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Second floors run hot for real reasons: attic heat, old duct runs, weak returns, closed dampers, poor insulation, or an AC that is not moving enough air. We diagnose the house, not just the outdoor unit.
Cold air has to reach the second floor and return air has to get back. Older Chicago homes often fail on one side of that loop.
The fix might be duct balancing, return-air work, insulation, zoning, ductless support, or AC repair. Guessing usually wastes money.
If the first floor is cold and the second floor is hot, adding refrigerant is rarely the answer. Start with airflow and building heat gain.
$150-$600+ typical
Closed dampers, crushed flex, leaky ducts, or undersized branches can starve upper rooms.
$300-$1,500+ typical
Bedrooms need a path for warm air to return. Door undercuts alone often are not enough.
Scope-dependent
Poor attic insulation or ventilation loads the second floor faster than the AC can recover.
Diagnosis required
Some older homes need zoning or ductless support rather than a bigger condenser.
These do not replace airflow testing, but they can expose obvious restrictions.
Open upstairs supply registers fully.
Replace the filter.
Make sure return grilles are not blocked.
Close blinds during peak afternoon sun.
Many were built around radiators, gravity heat, or later furnace retrofits. Central AC got added into spaces that were never planned for big supply and return ducts.
That is why a second-floor cooling fix in a Chicago bungalow is often part HVAC, part ductwork, and part building science.
If this page is close but not exactly your problem, these pages may match what you are seeing.
Heat rises, roof heat loads the second floor, and many older duct systems do not send or return enough air upstairs.
Not usually. Oversizing can short-cycle and leave humidity behind. Airflow, returns, insulation, and zoning need to be checked first.
Yes, in many older homes a ductless head can solve a room or floor that existing ducts cannot serve well.
We check ducts, returns, temperature split, insulation clues, and AC performance before recommending a fix.