If you live in a multi-story home, you may have noticed that your home has uneven heating in the winter, where the downstairs living areas are cooler while the upstairs bedrooms are roasting.
You’re not alone. This is a common issue for people with two-story or multi-story homes. There are several possible causes, and we’ll walk through them and their solutions with you.
If your attic doesn’t have enough insulation, more heat is going to be drawn up to the second floor. The U.S. Department of Energy has a guide to let you know how much insulation your North Carolina home needs.
Upstairs rooms that have windows that get full sunlight have a boost in heating during the day. Use curtains, blinds or shades to keep that sunlight out.
If your furnace’s ductwork is damaged or isn’t installed properly, rooms won’t be heated evenly and your furnace will work harder and use more energy as it tries to keep the temperatures balanced. Contact your HVAC service provider to inspect and repair your ductwork to make sure it’s up to snuff.
Many homeowners believe it makes sense to have your furnace set to “Auto,” so it only runs when the thermostat indicates heat is needed. But if you’re dealing with a hot upstairs, you may want to try turning the furnace setting to “On.” With air continuously circulating, it helps to prevent the hot air from settling on the second floor and cold air from being stuck on the first floor. It can also be more energy efficient.
While you also may think that closing the registers on the second floor while keeping the first-floor registers open is a good idea, it isn’t. When you close those vents, it affects the pressure levels of your heating system and actually makes it work harder, reducing energy efficiency and causing your energy bills to rise.
To truly jump ahead of the curve, you may want to look into investing in zoned heating. With zoned heating, your home is divided into multiple sections, allowing you more finite, precise control over each of them. You can set the upstairs cooler and the downstairs lower. Today’s programmable thermostats offer easy control of your heating and can even be monitored and run with your smartphone. Your HVAC equipment service provider can help you decide if zoned heating fits your needs and your budget.
Effective home heating will help keep your family comfortable all season long. And when you need a refill of propane or heating oil, we’ll always be there to help. Contact LG Jordan today to learn more!
