Why is My First Floor So Cold and Second Floor So Hot?
In some residential homes, cold parts of the house (or warm parts) may be related to issues with the home heating system. But unbalanced heating can happen even when the heating system is operating properly. It means that there are various other factors at play – factors that contribute to temperature fluctuations, which in turn make things uncomfortable.
Short term, homeowners tend to pump up the heating in winter and air conditioning in summer. While this might compensate for cold parts of the house (or warm parts), it’s a waste of energy and a recipe for higher utility bills around the year. At Great Northern Insulation, resolving these kinds of issues is about finding the source and extent of the problem.
The fact is, there is much more to uneven heating and cooling than the HVAC system. There may be some insulation issues. There may be air circulation issues. Or there may be air leakage issues. Whatever the case, if indoor air is not properly circulating and venting, there will be temperature fluctuations on the first floor, the second floor, even the third floor.
When the experts at Great Northern Insulationevaluate temperature imbalances in a home, they focus on how well the home has been sealed, insulated, and ventilated. For GNI, the home is a total “system” whereby air sealing, insulation and ventilation work together to provide energy efficiency. This is also where effective solutions can materialize.
With a cold first floor, or a warm second floor, balance has to be restored in order to rectify the situation. In the majority of homes, it means making improvements to how the home is air sealed, how it’s insulated, and how it’s ventilated. And when effectively resolved, the HVAC system will operate better and the home’s energy efficiency will be improved.
