How to Push Heat Down From Ceiling
Rooms with high ceilings are typically a luxury feature in homes. They’re aesthetically pleasing and create a sense of spaciousness. However, high ceilings can make it challenging to heat those rooms properly. Learn why high-ceiling rooms can feel so cold even with the heater on and easy ways to remedy the situation without spending a lot of money.
Why Are Rooms With High Ceilings Hard to Heat?
There are several reasons why rooms with high ceilings are hard to heat. The increased volume means more space to warm up. This elevated amount of cubic space contributes to a higher workload for HVAC systems, impacting their efficiency and potentially leading to increased monthly costs.
Additionally, high ceilings contribute to heat loss via walls and roofs. This means that the warmth generated can escape more readily, making it harder to maintain a comfortable temperature within the space. Furthermore, heat rises. This results in a space that collects and holds heat near the ceiling, leaving the rest of the room cold.
How to Heat Rooms With High Ceilings
Thankfully, there are several simple ways to heat rooms with even the highest of ceilings.
1. Wintertime Fan Direction
If your room has a ceiling fan, start by changing the direction of its rotation to warm up the room. The wintertime fan direction is clockwise at a slow speed. This pulls the cool air up and moves warm air from the ceiling to the floor.
The higher your ceiling, the more challenging this method will be. However, if it does work, it can drastically reduce your heating costs.
You can also try installing a heater in your ceiling fan to increase the amount of warm air it pushes downward.
2. Use A Space Heater
Space heaters, as a supplement to another heat source, can be pretty effective. They require little storage space, there is no installation, and they can be energy and cost-efficient. Choose the best space heater for your high-ceiling room based on the dimensions and conditions of the space you wish to heat.
Keep in mind, though, that space heaters shouldn’t be your sole source of heat due to potential safety hazards. HVAC professionals recommend limiting their use to short bursts of time in smaller rooms.
3. Partially Shut Unused Vents
Since heat rises, rooms upstairs will naturally be warmer than rooms downstairs. If you have poor airflow in your home and there are rooms you don’t frequently use, partially close the vents in those rooms. This will distribute more heat to the rooms with fully open vents.
A common misconception is that you should close some vents entirely. Note that doing this risks damaging your HVAC system due to a high-pressure buildup in certain areas. It’s safer to only partially shut some vents to redirect heat.
4. Allow in More Natural Sunlight
During the day, open your curtains and blinds to allow as much natural sunlight into the room as possible. Make sure all your windows are tightly closed so they don’t leak warm air or let in cold air. Remember to make sure the open curtains don’t block the heating vents or radiators and aren’t touching any space heaters.
5. Try Radiant Heating
Radiant heating is an eco-friendly and cost-efficient method of heating. There are two main forms: electric and hydronic. Both methods deliver heat through the walls or floor of a room. It not only directly warms the surface of the entire area but also indirectly warms the adjacent air.
Electric radiant heating is typically used for tile floors. This is done by installing cables that generate heat between the visible layer of flooring and sub-flooring. The stronger the charge, the hotter the temperature.
Heat Any Room With John C. Flood’s Heating Services
From radiant floor heating installation to HVAC inspection and maintenance, John C. Flood is your #1 provider of professional heating services. Contact us today at 703-214-5611 to schedule your heating service in the Maryland, DC, and Virginia areas!
