Get Rid of Cranking That Cold Refrigerant Wheel - Upstairs is Hotter Than Downstairs!
In this instructional monologue, Derek Cole explains why a single HVAC system that serves both floors of a two‑story home often leaves the upstairs warmer than the downstairs. He attributes the imbalance to basic heat‑rise physics, the presence of an attic and more windows upstairs, and the lower thermal load of a crawlspace downstairs. Because the upstairs typically has a higher cooling/heating demand, a single thermostat (usually located downstairs) forces the whole house to run at a temperature that satisfies the upstairs at the expense of comfort downstairs. Cole argues that the most effective remedy is to convert the existing system into a two‑zone setup with separate thermostats for each floor, rather than installing a second HVAC unit. He notes that zoning works best when the house already has a duct run that can be split; if ductwork is insufficient, that may be a limitation. Throughout, he uses a conversational, instructional tone and maintains a pragmatic, supportive stance toward zoning as the preferred solution.
