Is your second floor hotter than the rest of your house? Here is a Possible Solution To It.
In summer, your air conditioner’s on full power and downstairs feels nice and cool. However, on your second floor, It feels like you’re running a marathon through Nevada.
Familiar feelings?
Many homeowners experience the same frustration during the hottest months of the year when their two-story homes are hot and humid upstairs and cool and breezy downstairs.
The good news is that you don’t have to accept the heat above and the cold below as a fact of life. Find out why this is continuing and what you can do to change it.
What The Posiible Problem?
Keep the Downstairs Heat From Rising to the Second Floor
The simplest way to keep the downstairs heat from rising is to keep the downstairs cool. On warmer days close blinds, lower shades or draw curtains to minimize reflected sunlight from heating up downstairs surfaces. By keeping the downstairs cooler, little or no heated air will be able to rise upward into the second floor.
Keep in mind, that heat rises. If your HVAC unit is on the first floor, it has to push hot air out as cooler air enters a room. That means the system has to work harder to distribute cool air to the second floor.
There are a few factors that determine how hard your HVAC unit has to work to cool your second floor:
- The number of rooms in the home.
- If the unit is outdated and needs replacing.
- How well equipped the system is for cooling.
Ductwork, Insulation, and Seals
Ducts are responsible for taking cool air from your system throughout the home. Any type of faulty ductwork like improperly installed installation, or leaking or old ducts will force the HVAC unit to work harder to cool your home. Another issue could be that there is not enough ductwork reaching the second floor.
Redirect Air Flow To The Second Floor
If you find yourself complaining that parts of your home are too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter, there’s a good chance you’re not using your furnace dampers correctly. Adjust dampers for better cooling air distribution to the second floor.
Change Filters
Сleaing the air conditioner filter on a regular basis. When the filter becomes clogged, this will reduce your air conditioner power significantly. If the problem persists, it may lead to further deterioration of the AC system. Cleaning or replacing a dirty air filter is an important task, and it should be one of the ongoing
Insulate And Ventilate The Attic
The attic insulation is more than a wintertime friend. It’s an all-year ally, working through the summer to keep you and your home cool.
When people think of what the proper insulation in their attic does for them, most imagine a hot summer day. As the sun is scorching shining, the insulation in their roof acts as thermal protection, keeping the warmth out and the cold in.
Insulate Windows
You can insulate your windows to keep Summer heat out using the following methods:
- Weatherstrip Your Windows
- Apply Bubble Wrap
- Install Insulating Shutters
- Install Cellular Shades
- Add Reflective Window Film
- Lay Down Draft Snakes
- Invest in Energy Efficient Windows
- Use Blackout Curtains
Change the fan setting on your thermostat from “auto” to “on”
Leaving your fan on AUTO is saving the most of money.
When your fan is set to AUTO, moisture from indoor coils will drip water and be drained.
You’ll need to replace your furnace filter more frequently. Air is continually being cleaned causing filters to get dirty more quickly. A clogged filter also makes your blower work hard and use more energy.
Conclusion
While these may not be DIY fixes, is it important for homeowners to be aware of the issues that occur when cooling the second floor of a home. Therefore, it is always a good idea to work with professionals to ensure high-quality and consistent results without the risk of injury or further damage to your property. You can also contact us for A / C service to keep your system running at peak performance on hot days. Also, we will try to help you evaluate and solve the problem of why your second floor is hotter than the first.
