How to balance heat in a two story house in winter?

Author: Miss Laurence Dare  |  Last update: Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Similarly, during the winter, you should set the bottom floor to the temperature you want and the top floor two degrees lower. The warm air from the bottom floor will rise, equalizing the temperatures on both stories.

How should you set the thermostat on a 2 story house in the winter?

One recommended that the thermostat on the first floor be set to 70 degrees and that the thermostat on the second floor be set at 72 degrees. The other recommended that the thermostat on the first floor be set at 68 degrees and that the thermostat on the second floor be set at 70 degrees.

How do you balance the heat in a two-story house?

Zoned systems help solve many of the issues with how to regulate heat in a two-story home. Zoned systems use electrically actuated dampers in the ductwork to redirect hot or cold air where it is needed. With a zoned system, different rooms, bedrooms, or floors of a home can be zoned to have different temperatures.

How to keep heat from rising upstairs in winter?

That is best done with a ceiling fan. A curtains to somewhat close off the path to upstairs might be considered if possible. If you have multiple rooms upstairs, keep all the doors closed (so that only the landing gets the heat).

How to heat a two-story house in the winter?

Set the thermostat on the lowest floor in your home to your desired temperature setting. The upper floor thermostat is then set two degrees lower. The extra heat generated downstairs will naturally gravitate upwards to make up for the slight variation in temperature settings.

How to Balance Your Radiators | Plumbing Tips & Tricks

How to equalize temperature in a two story house?

Similarly, during the winter, you should set the bottom floor to the temperature you want and the top floor two degrees lower. The warm air from the bottom floor will rise, equalizing the temperatures on both stories.

Should I close upstairs vents in winter?

So in the winter, homeowners can close the upstairs vents halfway, and let the heat from downstairs rise to the second story. And vice versa in the summer; if you want all of the cold air going upstairs, you close the downstairs vents.

How to circulate air in a two story house?

How to Increase Airflow to Second Floor?
  1. Keep Air Conditioner Running in Fan Mode. ...
  2. Install a Ceiling Fan. ...
  3. Increase the Size of Return Vents. ...
  4. Increase Number of Vents. ...
  5. Clear the Vents. ...
  6. Close Vents on Lower Floors. ...
  7. Go for Ductless Air Conditioning. ...
  8. Get a Zoned HVAC System.

How to evenly distribute heat in a house?

There are a few things you can do to get better heating throughout your home as soon as you get home tonight.
  1. 1) Adjust your air vents. ...
  2. 2) Keep the fan on at all times. ...
  3. 3) Get your air ducts inspected and cleaned. ...
  4. 4) Insulate the attic. ...
  5. 5) Upgrade to a Smart thermostat. ...
  6. Contact us.

How to balance upstairs and downstairs temperature?

Adjust the fan setting on your thermostat.

Change the fan setting from Auto to On to keep the fan blowing continually, which can help with a more even air distribution. Adjust air registers. Keep the air vents/air registers fully open upstairs, and partially close the air vents downstairs.

How can I cool my upstairs of a 2 story house?

Simple Fixes to Help Cool Your Upstairs
  1. Properly open vents, don't block the return air supply. Let the air flow! ...
  2. Install lightly colored curtains or drapes. ...
  3. Keep heat-generating appliances off. ...
  4. Run a fan (when you're in the room) ...
  5. Keep your HVAC fan set to 'on' ...
  6. Inspect your ductwork. ...
  7. Check your insulation.

How do you fix uneven heating in a house?

Here are 6 ways to solve uneven heating and cooling issues in your home.
  1. Clean or replace filters. ...
  2. Switch the fan from “auto” to “on” ...
  3. Install a programmable thermostat. ...
  4. Determine if your ducts are faulty. ...
  5. Schedule seasonal maintenance. ...
  6. Replace your HVAC system. ...
  7. Next Steps.

Why is my upstairs so much hotter than downstairs in winter?

Heat rises – Blame physics: hot air rises while cold air sinks. That means your upstairs typically gets hotter than your lower levels, even if your air conditioner's working in overdrive. Your roof's hot, too – Unless you have shady tree cover, your roof absorbs a ton of heat from the sun.

Do I need two smart thermostats for a 2 story house?

Most homes, including multi-story houses, have just one thermostat that controls the temperature throughout. If you own a multi-story home, you should have a thermostat on each floor to effectively control the temperature and save money.

Is 72 a good temperature for heat in the winter?

While there are occupants in the house, it is advised for homeowners to set their thermostats between 68 and 72 degrees to promote maximum comfort. A pleasant temperature for everyone in the house, regardless of the apparel they are wearing, is between 68 and 72 degrees, which is neither too warm nor too cool.

What should the thermostat be set at upstairs and downstairs?

During winter, you can go with 66 degrees upstairs and 68 degrees downstairs. In three-story homes, the most energy-efficient settings in summer are 78 on the upper floor, 79 on the middle floor, and 80 on the lower floor.

How do you regulate the heat in a two story house?

Adjust your HVAC system's dampers

Adjusting dampers is one way to help regulate heat in a two-story house. If your HVAC system is already set up with zones, take the time to locate and adjust the dampers so that less heat is going to the second floor and more is going to the first.

How do you fix an unbalanced heating system?

  1. Step 1 - Turn off your central heating. ...
  2. Step 2 - Bleed your radiators. ...
  3. Step 3 - Go to radiator number 1. ...
  4. Step 4 - Close then open the lockshield valve. ...
  5. Step 5 - Open thermostatic radiator valves (if applicable) ...
  6. Step 6 - Switch on your heating system. ...
  7. Step 7 - Repeat process if necessary.

How to adjust vents for winter?

Adjust Your Supply Vents For Maximum Heating in the Winter

Closing supply vents in higher locations by your ceilings while opening lower ones on floors or close to baseboards. Doing this will direct more warm air to the floor, where it will rise to heat the whole space.

How do you balance an HVAC in a two story house?

DIY Solutions for Homeowners
  1. Check for blocked soffit vents (the vents near the attic that allow outside air in)
  2. Look for blockages in supply and return vents that obstruct airflow, such as rugs or drapes.
  3. Try switching the fan to “on” instead of leaving it on “auto” to circulate air continuously.

Do I need two air purifiers for a two story house?

Air doesn't circulate as well up and down stairs, so you will want to put at least one air purifier on each floor. If you have multiple floors, treat each floor as its own section and divide the square footage by 700 to get the number of air purifiers per level.

How do you circulate air in your house in the winter?

Whenever possible, keep fresh air circulating in your home. Turning on ceiling fans can keep air moving, and combined with opening windows, can help cross-ventilation. A dirty air filter will reduce clean airflow from your home's heating and cooling system.

How do I get more heat from my vents?

Install More Return Vents

Supply air and return air need to be balanced, but there's no such thing as too much return air. By installing more return vents throughout your home, they can trap the air and remove it, improving air circulation.

Does blocking vents downstairs help cool upstairs?

Many think that by closing cold air returns, the conditioned air is redirected to other areas that the homeowners want, but closing air vents in vacant rooms is far from helpful. Shutting them does not save energy and, in fact, causes more damage than good.

How to balance a HVAC system?

8 Tips to Balance HVAC System Throughout Your Home
  1. Check Seals. Some HVAC maintenance tips involve other home parts that impact airflows, such as your doors and windows. ...
  2. Replace Air Filters. ...
  3. Upgrade Insulation. ...
  4. Adjust the Thermostat. ...
  5. Inspect Registers. ...
  6. Consider Back Up. ...
  7. Schedule HVAC Maintenance. ...
  8. Upgrade Your Home AC.

Previous article
When should I proactively replace my water heater?
Next article
Do you have to be a licensed plumber to work for Roto-Rooter?