Frugal with Air Conditioning - Page 2

saint tim · 06-05-2008, 01:34 PM

I wish my house had an attic fan, those can really help you stave off using the AC. Turn it on at night to cool the house down, sucking in all the cool night air. Turn it off before going to sleep (they are not quiet), as long as it's cool when I sleep I am happy. Sleeping in sticky heat is the worst.

cindybythesea · 06-06-2008, 10:50 AM

LOL I'm so cheap I don't use my A/C in my car or my house... ever! All my friends make fun of me for it.

amyschiff · 06-06-2008, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kangaroo

Have you tried using a HEPA allergen remover? I got one for my bedroom and it's really helped my allergies. Of course it doesn't cool the air down and it's a bit noisy but anything that alleviates my allergies is great. I take 3 medications (Flonase, Claritin, Eye drops) so I feel your allergy pain.

I think maybe I should consider investing in one of those. It seems like it would help a lot and maybe allow me to open the windows more. Do you get allergy immunizations as well as the medications?

lucille · 06-06-2008, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by amyschiff

I think maybe I should consider investing in one of those. It seems like it would help a lot and maybe allow me to open the windows more. Do you get allergy immunizations as well as the medications?

I found that a combination of flonase (the generic version of it), and zyrtec is usually enough to keep me from being miserable. Zyrtec is OTC and the store brand at Sams Club is dirt cheap, like less than $4 a month.

rainysparadigm · 06-07-2008, 06:17 PM

We recently purchased a large, high velocity fan that sits on the floor and noticed an immediate difference in the area it blows. We plan to get another one or two. We also have a tower oscillating fan and two small table fans.

Suggestions on how to best position these?

Also, would window air conditioning units run cheaper than central AC? This is not a 'swamp cooler' fyi.

Also found hanging thermal backed curtains helped quite a bit with the heat through windows, and they didn't cost much more than similar regular curtains.

Two big culprits in our house would be the arcadia door: no idea how to block this one, we keep the blinds closed but that only does so much. And hubbies PC runs very hot, it's older and we have not yet replaced it. He does turn it off when not in use but...very very hot when it is in use.

Oh, a rule in our house is no large appliances can be run during daylight hours when its at the warmest. This mostly applies to the times we use the dryer and dishwasher.

I've also heard good things about the allergen filters.

amyschiff · 06-08-2008, 03:28 PM

having lived in the dorms with no a/c, a common method we used was to put a box fan in a window. Facing the fan to the outside helps pull hot air out.

khorrell · 06-08-2008, 05:16 PM

I feel your pain. Our AC is not working during this very hot spell in the mid-Atlantic. We're all sleeping the basement, where I'm still sweating as I type this at 9 p.m. I had illusions that I'd be frugal and let it stay unworking, but we're so uncomfortable!

amyschiff · 06-08-2008, 05:35 PM

Yikes! I think that being uncomfortably warm when you're trying to sleep is way worse than being uncomfortably cold. Gotta love the midwest, I get to try out both during the year

I think there has to be some line at which being frugal stops being worthwhile... and I think being uncomfortable in your home definitely would come close... for me at least. Good luck!

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06-05-2008, 01:34 PM	#11
saint tim Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Lee's Summit, MO Posts: 33 Reputation: (12)	I wish my house had an attic fan, those can really help you stave off using the AC. Turn it on at night to cool the house down, sucking in all the cool night air. Turn it off before going to sleep (they are not quiet), as long as it's cool when I sleep I am happy. Sleeping in sticky heat is the worst.

06-06-2008, 10:50 AM	#12
cindybythesea Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 25 Reputation: (15)	LOL I'm so cheap I don't use my A/C in my car or my house... ever! All my friends make fun of me for it.

06-07-2008, 06:17 PM	#15
rainysparadigm Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 55 Reputation: (12)	We recently purchased a large, high velocity fan that sits on the floor and noticed an immediate difference in the area it blows. We plan to get another one or two. We also have a tower oscillating fan and two small table fans. Suggestions on how to best position these? Also, would window air conditioning units run cheaper than central AC? This is not a 'swamp cooler' fyi. Also found hanging thermal backed curtains helped quite a bit with the heat through windows, and they didn't cost much more than similar regular curtains. Two big culprits in our house would be the arcadia door: no idea how to block this one, we keep the blinds closed but that only does so much. And hubbies PC runs very hot, it's older and we have not yet replaced it. He does turn it off when not in use but...very very hot when it is in use. Oh, a rule in our house is no large appliances can be run during daylight hours when its at the warmest. This mostly applies to the times we use the dryer and dishwasher. I've also heard good things about the allergen filters.

06-08-2008, 03:28 PM	#16
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 308 Reputation: (44)	having lived in the dorms with no a/c, a common method we used was to put a box fan in a window. Facing the fan to the outside helps pull hot air out.

06-08-2008, 05:16 PM	#17
khorrell Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 439 Reputation: (60)	I feel your pain. Our AC is not working during this very hot spell in the mid-Atlantic. We're all sleeping the basement, where I'm still sweating as I type this at 9 p.m. I had illusions that I'd be frugal and let it stay unworking, but we're so uncomfortable!

06-08-2008, 05:35 PM	#18
amyschiff Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Lansing, MI Posts: 308 Reputation: (44)	Yikes! I think that being uncomfortably warm when you're trying to sleep is way worse than being uncomfortably cold. Gotta love the midwest, I get to try out both during the year I think there has to be some line at which being frugal stops being worthwhile... and I think being uncomfortable in your home definitely would come close... for me at least. Good luck!