If the upper floor or floor(s) of your home are hotter than the ground floor, you may think it’s simply because heat rises. That is probably not the case if your upstairs floors are uncomfortably hot compared to the lower levels. There are several possible causes—and some solutions to dealing with this as well.
While many of us have our furnace or boiler set to “Auto” on our thermostat so it only cycles on when the thermostat indicates heat is needed, that may be contributing to an overheated upstairs.
Turn the heating setting to “On.” That lets the air constantly circulate in your home. The hotter air won’t settle on the second floor and let the first floor get too cool. This can also prove to be more energy efficient.
Another possible solution is zoned heating. You can set the upstairs cooler and the downstairs lower. With a programmable or smart thermostat, you get better control of your heating, and can even check and run it from your smartphone!
As we said, heat rises. And if your attic is inadequately insulated, more of your generated heat will rise to replace the consistently cooler air. Check these guidelines from the United States Department of Energy to see what level of insulation you need.
If you have a furnace in your home, the ductwork may be damaged, blocked, or clogged. This will cause your home to have uneven heating and will drive up your energy costs. Consider having these inspected—especially if you cannot remember the last time they were checked!
Are there upstairs rooms in your home that get full sunlight during the day? That means there’s passive heating happening throughout the full daytime, which makes your upstairs inherently hotter. Use curtains, blinds or shades to keep that sunlight out.
If you have a furnace, go around your home and inspect the vents? Is furniture, curtains, or other items close to them? They may be restricting airflow from the vents, causing your heating system to turn on more often and work harder, adding more heat to your upper floors. Move obstructions away from the vents.
If you have a boiler, remove obstructions from your radiators or baseboard radiators.
Contact us today for reliable, quality heating equipment installation and service throughout our Delaware HVAC service area. And don’t forget to ask about our service plans to protect that equipment for years to come!
