If no one wants to be on your second floor, you’re not alone. Lancaster and York homes often gather unbearable heat on the second floor, this problem can be even worse in older homes. Below we’ve gathered some of the best low-investment and high-investment ways to deal with your second floor bedrooms being too hot.
Fix your hot second floor by identifying the cause and choosing a solution that fits your budget.
Quick Fixes for Lowering Your Second Floor Temperature
The solutions suggested below are not going to address the root cause of your hot second floor, but they will help to provide some immediate relief while you investigate the true cause.
- Open the windows for a little at night.
- Use blackout or insulating curtains during the sunny hours of the day.
- Add box fans to your rooms and use them to draw cool air in from the outside at night.
- Add more plants for natural cooling.
- Buy clothing and bedding that is designed to cool your body.
- Switch to LED bulbs if your lights generate heat.
- Door draft blockers at the top of stairs.
- Apply window film to the brightest windows.
- Run bathroom exhaust fans for 10 minutes after showers.
- Ensure You Turn Off or Sleep All Electronic Devices (Computers, Videogame Systems, Televisions) when not in use.
Generate Less Heat Indoors
Ultimately, heat that’s on your first floor is naturally going to travel upward because heat rises. So reducing the amount of heat you generate in-house is a quick way to reduce the amount that travels. There are two main zones in your home responsible for heat, the kitchen and bathroom.
In The Kitchen
- Batch cook to decrease the amount of heat each day.
- Swap batch-cooked meals with someone else to increase variety.
- Cook outside and use the stove and oven less.
- Eat more cold foods while the weather is hot.
- Open any kitchen windows when cooking.
- Turn on any oven or stove exhaust fans when cooking.
In The Bathroom
- Cold Showers
- Short Hot Showers
- Open any Bathroom Windows Prior to Starting the Water
- Turn On All Exhaust Fans and Leave Them On for 10 minutes after your shower.
Seal Your Home Envelope
If none of the quick solutions have brought your relief, and you’re looking to determine the root cause of your hot second floor it all starts with your home envelope. You can think of it like your home’s personal temperature bubble. Holes in your home envelope or bubble let heat slip inside and overwhelm your cooling system.
How is how air getting into your home?
- HVAC Duct Leaks
- Single-Pane Windows
- Doors with Gaps
- Underinsulated Attics
- Any Holes or Openings to the Outdoors
Insulate Your Attic
Your attic absorbs the summer heat through the roof all day. Without enough insulation, that heat moves to the second floor and pushes cool air down to the first floor.
The best part is that your insulation works all year long to reduce your energy costs by also capping the heat in your home in the winter so that it stays on the second floor instead of rising through the roof.
We’re not insulation experts, we don’t install insulation at all, but we’ve often talked to customers about their problem not being their AC unit but in reality being their lack of insulation. Always have your attic insulation evaluated before buying a new air conditioner.
While there is some initial investment, insulating your attic often comes with available energy rebates, and results in lower energy bills over time.
Additional Long-Term Investments
We recommend most homeowners start with their attic because it’s one of the most cost-effective upgrades to your home envelope. There are additional investments that you can consider to further insulate your home.
- Plant shade trees outside the hottest side of the house.
- Upgrade to new, multi-paned windows.
- Add storm windows.
- Tint windows on the sunny side of the house.
- Add awnings to reduce the solar heat on the windows.
- Add exterior shades to your windows.
- Paint your house a lighter color if it’s dark color to decrease the radiant heat it takes in during the day.
Check Your Cooling Unit
If your second floor is still hot after sealing and insulating, the cooling equipment may be the limiting factor.
Maintenance
Replace filters, clear debris, unblock vents, and check for air and water leaks.
Age
Systems older than 15-20 years lose power and efficiency.
Installation
If a cooling unit is installed with poor duct routing or an undersized unit airflow will be reduced to the second floor.
Consider Adding Zones or Mini-Splits
Most homes cool unevenly because a single thermostat only measures the first floor. Add a second thermostat to your central air system and zone controls so the unit responds to the whole house.
Want to fix it without the investment of ducts? Mini-split systems are the most powerful way to cool your second floor without the level of construction that comes with installing new duct-work.
FAQs
Is a hot second floor normal for an older home in the Susquehanna Valley?
Yes. It’s common for older Lancaster and York homes to have too little attic insulation, single-pane windows, and leaky ductwork.
When should I call a professional about cooling my second floor?
Call an HVAC professional if your system is older than 15 years, maintenance is overdue, and you know that your attic has adequate insulation.
Is sealing my attic and ducts worth it?
Yes. Most homes have the potential to put off replacing their cooling unit and instead can repair, seal, and insulate for noticeable temperature improvements. This often leads to improved airflow, better temperature control, and lower overall run time.
Can I just add more vents to my HVAC to cool my second floor better?
That is only helpful when the home envelope is already secure, the HVAC of the house is set up in zones, the integrity of the ductwork is intact, and the power of the blower is high enough to operate with more vents.
Do I need to add more thermostats to my home to cool my second floor?
Setting up zoning in your home can be especially useful if you have a second floor that is hotter than the downstairs thermostat is set to. Changing this alone may not solve the whole problem though if the building envelope or the age or size of the cooling unit can’t also meet the needs of the home.
Can I turn off my AC unit and leave for vacation?
Unfortunately, leaving without preparing the unit can result in unexpected property damage. Learn more about how to prep your A/C unit for a vacation.
Need a Pro? We’re Your Local HVAC Heroes
If you need an HVAC professional, RSC is at your call. Give us a call at 717-299-3914 to speak with our live, US-based customer service team (yes, really!). Use the button below to request an HVAC consultation on your heat envelope and potential air conditioning solutions.
