Living in Black Forest without air conditioning (Colorado Springs, Fountain: rental, house)

[christos]

I've read all the threads here on A/C in Colorado Springs.

But specifically, do you think the summer months will be comfortable in:

- a two-story house over 5000 square feet
- at 7350 feet of elevation
- in Black Forest
- with 10 foot ceilings
- with the master bedroom on the first floor
- surrounded by mature pines
- without much direct exposure to the sun

Anyone here experienced living in a situation like that care to comment?

Thanks!

[beezle1]

I don't think lack of AC will be an issue for you. I live in Black Forest (on top of the Palmer Divide at 7500 feet) and I don't have AC. There are maybe like 3 days a year where maybe it would be nice, but I have ceiling fans which really help just to get the air moving a little, especially in the bedroom at night on those still, hotter nights. The only thing that is kind of a pain here is in the spring when the pine pollen is in full force and you have your windows open, you end up with yellow pollen dust on everything for about 2 weeks. I guess if you have AC you could just close all your windows and not worry about it.

[otowi]

You can live anywhere in CO comfortably without AC (although some alternative like a swamp cooler may be nice on a few of the hottest summer days if you don't have a basement) but you especially don't need AC in the situation you described unless perhaps you are someone who is so used to climate-controlled environments that your temperature tolerance range is only about 5-10 degrees.

[MrsMac]

HA! We live in Falcon near Black Forest and I wish we had air conditioning. When we looked for a rental home everyone said, "Don't worry, you won't need it in Colorado Springs!" Well, they lied. We have a 3200 sq foot house and the basement is nice and cool when it's over 90 degrees out during the day but the nights are awful in my main floor master bedroom. I'm not comfortable sleeping with all the windows in the house open (the cross breeze keeps it comfortable during the day). I open the bedroom window and use a ceiling fan and high tech floor fan so it is more comfortable but the constant breeze is annoying and there are still many nights it's too warm in there.

When we build our house next year, we are putting in air conditioning. I'd rather have it and rarely use it than not have it.

[vfrpilot]

We are just west of BF along the Palmer Divide. We also do not have A/C. Once the outside temp is around 67 we close all our windows except one in the basement. We use a box fan to suck air out of our closet in the master bd upstairs into the attic, kinda like a cheap 'whole-house' fan. We also use a fan at the bottom of our basement stairs. Right now the temp outside is 92 and the main level is 72. We might try a portable swamp cooler to add some moisture.

[otowi]

You should keep windows open for a cross breeze! If you're worried about security, there is a simple fix: get an old broom handle and cut it into pieces that you slide into the window track so that the window can only be opened a certain amount but not wide enough for an adult person to fit through. Problem solved!

Originally Posted by MrsMac

HA! We live in Falcon near Black Forest and I wish we had air conditioning. When we looked for a rental home everyone said, "Don't worry, you won't need it in Colorado Springs!" Well, they lied. We have a 3200 sq foot house and the basement is nice and cool when it's over 90 degrees out during the day but the nights are awful in my main floor master bedroom. I'm not comfortable sleeping with all the windows in the house open (the cross breeze keeps it comfortable during the day). I open the bedroom window and use a ceiling fan and high tech floor fan so it is more comfortable but the constant breeze is annoying and there are still many nights it's too warm in there.

When we build our house next year, we are putting in air conditioning. I'd rather have it and rarely use it than not have it.

[hollyt00]

My current home (that we are closing on in a week!!!) is pretty horrible in the summer (reached 88 degrees yesterday inside), but that's because years ago someone painted the windows shut, and we have never had the time or the money to either fix the windows or replace them. But we'll be moving soon, and if we build a house, we'll have air conditioning, but even better, I'll be able to open my windows!!

[proveick]

We're in Fountain, went away (rafting) this weekend. House was closed up and was 89*. YUK
The wind changes direction all evening so it's hard to get the fan strategy worked out.

[MrsMac]

Originally Posted by otowi

You should keep windows open for a cross breeze! If you're worried about security, there is a simple fix: get an old broom handle and cut it into pieces that you slide into the window track so that the window can only be opened a certain amount but not wide enough for an adult person to fit through. Problem solved!

My husband travels so its just the kids and I most of the week and they insist on having all the front windows closed at night or they won't sleep. Not that it makes all that much difference when its really hot out; yesterday we had all the windows open and the fans going (ceiling and stand up) and it was 85 degrees on the main floor during the day.

Putting in air conditioning when we build a house next year is a must!

[mjkbelford]

I don't have AC. Does anyone use those wrought iron metal doors? I thought about putting one on the front door and leaving the door open at night. They see safe enough . Do they rust or freeze shut or anything negative?