elice_in_oz

Thought I'd start this thread so we all stop cluttering Jo's thread about children's immigration


Let the debate rage on...

Deutschmaster

I'm quite happy with a fan. I have a misting one. There's maybe one or two days a year here when it's unbearable. At that time it's best to pop around to see someone who has aircon

bcworld

I'd say during the day never...my apartment stays very cool...and is correspondingly like an ice box in winter!

Only after about 3 hot days does it get a bit uncomfortable at nights for sleeping...even then I think a fan mostly does the trick.

Given this discussion started due to some comments about Brisbane...I'd say A/C is generally not really required there either, having lived there for 4 years. Depends on the style of the house though and whether it suits the climate its been built in...for a lot of the new builds, they don't and rely on A/C.

mohogony

Cities like Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane yes l'd say get aircionditioning, you can get by without it in Melbounre but there would probably be around 10-15 days a year when its gets above 35c degrees you would wish you had it, but you could get by with fans .

sadieb

Had the hot air on most of the year.

Shellfish

I know plenty of people who manage summer after summer without aircon...that said, I am not one of them but it was more DH's decision than mine - now a heater I couldn't manage without

Officer Dibble

I lived for two years in a little old tin house with no air con and you can get through it but I have to say that the heatwaves seem to be lasting longer and longer or maybe Im getting older.......or both.

ozzieeagle

You need it to sleep around 4/5 days per year. All depends whether you can put up with that or not.

Personally I'd always have one just for that reason. Making the Hot Days comfortable is just a bonus compared to the sleep issue.

moneypenny20

Our house had two units installed before we bought it, wouldn't have bothered otherwise. Open doors and windows with screens closed and ceiling fans do the trick here. Saying that I do put the evaporative setting on once in a blue moon if it's really humid but only to stop any mould or damp attempting to get a hold.

scrubbedexpat020

Just had evap cooling installed.

It's nice to turn it on after a brisk walk on a cold day (25C).

On a 40C day if it buys us 8C that will do me.

FYI, it cost $3800 for 5 outlets and took less than a morning to install.

Ian

Deancm

Melbourne in summer gets hotter than Brisbane and you get much more than 10 - 15 days a year above 35C.

I have to say, for Melbourne, the last summer was relatively mild.

bcworld

According to historical averages Melbourne gets 9.9 days per year over 35C (and 29.9 over 30C).

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/climat...=site&lc=86071

koalakim

Hi there

Have lived in three types of property since getting here and:

1st: 60's apartment no heating or cooling...freeezzing in winter, hot in summer as lots of glass but we survived using blinds and fan at night - don't remember not ever being able to sleep during the hot weather

2nd: modern house with evap cooling. Needed to go on when home office went over 30 as once you got to 33 brain started going a bit fuzzy and not good for the computers. Evap was excellent, cheap to run and brought the temps down to 27 I was quite comfy. Never had it on at night as bedroom was away from the afternoon sun, think we had the fan on a couple of times.

3rd: upside down townhouse. The house has proper air-con which we've not had on because of cost but haven't needed it. The bedrooms and office is downstairs which keeps cool although we had to have the fan on in the office a few times this summer. Upstairs has a lot of glass and it gets very hot but as I'm at home most of the time we just keep the windows and balcony doors open when it's hot but even if you've been out all day it soon cools down as we are on the coast road.

I really think it depends on your style of house, roof etc. Tin roofs cool quicker than tiles and also if you house has eaves. A lot of new places cut costs with eaves but our new one has nice big ones included
We are also having evap installed, big cost but with working from home we do need to keep cool otherwise we have to pack up and go to the beach which is nice but not good for business! Also I think having the evap installed with help with resale.

My problem with Mellie is keeping warm rather than keeping cool. Easy to keep cool just run down the beach into the water at the end of the day. I'm always cold so keeping warm is my issue!

Hope this helps!

KK

bcworld

...and for Brisbane the figure is only 4.6 days over 35C per year.

http://www.weatherzone.com.au/climat...=site&lc=40211

...but lots of days over 30C.

Deancm

Averages are exactly that averages. Some years you get more, some less. Last summer was relatively mild but i'm sure we had much more than 9.9 days above 35C.