It's no secret that the upstairs of a house is warmer than the lower levels, especially in summer. There are several ways to keep your upstairs cooler, and some are more accessible or energy-efficient than others.
In this article, we'll show you how to keep your upstairs cool in summer. It can be quite a challenge, especially without air conditioning. But don't worry, we have practical solutions for you.
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The most effective cooling device
Why Is It Always Hot Upstairs, Even With an AC?
There are a few reasons for why your upstairs is too hot in summer, even with air conditioning.
Reason #1. Heat rises — it's the law of physics. So, the upper levels of your house are going to be warmer than the lower levels.
Reason #2. Most houses are not built with upstairs cooling in mind. This means that there isn't much insulation or ventilation upstairs, which makes it harder to keep cool.
Reason #3. Hot roof. In the summer, your roof can get very hot, and this heat will radiate down into your upstairs room. This is especially true if your roof is dark-colored.
Reason #4. Your AC is not properly sized. This is a common problem. If your AC unit or your HVAC is too small, or offers less BTUs than your place needs, it won't be able to effectively cool your entire house (or the rooms you are targeting), and the upstairs will be warmer than the downstairs.
Reason #5. Ductwork leakage. In many homes, ductwork loses 20-30% of cooled air before it reaches upstairs rooms. If ducts pass through a superheated attic, the air can gain 5-10 degrees by the time it reaches you. Having an HVAC technician inspect and seal your ducts can significantly improve upstairs cooling.
How to Keep the Upstairs Cool Without an AC
There are a few ways to keep upstairs cool in summer without an AC — inexpensive, available to most of us and efficient. Here are some of our favorites:
1. Use an evaporative air cooler. Air coolers by Evapolar are an excellent option for personal cooling. They cool a 3-4 foot zone around you (desk, bed, workstation), not the whole room, making them ideal for staying comfortable in the hottest part of your house without running up your power bill. Just plug in, add water, and enjoy fresh, cool air. Excellent tip on how to make your upstairs cooler in summer.
2. Install a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan can help circulate the air and cool down the room. When it's really hot, all that fans do is just move the hot air around but it's better than nothing — they help with ventilation and remove the stale air.
3. Use window fans. If you have more than one window upstairs, this is a very working option for ventilation and cooling. Window fans can be installed in windows on the opposite sides of the room to create a cross-breeze.
4. Plant trees or shrubs near your house. This will provide shade and keep your house cooler in the summertime. If you have several floors in your house, the shadow might take some time while the trees are growing.
5. Purchase a roof insulation kit. This is a great way to keep the heat out of your upstairs rooms, and it's not too expensive either!
6. Hang a reflective window film on your windows. Reflective window film can help keep the heat out of your upstairs rooms and save you some money on your electric bill!
7. Open the windows. This will allow cooler air to flow into the room — make sure you make the best of the coolest parts of the day and aerate as much as you can.
8. Close the curtains or blinds. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, closing curtains and blinds on south- and west-facing windows can reduce heat gain by up to 33%. White-backed or reflective curtains perform best.
9. Add attic insulation. This one of very efficient ways to cool upstairs room and make your house more energy-efficient.
10. Install a radiant barrier in your attic. A radiant barrier (a thin sheet of reflective aluminum foil) reflects heat away from your living space. Studies show radiant barriers can reduce heat flux through the ceiling by 26-50% and cooling load by 6-16% during summer.
Evapolar Will Help Cool the Upstairs Without Running Up Your Power Bill
Evapolar air coolers have been on the market for 7+ years and they remain one of the most eco-friendly, powerful and portable cooling solutions for personal spaces. They cool a 3-4 foot zone around you (desk, bed, workstation), not the whole room. This makes them ideal for staying comfortable in the hottest part of your house without running up your power bill.
You can choose from the three models to cool the upstairs (or anywhere else!) in your home.
Why do we think it's the best cooling option for your home?
- Zero installation! Just plug it in and let it do the job.
- Evapolar air coolers are 100 times less power-consuming than a regular AC system. They consume only 7.5-12.5W depending on the model. For example, evaCHILL uses 7.5W, while evaSMART uses 12.5W.
- 100% natural cooling method — enjoy the fresh, healthy air when you chill or work upstairs
- Evapolar air coolers do three things at a time: cooling, humidifying, and purifying the air.
- Ultraportable. If you want to take your cooler to another room or to simply to store it for the colder time of the year, it takes almost no space and is super easy to carry around.
- It is the most personal way of cooling. If you happen to like it colder, simply direct the airflow at yourself without disturbing the others.
- USB-powered — if you lack sockets in the attic, you can connect Evapolar devices to a power bank or your laptop. It consumes so little electricity that a regular portable battery will keep it running and running.
- The water tank of the air coolers allows a continuous cool airflow for up to 8 hours.
Final thoughts
In this article, we’ve outlined a few ways to help keep an upstairs room cool in the summer. If you’re looking for more details on evaporative air coolers and how they can be helpful to cool your upstairs during the hot months, make sure you reach out! We’d be happy to help!
People also ask (FAQ):
Why is my air conditioner not cooling upstairs?
There are a few reasons why your air conditioner might not be cooling upstairs. One reason could be that your evaporator coils are frozen, and you'll need to thaw them out. Another possibility is that your air filter is dirty, and you'll need to clean or replace it. It can also be due to the wrong sizing of your air conditioner. Finally, if your AC unit is old, it might just not be able to keep up with the demand of cooling your entire house.
How can I cool my upstairs without air conditioning?
There are a few ways to cool your upstairs without air conditioning. One way is to install a ceiling fan, which will help circulate the air and cool down the room. Another option is to use window fans, which can be installed in windows on opposite sides of the room to create a cross-breeze. If neither of these options are feasible or affordable, you could try hanging a reflective film on your windows to help keep the heat out, or opening the windows to let cooler air in. Finally, you could install a radiant barrier in your attic, which reflects heat away from your living space and is more effective than white paint.
How to cool my upstairs room at night?
There are a few ways to keep an upstairs room cool without AC. You can install a ceiling fan. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, using a ceiling fan allows you to raise your thermostat by about 4°F without reducing comfort . However, ceiling fans cool people, not rooms, they create a wind-chill effect. The best option is to keep windows open to make use of natural fresh air outside. If neither of these options are available, the evaporative air coolers will come to your rescue! Simply direct the airflow at you while you're sleeping and enjoy the fresh breeze.
What if it's hot upstairs and there are no windows?
If you don't have any windows in your upstairs room, or if they're sealed shut, an AC unit is your best bet. But there are a few things you can do to make sure your AC unit doesn't have to work overtime. If you don't have windows in your upstairs room, an AC unit is your best bet. Make sure your AC is properly sized for the space, use fans to help circulate cool air, and consider a ductless mini-split system for targeted upstairs cooling.
How to keep the upstairs cool in the summer without running up your power bill?
You can go with the natural cooling methods such as opening the windows, creating a cross-breeze and putting a wet cloth in the doorway. You can also opt for energy-saving cooling solutions, such as evaporative coolers which use 100 times less electricity than an AC!