Does your home have three climates?

Dear Contractors.com,

The temperature in my home is very difficult to regulate. When the first floor is the right temperature, the basement is too cold and the top floor is too warm. What’s the best solution to get consistent temperature on all floors?

- G.G., Alexandria, VA

“This is a typical problem with one-zone heating and air conditioning where the thermostat is on the main floor,” assesses Mike Schick, Vice President of Electrical Dynamics, Inc.

Ceiling and attic fans will reduce the temperature on the second floor and attic, with the added benefits of saving on your energy bills, extending the life of your roof, and reducing bug infestation in your attic.

During the summer, your attic can get as hot as 140 degrees without the use of an attic fan. Ridge and soffit vents will assist in cooling, but one or two attic fans will provide much better results.

“An attic fan will not only reduce the temperature in the attic, it’ll keep the heat from seeping back down into the second floor, which can lower the temperature on the second floor by as much as 5 degrees. And ceiling fans will also keep the temperature cooler simply by circulating the air,” adds Schick, whose company can handle virtually any type of commercial or residential electrical project for both existing and new structures.

Schick advises that a “through-the-roof” attic fan can be installed through the existing shingles without causing a leak problem if it is done properly, and you shouldn’t need a roofer to assist in the install.

“By reducing the temperature in the attic, the roof shingles also won’t be baking as much, which will extend the life of your roof. And the added bonus of lowering the temperature upstairs is reduced energy bills,” Schick concludes.

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