options without AC

[TheVTCGuy]

As long as we’re talking about air conditioning, I am going to chime in with a complaint. When I visit my family in AZ, during the summer of course everyone has AC turned on. Why, do stores, movie theaters, bars, seemingly every public meeting place CRANK UP the AC full blast? It’s like walking in to a giant freezer. I swear you could hang meet in most of those places. I realize it’s 110 degrees outside, but you don’t have to make it -40 degrees inside.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

As long as we’re talking about air conditioning, I am going to chime in with a complaint. When I visit my family in AZ, during the summer of course everyone has AC turned on. Why, do stores, movie theaters, bars, seemingly every public meeting place CRANK UP the AC full blast? It’s like walking in to a giant freezer. I swear you could hang meet in most of those places. I realize it’s 110 degrees outside, but you don’t have to make it -40 degrees inside.

It's probably mid-70's, but the 35 degree temperature drop from 110 makes it feel like you're freezing.

[77T]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

As long as we’re talking about air conditioning, I am going to chime in with a complaint. When I visit my family in AZ, during the summer of course everyone has AC turned on. Why, do stores, movie theaters, bars, seemingly every public meeting place CRANK UP the AC full blast? It’s like walking in to a giant freezer. I swear you could hang meet in most of those places. I realize it’s 110 degrees outside, but you don’t have to make it -40 degrees inside.

But like a dry heat - it’s better to be freeze-dried. You rehydrate so fresh...


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[Laszlo]

I think fans are great. No AC at all up here in SF. Most of the time you don’t need it. But on those warmer spells, we have a Dyson to move the air around a bit. It’s quiet as well. So wife doesn’t complain. I’m old school and like a good old loud fan. Grew up with them. Sleep like a baby.

[GB-man]

Hell I live in buffalo and would not dream of living without AC for a summer week. I have central but also put a stand-alone 12k btu unit in my bedroom and we run it around 65 degrees all summer. I ran a dedicated circuit to be safe.

My house is older and the second floor gets warm in the summer so we find zone cooling to be more effective for our needs.

I’d put your feelings in writing to the landlord immediately.

[Blansky]

I live in Northern California about 70 miles above San Francisco, whereas the OP lives about 50 miles below San Francisco.

As you may know San Francisco has the crappiest climate in California, hence the saying the coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in San Francisco. BUT, go 30 miles or so north or south and you have some of the nicest climate in the world.

Northern California where I live we have a marine layer that usually floats in during the late afternoon and cools things down even if we got into the high 80s or 90s earlier. This is why, except a week or so a year when it gets really hot, you can easily live without AC. You just open the house up in the evening and early morning, then close it down during the day and it’s very comfortable.

The trick is having windows or doors open that to get the air moving through the whole house. Fans help as well. Besides, we have low humidity.

[breitlings]

if the ac worked when u moved in theres your claim. rentals needs to be maintained to that standard.

[Etschell]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

i wonder if AC is a requirement? I have no idea. If its broken do they even have to fix it? Its different than no heat in the winter which i think constitutes an emergency and they have to fix immediately.

Lots of places dont have AC so if its not listed in the lease as something they specifically are responsible for, could they just say you are on your own? Or say we are removing the faulty unit and not replacing it.

depends on what the lease says. probably doesnt require it.

if it does i'd stop paying rent until they fixed it.

[pallindrome]

Originally Posted by Laszlo

I think fans are great. No AC at all up here in SF. Most of the time you don’t need it. But on those warmer spells, we have a Dyson to move the air around a bit. It’s quiet as well. So wife doesn’t complain. I’m old school and like a good old loud fan. Grew up with them. Sleep like a baby.

Agreed - the droning sound of the fan helps me doze off!

But up north in the bay is always cooler than southbay!! That said, we survived last summer without AC.

[TheVTCGuy]

Here is one suggestion I have for everyone looking to cool their house, an attic fan. In my condo I installed an attic fan, AND placed a screen on the door that leads to the attic i.e. open air flow. In the evening, when the air outside cools down, I turn on the attic fan and it sucks cool air in to the condo through the open windows and blows hot air out the roof. It works AMAZINGLY well. I sprung for a good attic fan, if I remember correctly something like 300 CFPM, cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $300. But it makes a huge difference during the evening hours and at night when sleeping. It's especially nice because you get a gentle breezed of fresh and cooler air throughout the condo without really feeling like a fan is blowing on you.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

Here is one suggestion I have for everyone looking to cool their house, an attic fan. In my condo I installed an attic fan, AND placed a screen on the door that leads to the attic i.e. open air flow. In the evening, when the air outside cools down, I turn on the attic fan and it sucks cool air in to the condo through the open windows and blows hot air out the roof. It works AMAZINGLY well. I sprung for a good attic fan, if I remember correctly something like 300 CFPM, cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $300. But it makes a huge difference during the evening hours and at night when sleeping. It's especially nice because you get a gentle breezed of fresh and cooler air throughout the condo without really feeling like a fan is blowing on you.

Thats how they used to cool houses in Orlando back in the 50's. It's somewhat effective.

[breitlings]

I think the OP is really asking for AC alternatives as a means to be green so I think Paul’s answer is a good one.

[breitlings]

...

[pallindrome]

Originally Posted by breitlings

I think the OP is really asking for AC alternatives as a means to be green so I think Paul’s answer is a good one.

Well yes & no. I was asking for AC alternatives mostly cuz it is going to be an uphill battle to get my landlord to repair the AC. So short term solution - fans. My main objective was to understand what kind of solutions apart from AC forum members use to stay cool. I had in mind vornado, window fans...and wanted to get some feedback on these. Of course being green is a bonus.

But I enjoyed reading all the other suggestions & comments nevertheless.

Just want to reiterate here - of course we open the windows in the house. And especially at night, the air is cool, but the house traps a lot of heat & the air is very still. So I know getting fans to ventilate & bring in cool air while expelling hot air is crucial. This is the context of my current apartment.

[TheVTCGuy]

Originally Posted by pallindrome

Well yes & no. I was asking for AC alternatives mostly cuz it is going to be an uphill battle to get my landlord to repair the AC. So short term solution - fans. My main objective was to understand what kind of solutions apart from AC forum members use to stay cool. I had in mind vornado, window fans...and wanted to get some feedback on these. Of course being green is a bonus.

But I enjoyed reading all the other suggestions & comments nevertheless.

Just want to reiterate here - of course we open the windows in the house. And especially at night, the air is cool, but the house traps a lot of heat & the air is very still. So I know getting fans to ventilate & bring in cool air while expelling hot air is crucial. This is the context of my current apartment.

I am no expert, and I didn’t stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I think the key is airflow. If my attic fan is not an option, then I would buy two cheap fans, window fans if possible, and place them in open windows on opposite ends of the apartment. Have one pulling in and the other blowing out. The hot air that gets caught in your apartment has to have a path of exiting, and being replaced by cooler air from outside. The best option of course, is blowing it out the ceiling, but if not possible, then give it a path from one side to the other and I think you’ll get the best cooling effect possible. Best of luck!

[pallindrome]

Haha I forgot to update.

gave notice in writing to the landlord, issuing an ultimatum before which I would deduct the cost to repair from the next month's rental....and it worked wonders!

Thanks everyone!

[pyrostick]

I love our swamp cooler, works great in Denver's dry air. Can be 90 or 95 outside and 65 in my house. Pretty easy on electric and water too!

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[Watchflair]

Originally Posted by pallindrome

Haha I forgot to update.

gave notice in writing to the landlord, issuing an ultimatum before which I would deduct the cost to repair from the next month's rental....and it worked wonders!

Thanks everyone!

Thank god! I was reading this saying 'are you kidding me'

Never let this happen again. You rented a unit with AC - the AC should work period. Keep on top of this type of stuff. The land lord shouldn't have an issue making sure it's in working condition. You did the right thing by threatening to deduct it from the rent. I probably would have threatened not to pay the rent until it was fixed.

[codecow]

AC is a must in this area.

[77T]

Originally Posted by pallindrome

Haha I forgot to update.

gave notice in writing to the landlord, issuing an ultimatum before which I would deduct the cost to repair from the next month's rental....and it worked wonders!

Thanks everyone!

Cool


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