If you have a two-story house, it can often be difficult to keep the upstairs cool.
Hot air rises, after all, so it is common for the upper level of a house to be warmer than the ground floor. The top floor and attic also have the large surface area of the roof soaking up heat from the sun, whereas the ground floor is effectively shaded and insulated by the rooms above it.
So how can you keep the upstairs cool? Here are some options:
- First, you may need to perform some maintenance to make the A/C colder. For the reasons mentioned above, a problem with air conditioner performance will be noticed first on the top floor. Replace the air filter, hose down the outdoor compressor unit and consider getting the refrigerant levels checked.
- Make sure none of the upstairs air vents are covered or blocked. This includes air return vents, which are essential for circulation and for allowing the A/C to operate efficiently.
- Consider a zoning system. A zoning system will measure the temperature in each part of the house and redirect airflow in order to keep the upstairs cool.
- Close the upstairs window shades, at least during daylight hours. Sunlight shining through windows creates a literal greenhouse effect, trapping heat inside the house.
- Use fans. Fans create a wind chill, making a room feel a few degrees cooler than it actually is. If your upstairs rooms are a few degrees warmer than the downstairs rooms, using fans upstairs will make the whole house feel like it is at the same temperature.
- Ventilate the attic. Add attic vents, or make sure the ones you have are not blocked. A hot attic will radiate heat through the ceiling into the upstairs rooms.
- Add attic insulation. For the same reason as above, upgrading your attic insulation will help to keep the upstairs cool by reducing summer heat gain.
Wichita Falls can get notoriously hot, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable in your home. If you need help to keep the upstairs cool, contact the experts at James Lane.
