What gives with houses in Boston Area w/no AirCon (living in, deal)

[eevee]

in the 23 years I lived in Boston, I can recall using AC during the summer maybe a dozen times. I've never personally owned a window unit (don't even know how to install one and am terrified it it falling out the window!) and have only lived in two apartments w/ central air/ac. overall, it's not really a big deal. I managed fine w/ window and ceiling fans. plus, unless you work the 3rd shift, chances are you won't be home during the hottest time of the day, so no real worry there. honestly, I can't even remember a time when it was over 80 degrees at night (sure it's happened at least twice, but I lived through them w/o harm ). you'll survive, and if you feel like you won't, never complexes tend to have central air (good luck trying to find a house w/ central air, unless it's a fairly new construction/gut job).

[NY Annie]

The houses in the miami area can all have central ac because they have to be newer homes as the older ones keep getting blown out to sea in the hurricanes.

[professorsenator]

Originally Posted by valgrom

I'm in the process of relocating to Boston and have now seen some houses that would be very nice for my family...BUT...the vast majority of them do not have Air Conditioning.

I know that cold climates don't have much use for A/C, but in Miami we have rare use of central heating, yet it's still installed with the A/C system...

So my question is...what do people do in Boston when it gets 90

I agree with you-- the lack of central A/C was a real mystery to me when I moved to New England.

The picture is more complex than some posts in this thread have suggested. Yes, yes...there are lots of old houses built long before the advent of A/C. And sure, there are walk up apartments in central Boston where a single window unit is all that's necessary.

But how do folks explain the fact that there countless houses in the Boston 'burbs built in the 1970's, 80's, and even 90's that don't have central A/C? These were built decades after A/C had become standard in similar homes in other parts of the country (including just 250-300 miles south in the mid-Atlantic). What's more, these are not cheap or shoddily built Boston houses. There are plenty of homes with quality original features like hardwood floors or even updated kitchens with granite countertops...and no A/C. And we're talking about houses with fat price tags -- it's not uncommon to find lots of $500,000. houses without A/C. Indeed, in many communities a half million dollars would not usually get you a house with A/C.

So why is it this way? I gotta say that from my experience living in New England that lots of people here just put up with the heat. Many could afford to put in A/C, but they don't. They sweat and are uncomfortable and just deal with it. Why? I think for most it's due to a very traditionalistic mindset..."we've always done it this way." For a few folks it's a just a form of environmental piety: "I will help save the earth by not using A/C."

I think they're crazy -- I gotta have A/C.

[lz1982]

I'll admit I'm surprised that most people here say they don't/rarely use AC. Most people I know in real life do use it, although the majority just have window units, not central air.

[boston2denver]

I've been in Boston 10+ years and have never used AC. I run a few fans in the summer, but that's about it. I find the summers in Boston very tolerable. However, many people will disagree.

[Cantabridgienne]

Did any of these non-AC users live on the upper floors of a building? Because when I lived on the 4th floor, it was a total sweatbox. You could feel the temperature rise as you walked up.

Living on the first floor, I definitely don't need it as much, but sleep much better with it when it's hot.

[lz1982]

Did any of these non-AC users live on the upper floors of a building? Because when I lived on the 4th floor, it was a total sweatbox. You could feel the temperature rise as you walked up.

I was going to say that in my last post, about how I was surprised so many people didn't use AC. I've always lived in upper-level apartments, so maybe that explains it.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Did any of these non-AC users live on the upper floors of a building? Because when I lived on the 4th floor, it was a total sweatbox. You could feel the temperature rise as you walked up.

Living on the first floor, I definitely don't need it as much, but sleep much better with it when it's hot.

I agree with this completely. You can feel the temperature rise as you climb the stairs.

In any case, a window unit for the bedroom will usually suffice.

[redpanda]

Originally Posted by Cantabridgienne

Did any of these non-AC users live on the upper floors of a building? Because when I lived on the 4th floor, it was a total sweatbox. You could feel the temperature rise as you walked up.

Living on the first floor, I definitely don't need it as much, but sleep much better with it when it's hot.

Actually, I lived for several years on different 3rd floor apartments, and I found the crossbreezes you get by opening windows on higher floors to make up for any difference in how warm it is.

In any case, window units definitely have always sufficed for me.

[eevee]

Originally Posted by redpanda

Actually, I lived for several years on different 3rd floor apartments, and I found the crossbreezes you get by opening windows on higher floors to make up for any difference in how warm it is.

In any case, window units definitely have always sufficed for me.

I was just about to say something similar. I usually have lived on the 2nd floor (hate 1st floor apartments), but on the rare occasions I've lived on the 3rd floor, there were no other buildings blocking the air, so we could open up the window and get an awesome breeze. I guess I've been lucky in that all the 3rd floor apartments I've lived in happened to be in buildings that were taller than the ones next door. the BEST thing about one of the 3rd floor apartments I lived in? the completely private back porch. didn't have a roof, but it was awesome to sleep on on really sticky nights. that might be another option if the porch is fully enclosed/private