Uneven Cooling Fixes for Multiple-Story Houses

September 10, 2019

With summer coming to a close and the fall settling in, you might be noticing changes in how your home temperature feels. This is especially true if you live in a multiple-story house.

The basement may feel like a chilly winter day, the ground floor a blissful fall, and upstairs a blast of summer. There's only one roof, right? How could your home feel like three different seasons? Trust us - you are not alone.

Here at A.J. Perri, we hear lots of complaints from homeowners concerning uneven cooling. We've compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you combat this common problem. Of course, to fully solve uneven cooling, remember to give us a call, so our experienced professionals can get to the root of the issue.

Why is it always hotter on the second floor?

1. Heat rises

1. • Scientifically speaking, hot air rises. This is because when you heat air, it expands, making it less dense than the air around it. Since hotter air is less dense than cooler air, it will rise. This is why you will experience hotter air on the higher levels of your home.

2. Size/age of your A/C unit

1. • Sometimes the problem is as simple as your air conditioning unit. If your A/C unit is too old or too small, it might not be able to reach all of the crevices of your home, especially the floors that the A/C unit is not on.

3. Insulation

1. • Insufficient insulation allows for hot or cold air to leak into your household. As a result, you might notice parts of your house experience varying temperatures.

4. Sun exposure

1. • Perhaps, one room in your home has large, full room windows while your basement is completely sealed off to sunlight. The sun exposure in that room will heat certain areas of the house, while another part of your house will stay cooler.

Tips on Solving Uneven Cooling

Luckily, you do not have to settle for uneven cooling. If you follow these tips and allow A.J. Perri to lend a hand, you can make your home comfortable no matter the season.

1. Limit Heat Exposing Activities During the Day

1. • Try waiting to complete tasks like baking, running the dryer or using the exhaust fan. Simple tricks like this will decrease heat in the pockets of your home.

2. Add a Zoning System

1. • Adding a zoning system to your A/C unit means having a thermostat on each floor, which allows you to control the temperature in different parts of your home. For example, you can increase the A/C on the second floor, but lower the A/C in the basement.

3. Adding or Repairing Insulation

1. • Increasing insulation will limit the amount of heat or A/C to exit through the walls and ceiling. Sometimes you might not need to completely replace your insulation, but adding or upgrading your insulation could do the trick.

4. Clean HVAC System Regularly

1. • Clean HVAC systems allow air to circulate freely and openly throughout the house. Remember to schedule annual maintenance and change filters.

5. Schedule an A.J. Perri Maintenance Inspection

1. • If you're following all of these steps, but still experiencing uneven cooling, give us a call or book a service online. Our experienced professionals have years of experience fixing problems like this and know all of the ins and outs of your heating and cooling system.

Remember: You do not have to settle for discomfort. A.J. Perri has proudly served New Jersey for nearly 50 years – solving all sorts of plumbing, heating, cooling, and indoor air quality problems. Help us help you - give us a call or book a service online.