What's the best way to keep the upstairs cool?

Answer 1

install an air conditioner

Answer 2

You need to install insulation in your attic. If you have some blown in stuff, it settles and you can buy the pink stuff that comes in rolls and roll it over the rafters but leave the edges open by the eaves so that air can circulate. And if you have central a/c try closing some of the downstairs vents a bit so that more air is forced upstairs. For the future, plant a tree that will not hang or blow over your roof but will shade the walls and roof as much as possible in the afternoon. Be sure that you are regularly cleaning your a/c filters. And fans are excellent. If you have high ceiling, get a floor fan and let the hot air stay high or if 8 ft or so put in ceiling fans. If you buy a ceiling fan, be sure there is a lot of angle on the blades so that you move a lot of air. Ceiling fans are great in conjunction with a/c. WalMart and like places have lighter inexpensive fans that can work from your ceiling light receptacle without a lot of hassle. There is a really neat floor fan at Sam's Warehouse now. It is a tropical looking floor fan and light. It is expensive but very special. It is tall and the fan blows down so it could be moved whereever you need the air the most. And, of course, install a window unit. Window units are excellent to help cool a room and/or add some support to a central unit that isn't doing the job. If you put in a window unit, plan to add a shelf over it so that it operates in the shade. It makes a difference in your bill and be sure to get an efficient model. You can put some of the room darkening film on your windows that reflects the light, heavy drapes, blinds, shutters or a combination of all of them. Also caulk around your windows to keep the hot air out. Yes, and placing a fan somewhere appropriate to blow the cooler ds air up is good too. But don't open your windows and blow the a/c out. Whoever is paying the electric bill will kill you. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

I'm assuming you probably have 1 ac unit for a 2-story house and it is cool downstairs and hot as h@ll upstairs.

Install ceiling fans upstairs. This will help move the air and it will feel cooler up there. Also, hot air rises (duh, otherwise it wouldn't be so gosh darn hot up there), so if you have double hung windows, open them a few inches at the top. Not only will that allow the hot air to escape, it will create a draft and pull the cooler air from downstairs up to those rooms. If you don't get enough of a draft, crack a window downstairs.

You can install attic fans (you know those turbine looking things on a roof), but they are no longer allowed in a lot of areas due to fire codes - the more heat that is being released, the faster they spin and more air they draw into the house. This extra oxygen fueling a house fire causes houses to burn faster and hotter, so a lot of areas have adopted fire codes that no longer allow them.

Check the attic for insulation. You may not have enough up there.

Answer 4

If you have central air, try closing off the down stairs vents to allow more air flow to the upstairs vents. or see about getting a air booster fan for the upstairs duct work, Another way is to insulate the attic with this new stuff, It looks like bubble wrap with foil on both side. It is thin stuff but it works like it is 2 feet thick. is costs about $50.00 for a 4ft x 24ft roll. put it in the crawl space of your house too.

Answer 5

Can you install ceiling fans?

You can also use window fans during the day -- put them in the window backwards so the hot air blows out the window. At night, turn the fans around to bring in the cooler evening air.

There are also whole-house exhaust fans that can be installed in the ceilings of the second floor that will draw the hot air out of the house but you have to have windows open somewhere in the house in order for this to work correctly.

Answer 6

We have 3 small a/c's upstairs. If we run 2 during the day it stays cool up and down stairs. Cool huh??

Answer 7

If by your question you're indicating the downstairs is cool, put a fan in a window, facing outside, and turn it on high. This will draw the cool air up! Good luck!

Answer 8

if there is space in the attic to install fans that will allow heat to escape this would be the best option . if not open the top sash of your window and install a exhaust fan . this is stronger than a window fan and will create the velocity you need to pull air from downstairs.

Answer 9

Take your doors and windows out......???