Why Is My Upstairs Hotter Than Downstairs?

In a single-story home, you can just set your thermostat to a pleasant temperature and go about your day in comfort. However, if you live in a house with more than one floor, going upstairs on a hot day can feel like walking right into a desert.

You’re probably wondering why your second floor is hotter than your first. After all, your air conditioning should cool the entire house, right?

Homes can have several problems that lead to drastic temperature and humidity differences between floors. Thankfully, most are simple to address. You can fix the temperature disparity by:

• Adding insulation
• Sealing ductwork
• Resizing your air conditioner
• Adding window tint
• Adding dehumidifier

Is Your Upstairs Hotter Than Your Downstairs?

Advanced Air has over 30 years of experience addressing common HVAC and air quality issues with efficiency and skill in Southwest Florida. Our experts can quickly perform duct sealing, dehumidifying, and AC installation services to make your upstairs as comfortable as possible.

Call us at (888) 853-5143 or click the button below to schedule your appointment today.

In school, you probably learned that hot air rises and cool air falls. While this accounts for a few degrees in temperature difference, it isn’t the primary source of your heating issues. Depending on the house, your problem could be a lack of insulation.

Your roof can get swelteringly hot unless you have plenty of shady tree cover. The sun beats down on it all day, and the roof absorbs that heat. Hot air seeps into your attic and, eventually, your upper floors. Adding attic insulation limits the heat transfer from the roof to your home.

While your HVAC system delivers cool air throughout your home, it can also be the source of your overheating upper floor issues. The system’s ductwork distributes the cold air from your HVAC system throughout your home. When air ducts develop holes and leaks, they can’t deliver cool air properly. As a result, some rooms may be significantly colder or hotter than they should be.

Contact a professional to check your ducts and seal any leaks. Not only will this even out the temperature, but it can also save you a significant amount on your utility bill and improve your air quality by preventing dust from spreading.

Cooling technology has evolved a lot over the years. Air conditioning systems have become more powerful and efficient. If your system isn't properly sized for your home, there’s a good chance it simply can’t service a multi-floor home.

Smaller units must work harder to provide air to a large house, and the extra energy consumption shows up on your utility bills.

On the other hand, you might have an air conditioner that is too big. Because it’s more powerful, the system runs for a short burst and then quickly shuts off. This “short cycling” can leave moisture in the air, which causes your upper floors to become hotter and far more humid.

Speak with an HVAC expert to see if you have the correct air conditioner size for your home and desired comfort level.

Sunlight coming through your windows is usually a significant contributor to the heat in your home. According to ENERGY STAR, a standard double-pane window allows around 75% of the sun’s heat into your house. If your upstairs area is often bathing in natural light, installing window tinting or a UV-blocking film is a great way to keep the temperature low.

By blocking solar heat and harmful UV rays, these options cool your house while protecting its interior from light damage. This means less fabric and artwork fading or discoloration and less cancer-causing sun exposure.

If your upper floors are far more humid than your downstairs rooms, they will feel much hotter. Under typical circumstances, a home’s upper floors' humidity levels should be 1% to 5% higher than the lower ones. Once the level exceeds 5%, mildew and mold can grow.

Adding attic insulation and sealing leaky ductwork can help to resolve humidity issues, but you may need a dehumidifier if the problem persists. Whole-home dehumidifiers can dramatically reduce the load on your AC systems as the indoor air feels cooler, saving you money on energy bills.

Advanced Air has serviced the Southwest Florida community for over 30 years. Book a convenient appointment with our professional and courteous HVAC technicians and air quality experts—we work around your schedule. We guarantee 100% satisfaction with our Aeroseal ductwork sealing, air conditioner replacement, and dehumidifier installation services.

Feel free to call us at (888) 853-5143 or click the button below to schedule a 5-star service today!