How to Keep It Cool on the Second Floor of Your Home

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During Cincinnati’s hot summer months, many homeowners find comfort running their air conditioning. Even with the A/C going, those with second floors often find it difficult to keep upstairs cool, no matter how hot it is outside. 
These steps can help cool down the upper floor, as well as keep your entire home cool through the end of summer.

  • Make sure your attic is properly insulated. Insulation with an R-value of at least 30 is necessary to maintain your desired temperatures throughout the year. This will also help keep out the cold as the seasons change.
  • Double check attic soffits to make sure they’re free of blockage and debris. If the attic is hot, the upstairs of your home will be hot as well. Consider installing power or ridge vents to help cool the attic (and provide better ventilation which also helps prevent ice dams in winter).
  • Air seal the windows in the attic and second floor. Air sealing prevents conditioned air from leaving the home.
  • Use curtains and drapes to block sunlight. Window coverings that are light in color are most effective in blocking heat energy from the sun.
  • Regularly replace air filters. Dirty air filters decrease air movement, thereby reducing the effectiveness of the air conditioner.
  • Fully open the registers on the second floor and leave the first floor registers just slightly open. This helps to direct cooler air upstairs. Be sure not to close the first floor registers completely, however.
  • Check all supply registers and move furniture as needed to guarantee that airflow is unrestricted.
  • Use fans to circulate air so the cooler air is distributed throughout and doesn’t settle near the floor.
  • Have the refrigerant levels in your air conditioner checked by an HVAC professional as part of routine A/C maintenance.
  • Keep your outdoor A/C component clean. Turn off the outdoor unit, then gently clean debris away with a garden hose.

For more information on how to keep upstairs cool or to learn more about other home comfort issues, contact the pros at Apollo Home Heating, Cooling and Plumbing. Our experienced technicians have served the greater Cincinnati area since 1910. Need AC repair? Our HVAC technicians handle air conditioning repairs for any brand.

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