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We learn in science class that warm air rises. However, how does that concept apply to cooling your 2 story home? If warm air rises, than the second floor of your home may not be as comfortable as the first floor unless you plan ahead. We provide you with tips for air conditioning a two story home.
Tip One: Understand Your HVAC System (Promote Proper Air Flow)
The first tip we will provide involves learning about your HVAC unit. When you understand your system and how it works, you will have a better understanding of how to use it to get the results you want, even in your multi story home.
The main types of HVAC systems are:
- Central air conditioner
- Heat pump
- Window unit
A heat pump AC system removes hot air from a room and turns it into cool air, making it a great option for second story rooms. They also heat the area in the winter. Central air conditioners, on the other hand, only cool and require walls that can retain. They also don’t remove the heat from the air.
It’s not recommended to use a window air conditioner for a large multi-story home unless you want to install multiple units in different rooms of your house.
Tip Two: Provide Proper Air Flow
You should also get a basic understanding of your home’s ventilation system.
A zoned system allows you to control the temperature in different zones of your home, making it especially easy to control the temperature of rooms on the upper floor of your home.
However, your air conditioning system may use a duct system. If you have a duct system, you may want to partially close vents to rooms on the first floor of your home so that the air must go to the second floor and then work its way down. It’s also important to clean your air ducts regularly.
You can also increase proper ventilation with the help of a ceiling fan or standing fans.
Tip Three: Check For Leaks at Condensate Line and Drain Pan
Age, trauma, lack of maintenance, and a clog are all reasons why an ac unit may leak water.
AC units naturally produce condensation.
The condensation drips into a drain pan and then a condensate line transfers the excess moisture away from your home.
A leak will not only force the air conditioner to work harder, but it can prevent it from producing the results you expect, especially on the second floor.
Look for a leak throughout your system, particularly at the drain pan and condensate line. If you notice a leak, replacing the broken component may resolve the issue. Schedule air conditioning repair at your earliest convenience or else your bbq area will be ruined if the water gets filled there.
Tip Four: Perform Summer Home Maintenance
There are other aspects of summer maintenance that can work in conjunction to increase cooling upstairs.
Provide adequate insulation in the walls and use efficient windows. Hard to access windows on the second floor, in particular, can provide a noticeable source of heat loss.
If your windows have leaks or cracks, ask about your options when you get professional window cleaning help. You may be able to use weatherstripping or caulk to resolve the issue.
Tip Five: Follow Efficient and Clean HVAC Practices
Efficiency
An efficient unit will cool better than an inefficient unit on top of saving you in energy costs.
If you have the opportunity to buy a new air conditioner, get one with an Energy Star sticker on it, as those products meet specific regulations than ensure above average efficiency levels.
You can also increase efficiency by using a programmable thermostat and regulating the thermostat settings regularly.
Indoor Air Quality
You don’t only want cool air upstairs but also clean air.
Clean your filter regularly, prohibit smoking in your home, and limit other toxins, such as chemicals in cleaning products. Pets can reduce air quality a bit as well, but we understand you can’t get rid of a part of the family. You can, however, keep your pets groomed and keep them away from the unit itself.
Conclusion
Is it cold downstairs but hot upstairs? The cold air coming from your AC unit must get proper air circulation to produce the desired temperature on the upper floor as well as the downstairs. One of the best ways to produce good results is to use and care for your air conditioning unit properly. When things go wrong, call for professional services from an HVAC company that handles your service area.
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