Too Cold Downstairs? Thermal Stair Curtains Can Help

Does your two-story home feel like a freezer on the first floor during winter? No matter how high you crank the thermostat, the lower level remains chilly while the upstairs bakes. This temperature imbalance is a common problem in homes with open staircases. Hot air rises up to the second floor, escaping through the drafty stairwell and leaving the downstairs cold.

Luckily, there's a simple solution - thermal stair curtains. Installing an insulating curtain at the top of the stairs prevents warm air from rising and escaping. This traps heat downstairs where you need it, balancing temperatures and reducing heating bills. Keep reading to learn all about using thermal curtains to insulate drafty staircases for a cozier home.

What Causes Cold Lower Levels in Two-Story Homes?

To understand why the lower floor of a multi-story home gets cold, we need to look at how air moves. Warm air is less dense than cold air, so it naturally rises upward. At the same time, cold dense air sinks down. This circulation of air is called convection currents.

In a home with an open staircase, warm first floor air rises up to the second floor through the stairwell. This is especially noticeable in the winter when we heat our homes. All that lovely warm air you paid to heat is escaping upstairs where you don't need it!

Also, a lack of insulation allows indoor heat to easily transfer outdoors. Older homes often have uninsulated walls and little insulation in the attic. This enables warm air to quickly leak through any cracks and gaps.

The combination of convection currents and poor insulation leaves the first floor colder than the upstairs. But some simple thermal stair curtains can help stop heat from rising up the stairs, trapping it downstairs where you want it.

Benefits of Installing Thermal Stair Curtains

Hanging thick insulated curtains at the top of an exposed staircase provides several benefits:

• Prevent warm first floor air from escaping up to the second floor.
• Add a layer of insulation to drafty stairwells.
• Reduce the workload and energy usage of the home's HVAC system.
• Lower monthly heating bills by improving energy efficiency.

Thermal stair curtains create a barrier between the lower and upper levels, forcing warm air back down into the lower living spaces. This balances temperatures upstairs and downstairs, eliminating that frigid first floor feeling.

Your heating system won't have to work as hard either. Reducing heat loss means your HVAC doesn't need to produce as much warm air to maintain a comfortable temperature. You'll save energy and money each month when your gas or electric bill comes.

Choosing the Right Thermal Stair Curtain

Picking out the perfect thermal stair curtain for your home is important to maximize insulation. Here are some tips:

• Measure the exact width of your stair opening to get a curtain wide enough to cover it.
• Look for a thermal curtain with a quilted or flocked fabric that provides better insulation than plain fabrics.
• Choose a thick, heavyweight curtain to trap more heat. Sheer or lightweight curtains won't be as effective.
• Consider noise reduction - some insulated curtains can also block sound.
• Select colors and patterns that coordinate with your existing decor.

A curtain that's specifically designed for insulation and wide enough to cover the whole stair opening will give you the best results. Having it look nice is an added bonus!

Installing Thermal Stair Curtains

Mounting your insulating stair curtain is a breeze:

1. Install a tension rod across the very top of the staircase opening. Tension rods allow easy installation without drilling into walls.
2. Hang the thermal curtain on the rod, pulling it to the desired fullness and ensuring it covers the entire opening.
3. For added insulation, place a second tension rod part way down the stairs. Drape the curtain over it to seal the lower portion of the staircase.

Use sturdy metal or spring tension rods that extend snugly from wall-to-wall. Make sure screws are tight so the rod stays securely in place. Installing the rod high creates space between the curtain top and ceiling for air circulation when the curtain is open.

If your stairs have a landing part way down, you can hang another curtain there. This blocks convection currents in both staircase sections for maximum heat retention downstairs.

Using and Maintaining Thermal Stair Curtains

Get into the habit of closing your thermal stair curtain whenever the lower level of the house is occupied and heated. If you head upstairs for the evening, leave the curtain open to allow air circulation.

Clean the curtains occasionally according to the manufacturer's instructions. Typically a gentle machine wash and air dry is recommended. This removes any dust or odors and keeps your curtain in top insulating condition.

During warmer months when insulation isn't needed, simply remove the curtain and store it away until next winter. Reinstall the same curtain year after year for easy seasonal insulation.

Extra Cold Weather Insulation Tips

While thermal stair curtains make a huge difference, you can pair them with additional insulation methods for optimal heat retention when outdoor temperatures plummet:

• Caulk and weatherstrip windows and doors.
• Make sure attic insulation meets or exceeds recommended levels.
• Add rugs to bare floors to hold in rising warmth.
• Close doors and vents in unused rooms so you only heat occupied spaces.
• Open curtains on sunny days to let warm sunlight heat your home naturally.

With thermal stair curtains and some extra weatherproofing, you can stay cozy all winter long without cranking up the thermostat. Your energy bills will thank you.

A chilly downstairs is a common issue in multistory homes, especially older ones, due to rising warm air and drafty staircases. Thankfully, thermal insulating curtains provide an easy DIY solution.

Simply mounting a thick quilted curtain at the top of the stairs traps rising heat downstairs. This balances temperatures between floors and reduces HVAC workload and energy usage. Plus, thermal curtains are inexpensive and can make a big difference in comfort and savings.

Along with weatherstripping and adequate insulation, thermal stair curtains help prevent precious heated air from escaping your home. Give this simple trick a try if you battle cold lower levels and high energy bills each winter. Just be prepared to finally peel off those extra layers and bask in the warmth!