Do you feel like your upper level is always hotter than your lower level? This unfortunately is a common situation, especially given the fact that most bedrooms are located upstairs and it can be hard to sleep in a hot room. There are some reasons that will answer your questions as to why your upstairs is always hotter than your downstairs.
WARM AIR RISES
It is a fact of nature that warm air rises above cool air; therefore at any given time your upper levels are going to contain more warm air than the lower levels.
ROOMS SHARE A BORDER WITH THE ATTIC
The warmest rooms in your home are often ones that share a ceiling with your attic. The sun’s beams shine down directly onto your roof during the day and the heat from these rays flows into your attic, which most times are an unconditioned part of your home.
This will result in the attic getting extremely hot and the hot air can flow down through the floor into your living space below. You can help this problem by improving your attic’s insulation levels.
AIR HANDLER ISSUES
Upstairs rooms are often located away from your system’s air handler; if your air conditioner is working correctly this should not be an issue. If something is affecting your air handler’s performance, it could limit the amount of cool air that is able to make it to the upper level.
A clogged air filter can restrict air flow to your system, this is one reason why it is important to change your air filter each month. Escape this problem by changing your filter and scheduling annual tune ups to have your system cleaned.
AIR VENTS CLOSED OR BLOCKED
Heat can build up in your upstairs rooms if your air vents are closed or blocked by furniture or rugs. Make sure to keep all of your air vents open and clear so that your upstairs gets all the cool air your system tries to send it.
The best solution to even out the temperature levels in your home is to have a zoning system installed. A zoning system allows you to put a separate thermostat upstairs that operates independently from the lower levels.
