It is not uncommon to find that your upstairs is not as cool as your downstairs in the summer heat. However, it can be frustrating when you have an installed HVAC system that you expected to work as efficiently upstairs as it does downstairs. There are many possible reasons for the temperature difference between the two floors.
Clogged Air Filters
If you do not have your HVAC system regularly serviced, your problem could be as simple as clogged air filters. When air filters are clogged with dirt, they struggle to push air through and could cause some parts of the home to be left less cool than others. Changing your air filters and cleaning the system will help make air circulation more efficient and promote better distribution of cooler air.
Victor Rancour CEO of Absolute Airflow in Orange County explains, “Many homeowners don’t realize how important airflow is to their homes HVAC unit. When airflow is restricted, it puts undue stress on the unit and that’s when parts tend to break.”
Poor Attic Insulation
If your attic is not well-insulated, it could be allowing more heat to penetrate through the roof into your top floor. It could also be causing the little conditioned air that is making its way into the upstairs to rise and escape, leaving the space warmer than desired.
To help keep your attic cool:
- Check that the insulation is intact and make repairs where needed.
- Consider installing attic fans to keep the environment cool.
- Check vents to ensure they are not clogged and interfering with proper ventilation.
Old Air Conditioner
Just as with any other equipment, air conditioners have a limited lifespan. In most cases, you can expect your system to last about 15 years before you would need to replace it. An old AC most likely will not work as well as a newer model. It will probably be inefficient and possibly create hot and cold spots around the home. If your air conditioning unit is older than 15 years, there is a good chance it is on its last legs, and the time has come to invest in a new one. Fortunately, newer models are more powerful and energy-efficient, allowing for better temperature regulation on all floors and helping lower utility costs. And with a new installation by a professional, air balancing will be carried out to ensure you do not have to worry about temperature differences between the floors.
Damaged Ducts
Duct lines are the channels that distribute conditioned air from your AC throughout the home. If they become damaged, this will affect their ability to circulate air and possibly lead to temperature differences between the floors. Old ducts are more prone to damaged walls, junctions, and faulty dampers. It could also be that the ducts are smaller or larger than they need to be, requiring more extensive work to fix the problem.
Damaged ducts force the AC to work harder in regulating temperature. For ductwork, you will require the services of a professional who can come in with the necessary equipment and expertise to assess the condition of your system and pinpoint the problem area.
Single Versus Multi-Zone Systems
Single-zone systems are ACs designed for use in small spaces like a single room. Multi-zone systems are more powerful ACs built to cater to a larger capacity, such as multiple rooms or floors. If you have a single-zone system installed in your two-story house, you can expect it not be able to cope with the demands of many rooms. You will need to switch to an AC that can facilitate multi-zone air conditioning. According to your preference, you can even use multi-zone systems to set different parts of the home to different temperatures.
Most of these issues are best identified and resolved by a professional HVAC specialist. HVAC systems are complex, with multiple components that can make it difficult to determine what is causing the problem. By engaging a professional, you can have the issue more quickly identified and be provided with the best solutions to resolving them.