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Three floors, one system, three different temperatures.

Tall, narrow townhomes are everywhere in Mountain View and the Peninsula. They're built well, but heating and cooling three stacked floors from one system brings the same problems again and again. Here they are, floor by floor.

Cross-section of a three-storey townhome A tall townhome in section. The garage is on the ground floor with the indoor air handler; the living room and kitchen are on the middle floor; bedrooms are on the top floor, under the roof. The outdoor unit sits on the roof deck, and a long refrigerant line runs down the outside wall to the garage. Ducts rise from the air handler through a chase to the upper floors. The top floor is tinted warm, the middle floor neutral and the ground floor cool. Five numbered markers match the list of problems beside the drawing. Bedrooms usually warm Living & kitchen usually fine Garage usually cool Outdoor Air handler Roof deck 1 2 3 4 5
Floor by floor

Five problems we see in townhomes.

  1. The outdoor unit on the roofHard to reach safely, close to neighbours' decks, and often under HOA rules.Fix: planned access, the right pad and mounts, HOA approval before work.
  2. Bedrooms too warmHeat rises, and the top floor sits under a sunny roof.Fix: balancing, zoning, or a ductless head just for the top floor.
  3. A very long refrigerant lineThree storeys from roof to garage — it has to be sized and sealed properly, and leaks are harder to find.Fix: correctly sized lines, pressure-tested before charging.
  4. The air handler in the garageFilters forgotten, drains that back up, garage air pulled into the ducts.Fix: a sealed return, a clear drain, an easy filter slot.
  5. One thermostat on the middle floorIt's happy, so the system stops — while the bedrooms upstairs are still warm.Fix: a better thermostat location, or zoning with one per floor.

A simplified drawing; layouts vary. We check your own townhome before recommending anything.

A compact outdoor unit on a pad on a townhome roof deck, a railing and neighbouring roofs behind
Problem 1: the roof deck.
An air handler mounted in the corner of a townhome garage with a clearly marked filter slot and a condensate line
Problem 4: the garage.
Two slim thermostats on a townhome hallway wall, one for each floor, displays unreadable
Problem 5: one thermostat per floor.
Homes

Townhomes and condos

Three-storey homes, stacked flats and ADUs above garages.

Businesses

The same problem at work

Multi-floor offices and mixed-use buildings where the top floor runs warm.

Top floor too warm?

Book a comfort check.

We'll measure each floor and tell you which fix fits.

Book a comfort check (650) 659-2237
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