Like much of the Northeast, my area (Upstate New York) has a mix of single-, one-and-a-half-, and two-story houses; ranch, Cape Cod, and Colonial are the predominant styles. In houses with partial or full second stories, a common complaint is that the upper floor is too hot, sometimes running 5 to 10°F warmer than the floor below.

The best long-term solutions for hot second floors vary from house to house. In some, fixing air leaks and missing insulation will be the top priority. Others may require increasing the delivery of cool air to the problem rooms. And, in many, it takes both building enclosure work and HVAC improvements to ensure good results.

Implementing the right solution takes time. First, existing conditions need to be evaluated, ideally with the help of a trained building analyst using a blower door, thermal imaging camera, and other diagnostic tools. Based on this analysis, we need to choose a combination of improvements that meet our budget and goals. Then, we need to select and schedule contractors. Applying for incentives and financing can further extend the process.

It may be too late to feel the benefits of a comprehensive upgrade this summer, but some low-cost and no-cost steps can improve comfort immediately. Below, I’ll outline these “first aid” measures. While not substitutes for permanent improvements, they can save energy and make hot second floors more bearable for the few weeks or months of hot weather that might remain.

Why are second floors so hot?

Several factors converge to make upper floors hotter than the rooms below: