jelly mdhv

Why Is My Second Floor So Hot in the Summer?

Your WMGB Consultant will:

  •  Measure & inspect your project
  •  Help you select styles, colors & quality
  •  Leave you a detailed quote

616-205-9568

By submitting, you authorize WMGB Home Improvement to reach you via call, email, or text for information about your project needs. We will never share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. You can opt out at any time. Message/data rates apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase.
Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

GET A FREE QUOTE

Name(Required)

By submitting, you authorize WMGB Home Improvement to reach you via call, email, or text for information about your project needs. We will never share your personal information with third parties for marketing purposes. You can opt out at any time. Message/data rates apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy

Is the second floor in your home really hot compared to the bottom floor in the summer? A building science concept called “the stack effect” is likely at work!

(View as a downloadable PDF version)

Why Does Air Move Through Your Home?

Hot air is less dense than cold air, so because of these pressure differentials, cold air tends to fall while hot air tends to rise, even if your windows are closed.

In a multi-story building like your home, there are often small cracks and gaps called air leaks that make this air movement, which is called the stack effect, more pronounced.

How the Stack Effect Works in the Summer

  1. When the air is hot outside, cooler air inside your home sinks and exits through holes and cracks in your basement or crawl space.
  2. Because of the negative pressure, warm air is then drawn in through air leaks at the very top of your home.
  3. That warm air is concentrated around your attic and second floor, creating an upstairs that’s too hot compared to the rest of your house.

How the Stack Effect Works in the Winter

When the weather outside is cold, the process is the same but reversed—warmer air generated by your heating system rises, escaping through your attic, pulling colder air in through the bottom areas of your house.

How to Cool Your Second Floor in the Summer 

To prevent your second floor from getting too hot, you need to reduce the stack effect in your home by adding insulation and air sealing to plug up the leaks letting air in and out of your house.

The Benefits of Air Sealing and Insulating Your Home

Home performance upgrades from WMGB Home Improvement will make your Western Michigan home’s second floor cooler in the summer, but they’ll also:

  • Lower your heating and cooling bills
  • Prevent outdoor air pollution from entering your home
  • Make your whole home quieter and more comfortable year-round

Solve your second-floor woes with air sealing and insulation upgrades. Call 616-226-5558 or contact us today to schedule a home energy audit with WMGB Home Improvement.

Contact Us Today

WMGB Home Improvement is committed to making your home look its absolute best. To learn more about our home improvement products and services, give us a call at 616-205-9568 or Contact Us online.
Governor’s Energy Excellence Awards
Angi 2021 Super Service Award
EPA Certification
HBA
BPI