I just had central air installed in my 100-year-old home, and while it's a game changer for comfort, it feels about 5 degrees warmer upstairs than downstairs. To try and balance the temperature, I converted a supply vent into a cold air return in the middle of the upstairs, but it's pretty rudimentary given the house's age and my old, leaky windows, which I've partially fixed with Indows.
I have a few questions:
1. If I close some vents downstairs, will that push more air upstairs without damaging the AC system? I have four large vents down there and two supply vents for the upstairs.
2. I have a walk-up attic well-insulated. Should I keep the attic door open to let warm air rise, or will that just let more heat down?
3. Overall, what are some effective ways to improve the airflow upstairs? I've tried blackout curtains and ceiling fans, and I really want to avoid window units since I've had a bad experience with them.
3 Answers
Installing a smart thermostat with remote sensors can make a difference. It allows the system to adapt to where you are, which can help with cooling upstairs. And if you have attic access, consider an inline exhaust fan that kicks in when the attic gets too hot; it can help push that warm air out. Just make sure it’s not running constantly since it’ll pull air from the home!
You might want to look into dampers for your ducts to balance the airflow better. Since hot air rises, it makes sense to aim for more air upstairs. Also, improving attic ventilation could help a lot; sometimes it’s less about heat getting in and more about heat escaping!
Closing vents can be risky, as it can mess with your HVAC system. If you're using just one or two bedrooms, consider discreet window units for summer; they can help a lot! I get it that you’re not keen on window units, but they might be worth it for just a few hot months!