Second homes with power turned off during the summer (Phoenix: appliances, house)

[waltcolorado]

Another thread on the phoenix forum was suggesting some problems if homes are not cooled during the summer.

I have a home in Lake Havasu and during the summer, the electricity is completely shut off - main breaker to the house is turned off. It was this way all last summer (except for one week), not a single problem from doing this as far as I can tell. If in the future I have a piece of furniture that has some sort of damage from drying or heat, Ill note the construction, get rid of the piece of furniture and replace it with something else which does tolerate the heat.

Drywall problems?? I sure didn’t see any myself. Are the problems re-curing - i.e., if repaired one year, would you expect the problem again.

Appliance problems - well, they are completely turned off - no AC even to the plug. Nothing melted last summer..

Would like to hear experiences from anyone who has left the power off to a home for at least one summer. My feeling is that I may have a couple of small issues, they will be resolved and the house can be made to tolerate the summer completely shut down - no maintenance - no problem.

I have only one season experience with this myself so maybe I’m missing something???

[Two-K]

At our winter home in Phoenix, we only leave on 2 lights with photocells over the summer, and the sprinkler timer. Everything else, including the AC is off. Absolutely no problems with furniture or appliances, and our electric bill is only $18 per month. But when you think about it, an interior temperature of 100 degrees is not really that hot. From what I understand, bedbug eradicators will heat the inside of a house to 155 degress for 24 hours to kill the bugs.

We didn't notice any drywall issues either, but our home was built during the summer. What many don't know is that much of the construction in the last decade in southern AZ used less expensive green lumber, vs kiln dried in other areas of the country. The reason contractors get away with that is by the time the framing stage of the house is complete, the wood is already dry from the summer heat. The screw popping issue happens when sheetrock is installed over fresh green studs which eventually shrink by 1/16" or so, leaving a gap between the back of the drywall and stud. You won't notice it until someone pushes or leans on the wall.

[Gandalara]

My sister has had a place in Parker for over 10 years. It's a 1966 (?) single-wide with a 2 story addition added on to it (in the late 90's). It doesn't look as weird as it sounds

She shuts the place up every year when she leaves in early summer. Turns off everything. Nothing has ever melted. The wood furniture is still fine. She has drywall in the addition - no problems. The place is shut-up tight for about 5 months a year.

[Bummer]

A few of my snowbird neighbors have been turning the power off for years and I far as I know . . . no problems whatsoever.