How often do you have your aircon on?
Dec 20th 2008, 2:17 am
#31
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 413
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
I find the ceiling fans great - its just over 30 deg in the shade on my patio now and I have the ceiling fans on and most blinds 1/2 closed and its bearable (worst in my office with 2 computers etc running but doing my last timesheets for the year!).
I hate aircon - makes me too cold but will occasionally put it on in the bedrooms for 1/2 an hour before bed.
I hate aircon - makes me too cold but will occasionally put it on in the bedrooms for 1/2 an hour before bed.
We are currently renovating a house and have had all the walls and ceilings insulated with ceiling fans installed. We have just had one split level a/c installed in the living room for the truly unbearable days (anything over 35).
I am hoping that the insulation will make a bit of a difference.
Dec 20th 2008, 5:51 am
#32
...giving optimism a go?!
Joined: Jun 2007
Location: Brisbane (leafy, hilly western suburbs)
Posts: 2,202
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
Our aircon does tend to go on just once a year:
on at the end of October and off at the end of March!!!
...ok - not really , but it does get a thorough working over when its warm and runs 24hrs a day. We try and put it into just 'fan' mode overnight so we can open some windows, but once our roof cavity has warmed up for the summer thats it as soon as the air-con is off the house starts heating up QUICKLY - insulation can only do so much when the air temp in the cavity is around 80C!!!! (Perhaps its time we installed some whilrybird vents?
)
Cost wise it doesnt seem to be too bad - our fully ducted house elecy bills are perhaps 30% more in summer months than winter? (We never use the heating)
on at the end of October and off at the end of March!!!
...ok - not really , but it does get a thorough working over when its warm and runs 24hrs a day. We try and put it into just 'fan' mode overnight so we can open some windows, but once our roof cavity has warmed up for the summer thats it as soon as the air-con is off the house starts heating up QUICKLY - insulation can only do so much when the air temp in the cavity is around 80C!!!! (Perhaps its time we installed some whilrybird vents?
)Cost wise it doesnt seem to be too bad - our fully ducted house elecy bills are perhaps 30% more in summer months than winter? (We never use the heating)
Dec 20th 2008, 6:20 am
#33
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
You don't have whirly birds ? 
I would get one or two installed, they do make a difference.
You can also get the powered one's, which I would be tempted to get next time, as they really move the hot air out, especially when it is not windy.
I would get one or two installed, they do make a difference.
You can also get the powered one's, which I would be tempted to get next time, as they really move the hot air out, especially when it is not windy.
Dec 20th 2008, 7:19 am
#34
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 948
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
our air con goes on goes off numerous times a day especially when the bloody kids keep forgetting to keep the doors closed we are going to have some ceiling fans put in none in this house when we bought it but air con units in every room, in the rental we had before we bought they had reverse cycle air con and fans it was absolutely lovely hmmmm
Dec 20th 2008, 7:25 am
#35
.
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 21,374
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
We have just ceiling fans, they're quite nice but they don't cut it on the really hot days. I've never been a fan of air con.
Dec 20th 2008, 9:54 am
#36
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2006
Location: Pewf Baby !
Posts: 405
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
We have evap but tis on its last legs. Whats the best to have. Ive heard evap is great cuz its to dry and leaves fresh air circulating the house. When it comes time to replace I imagine reverse cycle would be more practical ?
Also on ceiling fans we want to buy new one and rip out the old one and put new one in a different ceiling light. Is this easy job for a sparky ? And does anyone know anyone who will do it for fifty bucks and a couple of beers
Also on ceiling fans we want to buy new one and rip out the old one and put new one in a different ceiling light. Is this easy job for a sparky ? And does anyone know anyone who will do it for fifty bucks and a couple of beers
Last edited by twhurl; Dec 20th 2008 at 9:57 am.
Dec 20th 2008, 10:46 am
#37
Joined: Apr 2004
Location: High up in Joondalup.
Posts: 4,228
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
I have hardly ever used the air con up until this summer we only have the one unit in one bedroom and has been on the last few weeks through the night set at 27, its been 39 in the house at 10pm most nights with windows and doors open and fans on!, during the day i find the ceiling fans work great but there too noisy at night. not had a duvet on the bed since end of august!
we just got a whirly bird fitted and that has made a big difference so were going to get another one fitted soon, either that or we might have to migrate south for the summer
we just got a whirly bird fitted and that has made a big difference so were going to get another one fitted soon, either that or we might have to migrate south for the summer
Dec 20th 2008, 11:22 am
#38
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
Most electricians charge us about $65 for a ceiling fan installation, that should cover it, if the wiring is already there from the old one.
Dec 20th 2008, 9:43 pm
#40
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 9,066
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
Steve'O are you out there? Or any other sparkies?
How easy is it to fix a ceiling fan/light combo in place of an existing light fitting? The current light switch is a pullcord so the fan itself would have to have controls.
(Note I am not asking if it's illegal to fit them yourself )
Ta x
How easy is it to fix a ceiling fan/light combo in place of an existing light fitting? The current light switch is a pullcord so the fan itself would have to have controls.
(Note I am not asking if it's illegal to fit them yourself
)Ta x
But then which is the best fan to get is the problem as there are so many that look tacky and crap and you can't tell if they are heavy duty enough.
Dec 20th 2008, 9:58 pm
#41
A former regular of BE
Joined: Oct 2004
Location: Carramar, Perth
Posts: 6,241
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
We had a couple of pedestal fans in our rental - waste of time - we used to wake up it puddles of our own sweat! Nasty!
We have evaporative now and it runs most of the time during summer when there is anyone in the house, but mainly just on fan rather than AC. With the doors and windows open it creates plenty of breeze. The AC is not hugely effective but on the hottest days (40C+) the house is about 30C in the arvo without it and the AC brings it down to a bearable 25C. I believe it is bad for you to keep the house at 20C and go from 40C to 20C all the time.
Based on our bills, it probably costs about $1/day to run - the price of half a stubby.
We have evaporative now and it runs most of the time during summer when there is anyone in the house, but mainly just on fan rather than AC. With the doors and windows open it creates plenty of breeze. The AC is not hugely effective but on the hottest days (40C+) the house is about 30C in the arvo without it and the AC brings it down to a bearable 25C. I believe it is bad for you to keep the house at 20C and go from 40C to 20C all the time.
Based on our bills, it probably costs about $1/day to run - the price of half a stubby.
Dec 20th 2008, 10:03 pm
#42
MODERATOR
Joined: Nov 2002
Location: Redneck Wonderland
Posts: 9,932
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
They work well for us on all but the hottest days.
Dec 20th 2008, 10:43 pm
#43
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,397
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
Not really changing the subject, but can you get the little fan silencers here?
We have fans in most rooms: two of them are Bunnings cheapos and they make a mains-frequency hum when they turn.
In the States you can get a little thing which you fit into the electrics of the fan and it cuts out the hum.
We have fans in most rooms: two of them are Bunnings cheapos and they make a mains-frequency hum when they turn.
In the States you can get a little thing which you fit into the electrics of the fan and it cuts out the hum.
Dec 21st 2008, 3:51 pm
#44
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2007
Location: Sunshine Coast, Queensland.
Posts: 2,141
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
................. All the bloody time! The little children have all had temps of 39-40degrees the last few months! They are ok now, but feels like i never have the godamn thing off in our bedroom, its freezing! might as well live in the UK! LOL.....
we just use fans usually though, for the breeze. dont use aircon in car either, just makes it worse... we live on sunny coast. x S-j
we just use fans usually though, for the breeze. dont use aircon in car either, just makes it worse... we live on sunny coast. x S-j
Dec 21st 2008, 11:36 pm
#45
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 6,600
Re: How often do you have your aircon on?
Once last year . . . switched it on around November and off about March.