layout or use changes.
Tenant improvements can affect heating and cooling by adding:
- New offices, walls, and partitions
- More occupants
- Computer equipment, printers, appliances, or other heat-producing equipment
- Commercial kitchens or food-service operations
- Storage areas that block vents or return-air paths
- New operating hours
- Different ventilation requirements
- Changes to ceiling height or ceiling design
For example, a former open office area may be divided into enclosed offices and meeting rooms. The existing HVAC system may no longer distribute air the same way it did before the renovation.
Before finalizing a tenant improvement, building teams should consider how the new layout will affect HVAC capacity, airflow, thermostat placement, controls, ventilation, and access to equipment.
Exterior Exposure and Building Design
Some temperature differences are influenced by the building itself.
Areas with significant sun exposure, large windows, exterior doors, loading bays, high ceilings, or limited insulation may have different heating and cooling needs than interior spaces.
Common building factors include:
- South- or west-facing windows
- Drafty exterior doors
- Frequently used loading bays
- Large open areas or high ceilings
- Older windows or building-envelope concerns
- Cold exterior walls
- Parkades or unheated spaces below occupied areas
- Heat loss around rooflines or exterior corners
HVAC adjustments may help, but equipment changes alone may not solve a building-envelope issue. A thorough assessment can determine whether the concern is mechanical, operational, structural, or a combination of several factors.
When Should You Call for Commercial HVAC Service?
Contact a commercial HVAC provider if uneven temperatures are ongoing, widespread, or affecting building operations.
You should also arrange service if you notice:
- Repeated tenant complaints
- Weak or inconsistent airflow
- Heating or cooling equipment that runs constantly
- Unusual noises, vibration, or frequent alarms
- Water around HVAC equipment
- A significant increase in energy costs
- Areas that cannot maintain a safe temperature
- Temperature problems after a renovation or tenant improvement
- Heating issues in areas where plumbing may be vulnerable to freezing
A professional assessment can help identify whether the issue involves a thermostat, airflow, controls, zoning, equipment condition, building use, or another factor.
Call Karlen-Kada for Commercial HVAC Service and Maintenance in Edmonton
Repeatedly adjusting a thermostat may provide temporary relief, but it rarely solves the underlying issue.
Karlen-Kada helps Edmonton commercial property managers and building owners diagnose HVAC comfort concerns, including rooftop unit performance, airflow problems, boiler and circulation issues, controls, ventilation, and seasonal maintenance needs.
If your building has persistent hot or cold areas, contact Karlen-Kada to schedule a commercial HVAC assessment and identify what is affecting comfort across the property.