Closing upstairs vents is not recommended. It can actually damage your HVAC system by restricting airflow and building up pressure inside the ductwork.
Sealing leaks and installing additional vents or adjusting existing ones can help enhance airflow and ensure a better temperature balance between the upstairs and downstairs.
Because heat rises, homeowners can consider partially closing upstairs vents and fully opening those downstairs. The top floor often steals most of the heat, but partially closing vents can help to keep other areas of your house warmer without damaging or stressing your house's HVAC system.
To move trapped hot air from upstairs to downstairs, use your existing ceiling fans in reverse (clockwise) on a low speed to push warm air down. For targeted results, set a floor fan upstairs facing downward into the stairwell, or run your central HVAC fan continuously on the "ON" setting.
Which Vents Should Be Open in the Winter? If you have a forced-air HVAC system, it helps to fully open the first-floor vents and only partially open the second-floor vents. This restricts the amount of warm air directed to the upper level while forcing warmed air into the ground floor area.
Balancing heat in a two-story house in winter comes down to managing the natural tendency of warm air to rise. To fix a freezing first floor and a sweltering second floor, partially close the downstairs supply vents by 25%–50% to force more heat downward, and set your ceiling fans to spin clockwise on low to push rising hot air back into your living space.
In winter, the air coming out of your vents should typically be between 85°F and 140°F. Gas furnaces generally blow hotter air (120°F–140°F), while heat pumps operate at lower temperatures, typically 85°F–110°F. A good rule of thumb is that the air should feel significantly warmer than your body temperature, which is why heat pump air can sometimes feel cool to the touch (around 90°F–95°F).
Because they do not use standard grid electricity or conventional electric and gas furnaces, the Amish heat their homes using off-grid, self-reliant methods. The most common systems include wood- or coal-burning stoves, propane and kerosene heaters, and natural airflow home designs.
It takes time for your home to warm up and cool down. If you're not sure how long it takes, try turning the heating on about 30 minutes before you need it. You should turn it off 30 minutes before you'll stop needing it.
If you use your fan purely for air circulation or filtration, 15 to 20 minutes per hour is the industry-recommended sweet spot. This keeps the air fresh, helps balance temperatures across rooms, and filters out allergens without causing excessive wear and tear on your blower motor.
No, you should generally not close vents in unused rooms. Doing so disrupts your system's balanced airflow, increases pressure in your ductwork, and can cause your HVAC system to work harder, freeze up, or damage the compressor.
Zone Heating and Cooling Systems
One of the most effective solutions for a two-story home is to install a zoned HVAC system. This approach separates your home into distinct areas—often by floor—each controlled by its own thermostat.
Your upstairs is likely hot and downstairs cold due to basic physics—hot air naturally rises while cold air sinks. However, this natural imbalance is usually made worse by your home's HVAC layout, inadequate attic insulation, or an improperly placed thermostat.
Heat naturally rises, making the upstairs rooms warmer than the downstairs. Even when the heating system runs, its heat will rise to the highest space in the home, leaving the downstairs rooms cooler.
The largest source of heat loss in a typical house is uncontrolled air leakage (drafts), accounting for up to 38% of lost heat. Warm air escapes through hidden cracks and gaps, while the following structural areas are the primary culprits for escaping warmth:
To push cold air upstairs, use a multi-fan approach: place a portable fan at the bottom of the stairs pointing upward, and position an exhaust fan in an upstairs window to blow hot air out. For the best results, set your HVAC fan to the "On" position to continuously circulate and mix the air.
In most homes, Heating and Cooling (HVAC) systems drive the highest energy costs, accounting for nearly 40% to 50% of your total electricity bill. Following these, the appliances that run up your bill the most include water heaters, refrigerators, and laundry machines.
For most customers, we recommend turning on your furnace when the weather is consistently below 18° Celsius, which usually happens to be around the end of September, or early October. Some homeowners try to put off turning on their furnace as long as they can to save money, which is okay if you're healthy adults.
Known for his practical tips, Lewis introduced the '4pm rule' which involves using curtains strategically to retain heat. He suggests opening curtains when the sun rises at around 8:30am to let in natural warmth, and closing them by 4pm to keep the heat inside.
No, most Amish do not shower every day. Hygiene practices vary widely by community. While less conservative sects use indoor plumbing and take frequent showers, traditional and strict communities lack hot running water. For them, daily sponge baths and a weekly, family-wide galvanized tub bath are the norm.
The most cost-effective way to heat a house generally combines a highly efficient air-source heat pump with localized insulation and air sealing to stop heat loss. While upfront costs are higher, heat pumps can deliver up to 300% efficiency, significantly lowering long-term utility bills.
Pellet stoves burn fuel so completely that very little creosote builds up in the flue, posing less of a fire hazard. Unfortunately, pellet appliances are also more complex and have expensive components that can break down.
*Any reduction in the temperature of your home from a trickle vent is very marginal and unnoticeable. If you are concerned about your home feeling cold, it is likely something else and not your trickle vents causing the issue. Take a look at our 5 simple steps to make sure your home is winter ready.
5 Warning Signs It's Time for Furnace Replacement