I live in a two-story house built in the sixties. Zone control systems give you the power to create different temperature zones in your home, which would allow you to bump the thermostat up a few degrees downstairs, while dedicating less heat to the upstairs (or more air conditioning in the summer). That means without your intervention, hot upper floors and a cooler downstairs is your home's natural state in summer or in winter. You have given two clues to a possible explanation. The root cause is that the airflow to each room does not match the heat load/loss of the individual rooms. Read on for tips on how to diagnose and address the issues that cause your house to be too hot upstairs and too cold downstairs so you can be more comfortable at home all year long. Click here to get a quote. Always obtain independent, professional advice for your own particular situation. Trouble with your AC unit doesn't always have to mean an expensive repair bill. If you're not sure how they're operating, don't hesitate to call in a professional. If your home is built off the ground, (e.g. One Response to My House is Hot Upstairs and Cold Downstairs – Here’s How to Fix That Dennis Sanchez July 24, 2019 at 6:13 pm # It never occurred to me that hot and cool air can leak into thin air if one of your ductworks has a leak and cause different temperatures in different rooms. We are always satisfied with his work. Because heat rises this warm area is likely to be the radiators upstairs in a house, or if you live in a flat it would most likely to be the radiator/s nearest the boiler or hot water tank. You're experiencing a basic fact of physics – heat rises, while cool air wants to sink. Many HVAC designers simply underestimate the ductwork needed to heat and cool the second story. Reasons for Temperature Variances. If you are unable to maintain an even temperature in your house, consider the following interventions: Sometimes the most effective fixes are also the simplest. If the boiler was on L1 the heating problem probably wouldn't be as … Choosing the type and kind of central air conditioning system to install in your home is complicated. Sorry, this plan is not available for your location. Although the central heating works, it is always cold upstairs whilst downstairs is far too hot. This is a common complaint from homeowners with forced-air HVAC systems with a … Heat travels through radiation, conduction, and convection. Provided by HUB Financial Solutions Limited. One of the primary reasons why the upstairs area in homes tend to be hard to keep warm is the thermostat. The simplest solution is to line the walls and ceilings on the first floor with insulating plasterboard (plasterboard with a bonded layer of foam insulation) which can be fixed to the existing surfaces using a universal building adhesive. We recently bought a 1960s house. Fans can be your allies in maintaining a constant temperature around the house, in more ways than one. The problem with one unit covering both is you have different demands upstairs than you do downstairs. Blocked soffit vents in the attic could be infringing on the ventilation and causing the space to heat up and lure away your treated air as well. Track down and repair any areas where the ducts are leaking, and cover them in insulation to help the treated air actually maintain its proper temperature until it reaches its destination. Like to advertise with us? That heat is also pushed down into the home, via the roof and the loft. Swapping out the old filter for a new one could be all you need to bring the temperature on the second floor in line with the first. Zip Code. Thick curtains are one of the main ways to protect your house from losing heat through the windows. ‘Dormer windows’ suggests that at least part of the ceilings of the first floor rooms will be sloping as they will form the underside of the roof. John Conlin We have served customers in the Lansing area since 1983 and put their comfort and satisfaction first. Unfortunately, the builders did not put a zoned system or two individual units in our house. This summer when you ask why my house is hot upstairs and cold downstairs, call A-1 Mechanical to help! The hot summer days and especially the nights bring back one of the most common home comfort problems: a hot upstairs. Question about your subscription? Also, make sure you use your window shades tactically to keep the sun from shining into the second floor and adding its own heat to the mix. The material is for general information only and does not constitute investment, tax, legal, medical or other form of advice. Why is It Hotter Upstairs than Downstairs in My House? Soffit vents aren't only for your comfort; they're to lengthen the lifespan of your roof. If you have an attic, it’s important to insulate it at an R-value of … Please get in touch. When It’s Hot Upstairs and Cold Downstairs Call A-1 Mechanical to Help. If the air filter in your HVAC system gets clogged, your equipment will have to work harder to push air through the house, and will not only be less efficient but likely less effective as well. In some houses, it may be a slight inconvenience. Please wait while we see what is available at your zip code. Many homes across the country are much colder upstairs than they are downstairs. Click your state below to view offers in your area. You Live in a Multi-Level Home. The Roof is Why My House is So Hot in the Summer If you’ve ever been up in your loft or attic space during the Summer, you’ll already know how hot it can get in there. During the summer months, the upstairs of a two-story home is often significantly warmer than the downstairs, even when the air conditioning is running. No more "it's too hot upstairs! These systems can be retrofitted into existing duct networks using dampers and multiple thermostats, or you could also consider a ductless HVAC system, which would allow you to use individualized settings in every room that your system touches. Needless to say, he got the job done and we have air conditioner in our house again. This will … Chartered surveyor John Conlin sorts out your legal and building woes. Make Sure the Attic is Well Insulated. Over 50? Log in to renew or transfer your service, Supply Chain Responsibilities & Disclosure. During times when people are upstairs, the thermostat can be adjusted to provide more heat and lowered during the times when people are not upstairs. (Photo by Summer Galyan) Get quotes from up to 3 pros! In thinking about this, homes that are colder upstairs are just the opposite of what you would expect. … Have a question about a plan or need help placing an order? surveyor q&as|interiors|how to guides|property maintenance|property abroad. We recently bought a 1960s house. Please enter a valid zip code. Despite your air conditioner repair man saying the AC is tuned up and running properly, the bedrooms on the second floor are so hot, many in … Read our guide on choosing the best air filter for your home. Run the fan at all times to pull cold air from downstairs to upstairs (you’ll have to change the setting on your thermostat from auto to on so it’ll run at all times). If the upstairs area is not warm enough, adjusting the thermostat can be very helpful. ... “Why is my upstairs always too hot?” ... Be sure to keep all of your air vents completely open and clear so that your upstairs rooms get all of the cool air your system tries to send to them. Why Is My House so Warm Upstairs? Since warm air rises, you'd expect warmer air on the second floor because warm air rises. Investing in a new energy-efficient air conditioning system can be a complex process. Add a ridge vent or power vents if needed to bring down the attic temperature. It is open plan downstairs, with an open staircase leading to first floor bedrooms with dormer windows. All the heat is going up to L4, L3, L2 and not L1. So how do you settle this frozen downstairs or scorching hot upstairs conundrum? The hot air collects in the space, and begins to leak down into the home. Chances are, the thermostat is downstairs, so to get the upstairs comfortable you have to make the downstairs freezing. Other factors that can contribute to uneven heating between floors include homes that weren't designed with efficient air circulation in mind, leaky ductwork or an outdated HVAC system. Although the central heating works, it is always cold upstairs whilst downstairs is far too hot. Think about what happens when you stand in direct sunlight, as opposed to in the shade. A hot attic makes for a hot upstairs. The answer is to balance the system. 2. You may also consider installing attic fans to further cool your attic. choosing the best air filter for your home, wrong size air conditioner for your house, Already a customer? One of the biggest reasons the upstairs gets so hot is that the current sealing, insulation, and ventilation systems are not working correctly. On the sealing side of things, gaps in the home’s structure can go unnoticed and quickly add up, causing air conditioning to be wasted. So your upstairs has a natural tendency to be warmer than lower levels. Any suggestions? If the attic is not properly insulated, you could be leaking treated air upward, leaving your second floor hotter than you want it to be. With our wide range of energy efficient products we promise we can make your home a more comfortable environment to live in and even reduce your monthly expenditure on energy bills by up to 50%. It could be that your furnace or air conditioner is getting old, or it might be the wrong size air conditioner for your house. Hours: 7:00am-7:00pm CT Monday-Friday, 7:00am-4:00pm Saturday. First, try turning the fan setting on your thermostat to "On" to create a perpetual flow of air through the house, helping to distribute the treated air all over the building. Why Is It So Hot Upstairs? If you shore up your insulation and clear any blockages in the vents, you'll improve the ability of your upper floors to retain cool air. From reading though your question it seems to me you have a combination boiler?