The way to Cool a Two-Story Home

For many who dwell in a house with ranges, you’ve undoubtedly found how difficult it may be to chill it evenly. In the course of the summer season, your major flooring is ideal, however the upstairs feels 5 to 10 levels hotter, and the basement is freezing. For those who attempt to cool the higher flooring additional, you’ll end up needing a sweater on the primary flooring – in August! No matter you do, somebody, someplace in the home, goes to be uncomfortable.

So, how do you cool a two-story home?

Answer 1: Discover and Repair Underlying Issues

There could also be underlying issues inflicting your own home to chill erratically. These potential points ought to be explored and solved earlier than contemplating different options. Right here are some things to search for:

Leaky Air Ducts – In case your air-con system is positioned within the basement, chilly air should journey a great distance by ductwork to succeed in the higher flooring. If these ducts leak air, not sufficient chilly air will make it to your higher flooring. The typical air duct system loses 20-30% of conditioned air to gaps and cracks within the ductwork. An skilled HVAC firm can check your air ducts for leaks and get them sealed for you.

Blocked Soffit Vents – Soffit vents enable outdoors air to enter your attic. If they’re blocked by insulation, a hen’s nest or one thing else, this case can result in critical roof harm. Blocked soffit vents may also trigger your attic followers to suck up your own home’s conditioned air into the attic. It will trigger your system to work a lot tougher, growing your vitality payments too.

Poor Attic Insulation – Very like a blocked soffit vent, inadequate attic insulation will trigger your unit to work tougher and your higher flooring to be hotter than you’d like.

Blocked Provide & Return Vents – Stroll round your own home’s inside and examine all your provide and return vents. Be certain they’re all open and that nothing like rugs, drapes, furnishings or anything is obstructing them. Whereas some individuals attempt blocking vents to redirect airflow, that is by no means a good suggestion. As a substitute, if you wish to redirect airflow in your house, ask a licensed HVAC technician about putting in dampers inside your ductwork to create HVAC zones.

Use the Fan Setting – Most individuals have their fan set to “Auto,” which activates the fan at any time when the warmth or AC is operating. We advocate turning on the fan when the AC just isn’t actively operating. It will enable your system to flow into air all through the house regularly. This is a wonderful method to preserve your own home cool with much less affect in your vitality payments.

Answer 2: Contemplate a Zoned System

A zoned system divides your own home into separate heating and cooling zones, on this case, higher and decrease flooring. This lets you warmth and funky them at totally different temperatures.

There are two parts to a zoned system. The primary is to have electronically managed dampers put in in your ductwork. Performing like valves, dampers open and shut to manage the airflow all through your own home. Working in tandem with the dampers are a number of thermostats, one in every zone. These will let you management the digital dampers put in in your air ducts.

One other sort of zoned HVAC system is a ductless mini-split unit. As a substitute of dampers, a mini-split system has indoor air handlers put in in every zone, every with a corresponding thermostat. For every out of doors warmth pump, you’ll be able to have as many as 4 indoor mini-split items in your house. Excessive-efficiency mini-split programs are additionally eligible for beneficiant authorities rebates, making them a really enticing selection proper now.

If you’re having bother heating and cooling your 2-story residence, Atel Air is happy to assist. Contact Atel Air anytime for knowledgeable recommendation, knowledgable service and high-quality HVAC gear.