This article discusses how to move heat from upstairs to downstairs. The second floor is usually hotter than the rest of your house because heat naturally rises. The good thing is that there are ways to move heat from the upstairs to the downstairs so that you can maintain a comfortable temperature in every area of the house. What are these ways, and how effective can they be? Read the rest of the article for the answer.
How to move heat from upstairs to downstairs? You can move heat from upstairs to downstairs by having the right air circulation throughout the house. Among the ways that you can use to keep the temperature balanced in your home is to improve your furnace, use ceiling fans, and change your air filter. Furthermore, make sure that your attic insulation and your ducts are properly sealed.
Maintaining a comfortable temperature throughout every area of your house can be challenging. Usually, the upper level of your house is warmer than the rest. If you are experiencing this problem, you can search for a highly efficient system that you can install for your house to keep the temperature even in every area. Check out the rest of the article below for more tips and information.
Why is Upstairs Warmer than Downstairs?
Some of the reasons why the upstairs is warmer than downstairs include, having a hot room, faulty ductwork, and warm air that naturally rises to the ceiling. It is important that you find out the cause of having a warmer temperature upstairs so that you can apply the proper solution for it. Let us find out more about the reasons why upstairs is warmer than downstairs below.
Warm Air Rises
One of the primary reasons why the upper levels of your home are warmer than the lower level is because warm air naturally rises. Take note that hot air rises and cold air sinks. Therefore, the upstairs has a natural tendency to become warmer than the lower levels of your home.
Hot Roof
Another reason for having a warmer temperature is the upper level of your home is a hot roof. The roof is exposed to the sun and absorbs heat. Because of this, hot air moves through the roof, through the attic, and seeps into the upper floor. If your house does not have an attic space that serves as a barrier to the heat, the heat factor in the upper floor will increase. You can also check out this article that discusses how to circulate air in vaulted ceilings. We have shared useful tips that you can refer to.
Faulty Ductwork
Having faulty ductwork can also result in having a warmer temperature upstairs. The main function of ductworks is to take cool air from the HVAC system and distribute it all throughout the house. Ducts that are not properly installed, leaking, or damaged will make it hard for the AC unit to get the cool air into your house.
How Do You Balance Temperature Between Floors?
To balance temperature between floors, some of the solutions that you can do are to use ceiling fans so that you can circulate air. You also need to replace damaged or old air filters. It is also ideal to invest in a new air conditioner or furnace. Let us learn more about these solutions below.
Method 1: Fans
An effective way to force air downstairs is to use fans. They help move and circulate air throughout the house. The fan will push warm air from the ceiling into the ground so that warm and cold air mixes.
Method 2: Air Filters
You also need to check the air filter in your HVAC system as it can get clogged due to age and frequent use. Take note that when the filters are clogged, it will be hard for the HVAC system to push air through the house. Make sure to replace old and damaged air filters with a new one so that you can maintain an even temperature throughout the house. We have also written this article titled, are high ceilings harder to heat? Check out the article for an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Method 3: Ductwork
When having temperature issues in your home, you need to check your ductwork. Check and repair any damaged parts of the ducts. You can also cover them in insulation so that treated air can maintain its temperature until it reaches another room in your house. The problem with repairing ductwork is that you might need to tear apart your walls so that you can get to them. However, it is necessary to repair or replace ductwork to maintain the temperature in your house.
Method 4: Air Conditioner or Furnace
If the AC or furnace is old or is not equipped to provide the right temperature for the whole house, it can be the reason why it is hot upstairs and cold downstairs. It is recommended that you replace your air conditioner or furnace. If you are not sure about the right size or capacity of the AC and furnace that you need to have, you can talk to a professional for some advice and recommendations.
Method 5: Zone Control HVAC
Another reason why the upstairs of your house is warmer than the downstairs is that you do not have a zone control HVAC or the one that you have is not working properly. Zone control HVAC allows you to have different temperature zones in your home. Because of this, it is possible to set your thermostat to high downstairs without reducing heat to the upstairs. The zone control HVAC also allows you to even out any temperature difference between floor levels. You can have the zone control HVAC to be retrofitted into the existing duct networks that you have. Another option is to install a ductless HVAC system which makes it possible to use individualized settings in every room that is included in the system.
✅ Video – What to do if Your Upstairs is Warmer Than Your Downstairs
Team Propane shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses what to do if the upstairs is warmer than your downstairs. It is a common issue that a lot of households encounter especially during the summer season. Watch the video below for more tips and information.
How Do You Keep Heat from Rising Upstairs?
Keeping the downstairs cool, using proper ventilation, and blocking the stairway are some of the ways on how to keep heat from rising upstairs. Let us find out more about these below.
Maintain a Cool Temperature Downstairs
One way to keep heat from rising upstairs is to maintain a cool temperature downstairs. To do this, you should block the sunlight downstairs. You can cover the windows with curtains. Take note that when you maintain a cool temperature downstairs, you do not have to deal with heated air rising to the upper levels of the house.
Use Negative Ventilation
Another way that you can do to remove heated air downstairs is to use negative ventilation. You can do this by installing window fans to effectively move and circulate air out of the house. If installing window fans is not an option, you can open the windows to circulate the air.
Try Positive Ventilation
You can also try positive ventilation to prevent hot air from reaching upstairs. Positive ventilation refers to pressurizing the upstairs so that the exchange of heated air from downstairs can be reduced. To do this method, close the entire upstairs windows and turn on the AC. Make sure to close all of the cooling vents that are located downstairs.
Block the Stairways
The stairway is where warm air usually travels from the downstairs to the upper levels of the house. To prevent air from transferring upstairs, you can block the stairways. You do not need to install a new door to do this. Hanging a thick curtain or a wood panel will do.
How Do You Control the Temperature of Upstairs?
To control the temperature upstairs, set the downstairs thermostat to the right temperature. Make sure to set the upstairs thermostat to a cooler 2-degree setting. By doing this, the extra heat downstairs will control the cold temperature that gathers on the lower levels.
How Do I Force More Heat Upstairs?
To force more heat upstairs, you can close certain vents in your home. One thing that you can do is to close vents that are located in the downstairs rooms that you do not use. For instance, your living room may have three vents but only takes one vent to provide the room with enough heat. We have also shared this article that discusses how to circulate hot air from the ceiling. You can check out the article for more tips and ideas.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discusses how to move heat from upstairs to downstairs. We have shared tips and ideas on how to effectively move heat and maintain a cool and comfortable temperature throughout your home. See to it that you check your home’s heating and cooling systems as well as the vents and ductworks so that you are aware of the issues that occur. If you do not have much knowledge about heating and cooling systems, you can ask for help from professionals. Thank you for reading!