How to Keep Your Upstairs Cooler in the Summer

Tips for Keeping Your Bedrooms Cool & Comfortable

Summertime heat and humidity are in full force in Central Ohio, which challenges our HVAC systems to keep our homes cool and comfortable. If your bedroom is on the second floor, are you facing challenges trying to get a good night’s sleep? This isn’t an uncommon problem. Many homeowners find that the upper stories of their homes aren’t cool enough in the summer and struggle to find solutions. There are many reasons why your AC isn’t cooling the upper floors of your home as well as it does the lower floors. The first being basic physics — heat rises. This is also why your upstairs rooms tend to be warmer in the winter. Another factor is that a single thermostat controls the temperature for the entire house. It is registering and maintaining the room temperature in its immediate area. Other causes include inadequate insulation in the roof and attic, an outdated HVAC system, and poor overall airflow. Here are some tips to help keep the upper floors of your home cool during the hot summer months.

Adjust the Airflow

You can partially or completely close the dampers or registers for the first-floor vents, which will help direct cool air to the second-floor vents. You can also try opening the second-floor return vents. This will redirect the hot air to the AC for cooling. Another tip is to make sure you regularly change your air filters. Dirty filters can impede air flow, making your AC work harder and increasing your energy bills, yet with no noticeable improvement in temperature. One final suggestion is to run fans on the upper floors, especially if you have an attic fan, to improve airflow.

Create Zones in Your Home

To maximize cooling, you can divide your home into zones. A separate thermostat will be installed in each zone, so you have more control over the temperature. The temperature is regulated by a system of dampers and sensors that feed into a central control panel. Zoning dampers will be installed in your ductwork and will direct the airflow as needed to cool the specific zone. When you adjust the thermostat in one zone, the central control panel will turn the AC (or furnace) on or off and open and close the dampers accordingly. An HVAC specialist can work with you to determine how many zones your home needs and discuss the installation process and costs. Once you have set up the zones, you will experience cooler rooms on the upper floors and lower energy costs.

Install a Ductless or Secondary System

Another solution to keeping the upper floors of your home cooler is to install ductless mini-splits. Essentially, it’s akin to installing a small heat pump in each room where you need additional cooling and heating. Mini-splits are easy to install and make it a breeze to control the temperature in a single room. Other options include using a portable air conditioner, a window unit, or investing in a second central air system for the upper floors of your house. Installing a secondary cooling system makes sense if your family uses the upper floors of your house during the day and needs consistent comfort.

Atlas Butler is Here for Your Comfort

If your family is ready for some relief from the heat in the upper floors of your home, reach out to Atlas Butler by calling 1-800-FURNACE. One of our HVAC specialists will meet with you to assess the size of your home and discuss your cooling options. Whichever solution you choose, you can be assured that your family will experience better rest at night, and your energy costs will be lower. You can sleep on that!