Uneven temperatures are a common issue in two-story houses. Even though it’s hot upstairs, it’s often cold downstairs. To a certain extent, this problem is unavoidable. Hot air rises while cold air sinks, so it’s natural for the second floor to be a bit warmer than the first. However, large temperature swings may be a sign your HVAC system is underpowered or the ventilation system needs to be serviced. It may also indicate that you need to repair your home’s envelope – the barrier that separates the rooms of your house, as well as indoor and outdoor spaces. For homeowners concerned about their comfort and energy bills, here is what to do if your upstairs is hot and downstairs is cold.
Uneven Heating and Cooling Solutions
Managing heating and cooling systems lets you regulate air temperatures throughout your home to create a cozy, relaxing, and pleasant environment year-round. However, as issues develop, your home not only becomes less livable. Energy bills frequently creep up as well. In order to achieve a more uniform temperature:
Check Your Ductwork
Aging ducts often develop splits and cracks. As a result, warm air that should have been delivered to your kitchen, dining room, or living room escapes upstairs instead. Conversely, during summer, cool air can leak out before it reaches the top floors of your house. In many cases, ducts don’t have to be damaged to create a poorly regulated environment.
Dirt and debris can clog your ventilation system and hinder airflow. While dusting your vents will help address the problem, you’ll need to hire a professional to deep clean your supply, return, and exhaust ducts. Insulation is another important factor. Air passing through an uninsulated duct can lose up to 30 percent of its energy, changing its temperature fairly significantly. Insulating your ductwork helps ensure air temperatures remain stable.
Adjust Your Dampers
Closing the ventilation dampers upstairs directs more warm air downstairs. Closing the vents downstairs does likewise during summer, balancing temperatures in the lower and upper floors of your house.
Reverse Ceiling Fans
Reversing the direction of your fans (so they rotate clockwise instead of counterclockwise) prevents warm air from accumulating around your ceiling. Consider adjusting the fan setting on your thermostat as well. Normally, fans are only active during a heating or cooling cycle. However, running them continuously between cycles keeps air circulating through the supply and return vents, helping reduce temperature differences between the upper and lower levels of your house.
Seal Air Leaks
Cracks in your walls, floors, and ceilings disrupt the intended air exchange between the second and first floors of your home, allowing heat to drift into upstairs rooms and cold air to drift down. In most cases, cracks can be easily sealed with a simple layer of caulk or weatherstripping.
Check Your Insulation
Insulation degrades due to a number of factors, such as moisture, chemical fumes, and exposure to extreme temperatures, not to mention physical damage from rodents and insects. Cellulose and fiberglass strands also settle over time, making it harder for them to provide an effective barrier against heat and cold. During winter, weak insulation lets heat escape through your roof, creating cold spots throughout your home, normally on the bottom floors.
Conversely, during summer, it allows heat to enter and warm the upper stories of your home. Replacing bad insulation between floors normally requires a contractor. However, it’s possible to replace attic insulation on your own. Simply measure the space between the joists, cut the fiberglass batts to match, and fasten them with a staple gun.
Foam is even easier to install, as it can be sprayed directly onto walls and floors. However, if you don’t have experience with DIY projects of this sort, hiring a professional is the best way to ensure your roof is evenly covered.
Upgrade Your Furnace and AC Unit
An undersized furnace, heat pump, or air conditioning system won’t have enough power to regulate temperatures, resulting in a noticeable temperature difference in each part of your home. Ask a technician to perform a Manual J Calculation in order to determine exactly how much energy is required to maintain stable and consistent temperatures in your house, based on its size, insulation, appliance usage, and surrounding climate.
In addition to purchasing larger HVAC equipment, you may also want to consider switching to a zone system. Unlike a single-zone setup, where your whole home is controlled by a single thermostat, in a zone system, your home is divided into separate sections, each controlled by a different thermostat, allowing you to adjust temperatures on the bottom floors of your home without affecting temperatures on the top floors.
Save on HVAC Repairs with Agway
Whether zone controlled or not, all HVAC systems require maintenance in order to operate effectively, especially in extreme climates where the system is active nearly every day. Heavy use is hard on your equipment, leading to excess wear and tear. Home insurance doesn’t pay for this type of damage, but we do. Our EnergyGuard™ Home Repair Program covers your heating, cooling, and electrical systems from malfunctions caused by daily use.
When the need for repair occurs, our customers don’t have to waste time searching for a qualified technician. Our team maintains a network of HVAC professionals in your area. As soon as we receive your message, we dispatch the first available one straight to your door. There are no service fees or deductibles either. We pay for the visit and the cost of all covered parts. Don’t let an unexpected breakdown wreck your monthly budget. Sign up and start enjoying the benefits of EnergyGuard™ today!
