How do I cool the top level of a 3 story house?
Question:I have central air conditioning. I have a three level house and the bottom floor always is cold. However, the top level does not get any cooler when the air is on. Is there something that can help keep the third floor cooler?
Answers:
NO NO NO, what all my brothers in the HVAC trade are forgetting is an variable drive unit. Now you can get one without the furnace. Thats right turn your non variable drive into one for about 350.00 installed.
What a variable drive furnace does is when the unit is not calling for heating or cooling it dumps your fan speed from 100 percent to say 5-10. You will not have cold, or hot spots as all the air in the house is constatly moving. No more noticing the air temp drop 10 degrees just by going into the basement becuase the air in the house is now all the same.
Variable drive controllers are the way to go...
id sudgest a timered exhuast fan in the cieling of the stairwell hall way there a bit loud but will suck the hot air out of the 3rd floor drawing up cool air from below there useally about 36to 48 " units and work well exhausts the hot air right threw the roof
You can close the vents in the rooms you are not using to force more cool air into the rooms you are using.
You can also contact a local HVAC contractor and discuss in-line duct fans. These will help push air to the upper floors. Air in the ducts will take the easiest route and once static pressure is reached, less air will go to the top floor.
Also, cold air drops, hot air rises. You might want to see if you have attic fans or vents to allow the trapped hot air in the attic to be released.
Good Luck!
That fact that so many home builders design a system for heating and try to use it to cool a large multi story house is just messed up.
The problem is you are trying to force cold dense air through ducts sized for light heated air to a third story.
The ideal solution would be to install an air handler in the attic with properly sized ducts for an air conditioning system. I am sure the cost would make that out of the question for you though.
Replacing your furnace with a new one with a variable speed blower would help some though that is not cheap either.
The most cost effective thing would be to close all the vents on the lower levels, install duct boosters in the upper floor ducts, and install ceiling fans in the upper floor rooms.
If you don't already have one install an attic fan to get some of the hot air out of the attic. You may also want more insulation in the attic to help keep the heat out of the house.
Multilevel houses usually require and air conditioning system on each floor with their own thermostat.
You install a separate air conditioner for the 3rd floor only. ZONING, BABY!!
Do you have the thermostat set to fan on, even when the unit is not calling for cooling? With the air circulating, it will help overcome natural convection. Top floor ventilation will help, only if the makeup air entering the home is cooler than the air you are venting, otherwise you are increasing your heat load.
Looks like ya got all the answers so i just came by to say HI~
the problem is always that the builders under size the air ducts that is probably why you are not getting hardly any air upstairs.
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