how do I get my downstairs temperature up without making the upstairs too hot?

Question

freezing downstairs, too hot upstairs

Answer 1

So long as you have open circulation paths like a stairway, you will have heat convection circulation, where warm air rises and cold air sinks.

Options that will help-

Continuous circulation is probably your best answer. This would mean turning your furnace blower to "On" instead of automatic. This prevents stratification, or layering of air (warm over cool) due to convection. This also makes the house more comfortable overall and minimizes condensation and mildew problems. It's not a big expense problem.

Close upstairs vents partially, so more warm air goes to the lower floor, and let convection carry it upwards. This might be helpful in addition to the blower option to get balance.

If you are able to close off the upper floor, AND have a separate air return from the upper floor, you can regulate the upper temp very well by controlling flow (volume) at the registers.

Builder

Answer 2

What ever kind of head you have, close the vents or base board fins upstairs partway. If you have radiators you can get thermostats for each one but they are expensive, but you can shut the steam or water of to 1 or more. Your upstairs will still be warm because the heat from the first floor will rise, but it will be a lot more even temp for the whole house. You may need to fiddle with how much you close them to get it just right.

Answer 3

Good question. My room is the hottest. Just crack the vents upstairs so not so much heat and put plastic on the windows downstairs not to let the heat out. Good luck

Answer 4

Besides closing some vents in rooms you don't use as much if you have ceiling fans some come with a switch that changes the direction in which the fan circles change the switch so that the fan belows the heat down from the ceiling as we all know heat rises..Hope this helps

Answer 5

Your going to need to circulate the air to keep it from stratifying. That will take some ductwork between the upstairs and down stairs.

I would use an inline duct blower. And pipe it up so that I could reverse the flow in the summer.

Answer 6

try closing off some of the upstairs registers/vents. that will make the heat stay downstairs

Answer 7

turn off some of the dampers that feed the upstairs heat if you have forced air
close the vanes on baseboards if you have hot water heat

Answer 8

Have you tried putting up plastic over your window sills and insulation inside your electric outlets, also it helps to weather strip your door casings (all around the door). Wherever you feel air...block it.

Answer 9

partially close the upstairs vents and if you have a door going upstairs, close it.

Answer 10

Very Good question!! Let me know,when you find out,Please....