View Poll Results: Does your house have AC?
Yes, can't live without it!
52
81.25%
Yes, but I can live without it
2
3.13%
No, though I wish it did
2
3.13%
No, no need for it
8
12.50%
Voters: 64. You may not vote on this poll
Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
Jul 19th 2013, 4:03 pm
#31
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 472
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
It's a must for S. CA I think. I don't really like it much but it gets up to 95-99degrees some days in the summer.
Luckily it's "cools" down once the sun goes down - and I put on the cool house air fan thingy. THAT I could not live without.
And yes, blinds or shutters - some sort of window coverings are a must to keep out heat.
Luckily it's "cools" down once the sun goes down - and I put on the cool house air fan thingy. THAT I could not live without.
And yes, blinds or shutters - some sort of window coverings are a must to keep out heat.
Jul 19th 2013, 4:27 pm
#33
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Jul 19th 2013, 4:29 pm
#34
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
A whole house fan, I think. .... It's a huge (typically 36") fan in the center of the house, inserted into the (upstairs) ceiling. If you open all the windows then turn the fan on, it draws air through all rooms and blows it into the attic; there is no ductwork. It works best in the evening if/when the air cools down outside.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 19th 2013 at 4:39 pm.
Jul 19th 2013, 4:34 pm
#35
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
I sort of want one of those ...
Jul 19th 2013, 4:37 pm
#36
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
Yeah, within the limitations of its design it is very effective, and dirt cheap to install AND run. Everyone would have one if A/C coolant based systems didn't exist.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 19th 2013 at 4:58 pm.
Jul 19th 2013, 4:44 pm
#37
Concierge
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 46,381
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
A whole house fan, I think. .... It's a huge (typically 36") fan in the center of the house, inserted into the (upstairs) ceiling. If you open all the windows then turn the fan on, it draws air through all rooms and blows it into the attic; there is no ductwork. It works best in the evening if/when the air cools down outside.
Jul 19th 2013, 4:45 pm
#38
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
I'd say that sounded cool but that would be too punny.
Jul 19th 2013, 4:57 pm
#39
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
Jul 19th 2013, 5:05 pm
#40
Account Closed
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,570
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
Air conditioning is essential where i live.
I've just spent $16,000 on two 4 tone trane units
My older units were running me $500+ a month in electricity bills.
I cool my garage with an evaporative cooler which works really well in a hot but low humidity environment. Costs as much as running a fan.
I've just spent $16,000 on two 4 tone trane units
My older units were running me $500+ a month in electricity bills.
I cool my garage with an evaporative cooler which works really well in a hot but low humidity environment. Costs as much as running a fan.
Jul 19th 2013, 5:12 pm
#41
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Mar 2010
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Posts: 8,106
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
I don't know how people coped out here when the only thing available was a swamp cooler.
Jul 19th 2013, 5:13 pm
#42
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,439
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
.... There's now about 1.5 million, and more than 4 million in the two county metro area.
Last edited by Pulaski; Jul 19th 2013 at 5:22 pm.
Jul 19th 2013, 5:59 pm
#43
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
They're not too bad for dusting (better than regular 2" blinds IMO) but I will warn you the costs starts to add up pretty quickly...! We've done ours in stages as we are in a new house so have put in all the window coverings ourselves.
Jul 19th 2013, 6:06 pm
#44
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2012
Location: CA
Posts: 472
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
A whole house fan, I think. .... It's a huge (typically 36") fan in the center of the house, inserted into the (upstairs) ceiling. If you open all the windows then turn the fan on, it draws air through all rooms and blows it into the attic; there is no ductwork. It works best in the evening if/when the air cools down outside.
It's amazing. We have 2...erm...fan things and I could NOT live without it. It's brilliant and the first thing we had installed when we moved into the new house.
Like Pulaski says - works best when it cools down a tad outside. Very cheap to run too. It's on every night.
You can buy them from Home Depot. Don't try to install yourself. Or I can tell you the site I bought it from. I need to search for it thru my emails though.
Jul 19th 2013, 6:38 pm
#45
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2011
Location: Maine
Posts: 1,204
Re: Is air conditioning essential where you live?--or can you do without it?
Can't live without it. I turn into a total biatch when it's hot and can't seem to accomplish anything.
