Why Is My House Warm Downstairs But Cold Upstairs?

If you often ask yourself why my house is hot upstairs and cold downstairs,

your ducts may be to blame

. Leaky ducts lose heated or cooled air in the unconditioned areas of your home before it reaches your living space. … To check your ducts, turn on your air conditioner and go into the ducts' location.

Why is my house hot downstairs and cold upstairs?

Blame physics: hot air rises while cold air sinks. That means your

upstairs typically gets hotter than your lower levels

, even if your air conditioner's working in overdrive. Your roof's hot, too: Unless you have shady tree cover, your roof absorbs a ton of heat from the sun.

How do you keep downstairs as warm as upstairs?

1. Change Your Air Filter. …
2. Repair and Insulate Your Ductwork. …
3. Shell Out for a New Air Conditioner or Furnace. …
4. Look Into Zone Control HVAC. …
5. Investigate Your Attic's Thermal Integrity. …
6. Reduce Sources of Heat Upstairs. …
7. Use Fans.

Why is my house warmer downstairs?

In a typical two story home, there is

a 8–10 degree temperature difference between the upstairs and the downstairs

. This is because heat naturally moves from lower to higher levels, leaving the upstairs rooms warmer than those below.

How do you fix temperature difference between floors?

Keep the air moving by

turning on the fan setting of your home's thermostat

. Turn the fan from “auto” to “on”. The fan will circulate the air continually throughout the home and can help even out temperatures between floors.

Does closing vents downstairs help cool upstairs?

Heat tends to rise, often making it easier to heat the second floor than the ground floor. … Closing strategic vents in your

home may help force more heat to your second floor

. Seal Ducts. Heat may be escaping through joints in your ductwork.

Why is my room so hot compared to the rest of the house?

Dirty air filter—A dirty filter restricts airflow, not letting your home get enough cool air.

Closed vents

—Closed vents in rooms can cause them to be hotter than other rooms. Open windows—Your conditioned air can flow out of open windows, leaving uneven temperatures in your home.

How should I set my upstairs and downstairs thermostats?

During the summer, set your

upstairs thermostat to your desired temperature

, and the downstairs unit two degrees warmer. During winter, set the downstairs temperature to the ideal level, and upstairs two degrees colder. During the winter, this isn't as much of a problem, because you want a warmer home.

Should vents be closed in unused rooms?

Closing vents in unused rooms

saves energy from entering the room

, but it also pushes the excess air to other places in your home. … The added pressure from closing a vent can cause air leaks in your system, causing long-term and unnecessary energy waste.

How do I balance upstairs and downstairs thermostat?

Start by setting your thermostat downstairs to your desired temperature. Then set the

upstairs thermostat to a two-degree cooler setting

. The extra heat downstairs will combat the cold that settles on the lower levels.

Why is my 2nd floor so cold?

If the second floor of your home stays cold in the winter even when the first floor is toasty, it may indicate that

your home is improperly insulated or ventilated

. … Homeowners can do some inexpensive things themselves, however, to help provide a more comfortable temperature on the second floor.

How do I even out the temperature in my house?

1. 1) Adjust your air vents. …
2. 2) Keep the fan on at all times. …
3. 3) Get your air ducts inspected and cleaned. …
4. 4) Insulate the attic. …
5. 5) Upgrade to a Smart thermostat. …
6. Contact us.

How can I keep my heat downstairs in the winter?

1. Adjust the dampers. …
2. Close top return vents. …
3. Use your ceiling fans effectively.

What is an unhealthy room temperature?

A safe temperature is accepted to be

between 68- and 74-degrees Fahrenheit

for people above the age of 65. The temperature inside your home should not reach below 65 degrees Fahrenheit in any case, as that increases the risk of respiratory disease and even hypothermia if there is prolonged exposure.

Is upstairs or downstairs warmer?

Typically,

rooms upstairs are warmer than rooms downstairs

, and, oppositely, basement rooms tend to stay much cooler due to the fact they are underground; also, rooms that are on the side of your home that receives more sunlight than others will tend to be warmer and need more energy to keep cool.

How do you force cold air upstairs?

1. Properly open vents, don't block return air supply. Let the air flow! …
2. Install lightly colored curtains or drapes. …
3. Keep heat-generating appliances off. …
4. Run a fan (when you're in the room) …
5. Keep your HVAC fan set to ‘on' …
6. Inspect your ductwork. …
7. Check your insulation.