Hot Upstairs, Cold Downstairs In The Winter: Fix Temperature Imbalance
During the winter, it’s not uncommon for the upstairs to be warmer than the downstairs. Sometimes it’s mild, and won’t really make much of a noticeable difference. Other times, it can be uncomfortable, and even starts costing you money.
Luckily, it’s not something we are unfamiliar with, and a problem we solve for lots of homes in the area. We want to walk you through a few reasons why your home is experiencing uneven temperatures, and what you can do to even them out!
Four Reasons Why Your Home Is Cold Downstairs And Upstairs In Winter
Before you can figure out how to make your home more comfortable, it’s important to figure out why your downstairs is a lot colder than your upstairs. If you don’t know the source of the issue, you may try to fix it and find that your solutions aren’t working. Here are four reasons your downstairs may be colder than your upstairs.
- Static Pressure
- Ductwork Problems
- Airflow Problems
- One-Size-Fits-All HVAC
Static Pressure
Static pressure is the resistance to airflow in your ductwork. It’s important to have some static pressure, but not too much. If you have too much static pressure, it will push the air back and create improper air flow.
When the air in your home isn’t flowing properly, it can lead to hot and cold spots around the house. If your air supply is too low, or your static pressure is too high, you aren’t going to have even heating or cooling around the home.
Ductwork Problems
If you have improperly designed, or leaky ductwork, it doesn’t matter how well your HVAC system is performing. The ductwork carries the conditioned air around the home, and if there’s a problem with it, there are going to be uncomfortable spaces in your home.
In some instances, the ductwork wasn’t designed properly in the first place. You’d be surprised how many homes we go into and find shotty ductwork that leads to issues around the home.
Secondly, ductwork can get old and spring leaks. After years, you never know if a duct has been getting knocked into, or if it’s expanded and contracted enough to crack. Ductwork can have leaks, that then cause you to waste energy and lose air in a desired space.
Airflow Problems
If your system has either of the first 2 issues, airflow problems are going to be an issue. You also will want to make sure that all your vents are clear. Furniture sometimes blocks a vent, causing a backup of air, and a space to stay untreated.
You may also want to have your ductwork cleaned. Buildup of dirt and debris can cause blockages, and dirty air, in your home. A professional cleaning will help, and a technician will be able to check your airflow and make sure that everything is working properly.
How To Balance Heat In A Two-Story House In Winter
Now that you know a few reasons why your home may be uncomfortable in certain spaces, we want to tell you what you can do to fix the situation. The first thing we would suggest is to call a professional. It’s not always easy to assess this problem, especially to the untrained eye.
- Fixing Ductwork
- Two Thermostats
- Dual Furnaces And ACs
- Ductless Mini Split
Fixing Ductwork
As we mentioned, ductwork can be an issue. You can fix ductwork yourself if you feel capable, or you can have a professional help you out. If the design of your ductwork is the problem, you will likely need a contractor to help you out with that one.
If there are simple leaks though, you could fix this yourself. There is tape designed to patch up ductwork, and it is graded for heat. If you are going to do this yourself, make sure you have the appropriate materials that can deal with hot conditions and won’t become a fire hazard.
Two Thermostats
If your home only has one thermostat, it’s only going to have one reading. If you install a second thermostat, you will be able to control two zones of your home independently. The second thermostat will be reading the second zone, likely upstairs, and account for the difference in temperature.
This not only will allow you to even the temperature out, but it will also allow you to save energy, Both zones won’t be used at all times, and you will have the freedom to put one of the zones in a lower power mode when you aren’t using it.
Dual Furnaces And ACs
Dual furnaces and ACs are hybrid systems that combine electric and usually gas to cover every aspect of comfort you need. These systems are great because they can offer very minimal comfort when you simply need a little heating or AC, but they also have higher performance capabilities in the harsher temperatures.
Ductless Mini Split
Ductless mini splits are heat pumps that connect an outside condenser to different air handlers around the house. You control each of these zones independently.
Ductless heating and cooling allows you to customize your comfort. With the help of a professional, you can design a system that breaks your home into different zones, and allows you to heat and cool each one perfectly.
Our Recommendation
We love ductless mini splits to evenly heat and cool a home. Ductless mini splits are energy efficient, whisper quiet, and have the ability to both heat and cool, all while needing no ductwork installed at all.
More Benefits
Ductless mini splits aren’t just a great way to even out the heating and cooling of your home, but they also provide other layers of convenience. Ductless systems are designed with optimum comfort and efficiency in mind.
Better Comfort
Ductless mini splits use inverter technology to reach your desired temperature, and then maintain it. So many traditional HVAC systems will get your home to the right temperature, then simply shut off. While they aren’t working, the temperature starts to dip or rise, until the system kicks back on.
This process leads to uneven heating and cooling, and can create uncomfortable conditions. Ductless systems maintain the temperature you are looking for, keeping the space from having any fluctuations.
Energy Efficient
Ductless mini splits are extremely energy efficient. Because of the heat pump technology they use, they typically use 30% less energy than a traditional HVAC system. Many programs even offer rebates when purchasing a ductless mini split system, to incentivise using less energy to heat and cool homes and businesses.
Ductless mini splits can be a bit expensive to install, but they are then less expensive to operate than almost any other HVAC solution.
Mini Split Installation In Jenkintown, PA
Synergy3 is an expert when it comes to ductless mini split installation in Jenkintown, PA, and the surrounding area. We have repaired, serviced, and installed ductless mini splits in homes and businesses throughout the region, and can help you assess and fix your heating and cooling situation. Give us a call at (267) 686-6004, or click here to contact us online!