If your home has more than one level, have you ever noticed that your upstairs is far warmer than your downstairs space? This issue goes beyond the idea that heat rises and is often the result of factors within your control.
Here are just a few of the reasons why your upper floor—or floors—may feel hotter than the first floor, and suggestions for how you can troubleshoot many of them.
If your attic is not adequately insulated, more heat will make its way upstairs. This guide, from the U.S. Department of Energy can tell you know how much insulation your Central Maine home needs.
If any of the windows for your upstairs rooms get full sunlight, it will cause those rooms to heat up more than the rest of the house. Closing the blinds, curtains or shades will keep the temperatures of those rooms more consistent with your other rooms.
Ductwork that is not installed properly or that has suffered damage will not heat your rooms evenly. When this is the case, your furnace will have to put in more work—and use more energy—to keep the temperature as balanced as possible. If you suspect that this is the problem, contact us and we’ll repair or replace it.
If you have your furnace set to “Auto,” hot air may be settling on the second (or third) floor, whereas setting it to “On” will prevent this. It also may be worth considering a switch to zoned heating, where your home is divided into sections and you can control each area separately.
The airflow in your home may be compromised if vents are closed or if curtains, rugs, furniture or other items are obstructing the air flow.
Are you changing your air filter regularly? If not, it’s time to take care of that. Change it every three months, and during the peak heating season, you should change it (or clean it, depending on what type you have) monthly.
At Murray-Heutz, we want your family to be comfortable throughout the winter. If you need our help regulating the temperature in your home—or with installation or service, please contact us today!
