There is nothing more aggravating than performing your nightly routine after a long day, only to go upstairs and be greeted by a thick wave of heat. What’s preventing you from having a relaxing evening and a peaceful night of sleep? We suspect we may know the culprit(s)!” 

Several issues could be responsible for the fluctuations in temperature between the floors of your home, including an outdated HVAC system, the quality of the insulation in your home, and even obstructed air ducts limiting the flow of air.

Improperly Insulated Attics Can Cause Problems on Every Floor

The temperature and humidity in your attic are more than twice as high as those in your living space. Humidity follows hot air into your home since it’s drawn to cold air, so you probably feel a lot of that hot air in your house during the summer months. 

Think about it: Is your attic hatch built like a front door, insulated and airtight? If not, that is a one-entry path. There are recessed can lights, electrical wire holes, plumbing pipe holes, and more to consider as possible entry points.

Poor Air Sealing & Insulation

Poor air sealing and insulation are frequently the cause of inconsistent temperatures.  Air sealing effectively prevents hot, humid air from entering and exiting your home throughout the summer and winter. 

When thinking about insulation in your home, imagine your home as one of your winter jackets. The outside half of your jacket is your windbreaker, much like air sealing your attic to your living space. The material inside the windbreaker is what maintains the conditioned air in your home. 

However, the quality of the insulation in your attic could also be the culprit. Poor insulation may be contributing to the second floor of your home being hotter than the first floor, particularly if you have an older home. To learn about our insulation and air sealing services, click here!

Air Duct Issues

Return air ducts may not be properly sized to remove the right amount of air from the room. Inadvertently, your supply air ducts may not be properly sized to supply the right amount of air, either. You may need to have your air ducts cleaned or assessed for blockage, leaks, and cracks. An HVAC audit will determine if any or all of these are the problem in your home.

Blocked Air Vents

Something as simple as the blockage of a supply and/ or return air vent by a large piece of furniture could cause temperature fluctuations in your home. Check that each vent is open and that you don’t have a couch, curtains, or anything else that might be blocking the air vents in your room. If necessary, you can even purchase and install a separate type of cooling system designed for small spaces such as a ductless mini-split.

Wrong Size HVAC System

It’s also possible to have the wrong size heating and cooling unit installed in your home. Older homes may have ductwork leading upstairs that is too small to return the air to be conditioned and distribute consistent temperatures throughout distant regions of your home effectively. 

Alternatively, a larger HVAC system doesn’t always mean better. In fact, they may cool the room so effectively that one minute you’re freezing from the air being on and sweating because it gets too hot, too quickly, the next.

Your Thermostat Is In The Wrong Place

Wherever your thermostat is located will determine the performance of your HVAC system. Is it currently located directly in front of your air vent causing your air conditioner to stop cooling prematurely? For large or two-story homes, installing a 2, 3, or 4 zoned system will improve your unit’s performance and energy efficiency with consistent temperature readings for each zone.

Schedule your home assessment today!

Like all household appliances, HVAC systems degenerate over time. If the second floor of your home is consistently hotter than the first, it may be worthwhile to contact a local service provider to assess the system and property for efficiency. Here at Minnick’s, located in Laurel, Maryland, and serving the central Maryland area, we have the answers to your heating and cooling concerns. Your comfort is important to us, so we offer a money-back guarantee if we can’t solve the problem. In addition, we promise never to charge an additional fee for night or weekend service! Schedule an appointment here. 

Have you overheard a friend mention their frustration with the ineffectiveness of their heating and cooling system? Refer a friend and once we’ve completed the service for the referral, receive $200, in cash, personally delivered from owner Rob Minnick as a token of our gratitude. In addition, we ensure your friend continues to live in comfort with the gift of a Remote Maintenance System for a year, a $228 total value!

Minnick’s is hiring! Click here to learn about the benefits of joining our team of passionate experts.

Click here for our complete guide to heating and cooling your home.