What is the most efficient way to heat third floor rooms?
My adult children are moving in temporarily into our third floor rooms. Problem is, there’s no forced heat up there. What would be the best option for heating up there without using space heaters? Don’t have a lot of money to spend on it, and don’t want to run up the electric bill with unsafe space heater.
Related Discussions
How to get rid of mice?
We seem to have some unwelcome Mickeys and Minnies in our house. What is the best way to get rid of them?
How to remove popcorn ceiling with asbestos?
I want to remove my popcorn ceiling, but it has asbestos in it. How do I go about this safely?
How to caulk baseboard gaps?
How do I fill gaps at baseboard, should I caulk? If so, does anyone know how to caulk baseboards?
How to fix squeaky hardwood floors?
How do I fix squeaky hardwood floors?
What can I do about wood smoke coming into my house?
I need help. My back door neighbor heats with a wood stove all winter. They are downhill from me. Almost all their smoke makes its way into my house, causing headache... See more
A/C question: My outside unit runs, but no air is being pushed through the vents in the house.
It has been about a year since my last tune up, and I am wondering if a tuneup might be all I need, in order to avoid a service call and diagnostic fee and any other ... See more
If you have ceiling fans on the 2nd floor, you may be able to divert heat, by setting fans on summer setting (counter clockwise), in hopes of directing heat up. You can add small battery operated corner fans in the stairwell to further direct heat, but ultimately, you'll most likely need thicker carpeting (preferably wool), down comforters, flannel bedding, wall textiles, and thermally lined draperies over plastic covered windows, if that's feasible. Upholstered furniture retains heat better than metal/glass.
Using a humidifier on the 3rd floor may also help, larger plants with grow lights, incandescent lightbulbs, etc.
I envision wool or polar fleece clothing in their future, if you're in a colder area.
Heat will rise. Leave the stairwell door open, and insulate as Oliva suggests. I lived in an old 2 story house in the Northeast with electric heat on the second floor. I never had to turn it on, and sometimes had to crack the window to get a good night's sleep. The oil filled space heaters are pretty efficient these days. In a different house, I used one in an unheated bathroom to take the chill out for showers & baths.
You’re really limiting yourself by not using space heaters. The new units are very safe. They have an instant shut-off if they are tilted at even a slight angle. They are also energy efficient.
I use an electric space heater with no issues whatsoever. I have lots of pets and is cool to the touch. Automatic shut off if bumped or knocked over. Hardly draws any electricity and barely makes a dent in my overall usage. Do your homework and purchase quality and it will last for many years to come.
You can always install a DIY mini split. I installed 2 of them in my home and they work well.
https://do-daddy.com/diy-mini-split-installation/