When they build a 2-story house, why don’t they put the thermostat on the 2nd floor (where the temperature is more variable due to heat transfer through the roof)?

Question

I always try to keep my 2nd floor below 80° but my thermostat is on my 1st floor, so I have to keep changing the downstairs thermostat just to keep the upstairs temperature constant.

*For example:* On a really hot day, I have to set the downstairs thermostat to 72° if I want the upstairs to be 80° but on a mild day, I can set the downstairs thermostat to 76° to keep the upstairs at 80°F.

If the upstairs temperature is bound to be more variable (I assume due to heat transfer through the roof), why not put the thermostat on the 2nd floor?

In: Engineering

Answer 1

Some homes have multiple zones. Ours has a thermostat on each floor that can be set independently. The system opens and closes the ducts to shunt air where it’s needed.