Is your home’s second floor too hot? You’re not alone. Many homeowners experience a second floor that simply doesn’t seem to be getting any air conditioning during the summertime. Here, our air conditioning experts share some tips on what may be causing the situation and how to cool it down:
Causes
When you think about it simply, heat rises, which means your second floor is likely to be hotter than your first. However, if it’s significantly hotter, it may be due to another factor:
Inefficient HVAC System
If your HVAC unit is on the first floor, it has to work harder to cool down the second, and if it’s old or inefficient, it may not be producing the right amount of cool air. In addition, the number of rooms in your home may affect how cool it gets.
Bad Ductwork
Your home’s ductwork is what carries your air conditioning from one room to another. If your ductwork is too large, leaks, or needs a thorough cleaning, your rooms won’t receive the proper amount of cold air.
Inadequate Insulation
Another part of your home that may play a part in second floor heat is your roofing system and its insulation. If your roof absorbs heat, it can easily transfer that heat through your attic and down to your second floor. This heat can be even worse if you don’t have adequate insulation to absorb the heat and form a barrier between the roof and your second floor.
Solutions
Here are some ways you can improve your air conditioning flow to the second floor of your home in order to cool it down more:
Change Your Filter
Our air conditioning experts recommend changing your HVAC filter every couple of months to improve the efficiency of your HVAC system. When your filter is dirty, it reduces the airflow of your air conditioning.
Close Dampers
Locate your HVAC system and the ducts leading to the first floor. On the ducts, you’ll find dampers that you can close down halfway in order to reduce the amount of air conditioning that flows to the first floor and increase the amount of air conditioning that flows to the second.
Turn Your Thermostat to “On”
If the setting of your thermostat is switched to “Auto,” switch it to “On” instead. This setting makes your HVAC system’s blower fan run constantly (instead of cycling on and off), which can help mix the air in your home more evenly. You will be able to keep your thermostat at a higher temperature which can help save you energy since the cool air will be dispersed more evenly throughout your home both levels will remain cooler.
Still having trouble with the temperature of your home? Contact our air conditioning experts today! We’ll help you solve the problem.
