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Why isn't my upstairs cooling properly?

August 12, 2020

Reasons why your upstairs isn't cooling properly. 

There may be many reasons why your upstairs is not cooling properly during these Norfolk, VA hot summer months. Here are some of the issues I've seen in homes across Hampton Roads that have faced this problem:

1. Some homes do not have attic space to buffer the heat
2. Some roofs are not well insulated and this causes an increase in the heat factor upstairs to become faulty
3. Air ducts have unfortunately not been installed properly
4. Air ducts are old or have not been cleaned on a regular basis
5. There may be a leak in your air conditioning unit

Your air conditioner will struggle to get the cool air into your home efficiently if one or some of these issues are occurring in your home.

- Earl Duff (owner)


1. Homes do not have attic space to buffer the heat
Your attic is the primary buffer zone between the conditioned air of your home and the roof that shields your dwelling from the elements. If your attic is not properly insulated and ventilated, then your home may be losing heat in the winter and cool air in summer. As a result, your furnace and air conditioning units may be working harder than necessary to maintain a comfortable indoor temperature.

The solution - proper attic insulation is step one to fixing this problem, followed by reviewing the condition of your crawl space to improve overall efficiency of your heating and cooling system.
2. Poorly insulated roof causing an increase in heat factor upstairs
The color of your roof, the materials of your roof and the construction of your roof all have an impact on how your home heats and/or cools.
The solution - If your home is well-built, and your attic has the right amount of insulation, and ventilation so that excess heat can escape, then the heat coming in from the roof really shouldn’t have a major impact on the temperature of the rest of your home. Proper ventilation should provide cooling properties for your roof’s shingles, while insulation will keep any excess heat from reaching past your attic.
3. Air ducts have not been installed properly
The air ducts running through your home are a vital component of your HVAC system. Unfortunately, I have seen many HVAC and ductwork installed poorly. When this is the case you will paying for a system that is not doing the job it is meant to do. According to Energy Star, “more than half of new systems in U.S. homes do not perform to their rated efficiency as a result of improper installation.” Improper installation causes high energy bills, reduced performance, worse indoor air quality, and poor air distribution. 
The solution - make sure you have a trusted HVAC company with great reviews. Don't just hire anyone without doing your research first or asking for recommendations from family and friends. Additionally, remember to complete annual maintenance on your HVAC system to ensure that your HVAC system is working to the best of its ability and the air ducts have been installed properly. 
4. Air ducts are old or have not been cleaned
Air ducts can simply just be getting old, thus it is not working to the best of its ability. Signs that your air ducts are aging can include:
- A noisy HVAC system
- High energy bill
- Uneven heating and cooling
- Dust in your house 
- Smelling mold or mildrew in your home
- Seeing debris around the vents
The solution - Maintenance is so important for your air ducts to ensure it lasts a long time. Our maintenance will ensure that your air ducts are cleaned, sealed and insulated. If we see that the issue is age and maintenance is only a very short term solution we will recommend getting new air ducts to save you money in the long term. 
5. Leak in your air conditioning system
Your air conditioning produces a lot of water in the form of condensation, especially during the hot summer months. You may indeed hear a faint dripping from time to time, which is normal. The water will drip into the drain line and then be channeled into the outdoor drain. Although, if something isn’t working properly, water can leak out from the indoor unit and trigger a problem with  your HVAC system. The reason for the leaking can be caused by:
- clogging 
- drain pan is full
- air filter is dirty
- the condensate pump is faulty
The solution -  Our professional technician team will be able to confirm if it a leak from a blocked drain. We have the tools to be able to access the drain and confirm if there’s a clog or not. If it's not a clog we will continue to investigate the issue until we identify the problem. Once the problem is resolved we will offer a solution that best suits your needs and budget.  
Time for a HVAC inspection
Whether you want to fix some of the ducts in your HVAC system or you are considering a complete replacement project, it’s important to not postpone this step for much longer.

Chat to us today and we will visit your home to assess the problem, discuss your options and guide you through the necessary steps to ensure your HVAC and air ducts are working at the optimal level. 
Contact Ocean View HVAC today >
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