For many homes here in Frankfort and Chicago Southland, the difference between the upstairs and the downstairs is like “A Tale Of Two Temperatures.” The team at Assured Insulation talks to countless homeowners throughout the summer season that complain of setting their thermostat to the perfect temperature for enjoying a nice family dinner, but by the time they get up the stairs to go to bed they are feeling stuffy and sweaty in the hot air of the second floor.
So what is it that makes this hot second floor a common issue here in the Midwest, and how can you fix this problem once and for all?
What Causes a Hot Second Floor?
If your home is too hot, your first instinct may be to blame your air conditioner. After all, your AC unit is the appliance you trust to provide your home with all the cooling power you need, right? Well, it’s time to think again. Your hot upstairs could be caused by what is called the “stack effect,” where any existing heat in the crawlspace or first floor of your home rises in search of colder temperatures, and then escapes through tiny air holes in your recessed lighting and up in the attic. This escaping air creates a negative pressure inside your home, inviting more humid, warm, unconditioned outdoor air to infiltrate other small holes and gaps in your crawl space or ground level.
Here are a few of the common issues that can cause a hot second floor:
Air gaps and cracks in your attic or crawl space
Outdated or insufficient insulation
Unbalanced or leaky ductwork
There are many interconnected systems within your home that contribute to counteracting the stack effect, working to keep your home at the perfect temperature. Each of these systems work together to keep the indoor temperature as stable as possible — which in turn makes your air conditioner’s job much easier. Addressing these home performance issues will not only keep your second floor more comfortable all year round, but it will also reduce any wear and tear that your air conditioner incurs while providing your home with the cool air you depend on!
Preventing the Stack Effect
Now that you have an understanding of the stack effect, let’s take a look at how to prevent it from turning your second floor into an oven:
Air Sealing
Air sealing is the process of closing up all of the tiny holes and gaps that are allowing air to move freely in and out of your home. These cracks may be invisible to the eye, but each little gap counts when it comes to your overall home performance!
Insulation & Attic Upgrades
Many homeowners reserve thinking about their insulation for the winter time, when they are looking for ways to keep their home cozy. But your home can also use insulation to keep things cool in the summer! When it comes to preventing a stuffy second floor, insulating your walls, attic and crawlspace will prevent any heat from transferring through the materials that make up your home. In the winter months, insulation keeps the heat in, and in the summer months it keeps the heat out.
Here in the Midwestern climate of Illinois, we often recommend removing any outdated insulation first. Then, depending on your needs, we will use blown-in cellulose for wall insulation, and spray foam insulation in the attic. Spray foam is particularly effective for preventing a hot second floor due to its air sealing and insulating properties. And depending on the particular needs of your home, we may recommend installing an additional radiant barrier just underneath your roof to reflect away radiant heat transfer from your roof that may be increasing the temperature in your attic.
Crawl Space Encapsulation
Sealing up, or “encapsulating” your crawlspace will provide the competitive edge your home needs to be free of year round comfort issues. Assured Insulation takes a thorough approach to sealing up crawlspaces, by installing thick vapor barriers to prevent moisture, sealing up any and all air leaks, and properly insulating the pipes, walls and floors. Not only can this keep your house comfortable from top to bottom, it can also put an end to those cold winter floors once the temperatures drop after the fall!
Get the Answers You Need with an Energy Audit
If you are looking to keep your home comfortable on every level, you’re going to need answers about your current home performance. Fortunately, with a professional energy audit from the home performance pros at Assured Insulation, you can have all the answers you need! An energy audit is a thorough diagnostic exam of your home from top to bottom, aimed at locating any home performance issues that are threatening the energy efficiency of your home. We use a blower door test to uncover how much total air leakage is present, and infrared imaging to locate those leaks as well as any areas where your home may be underinsulated.