littleton home with no A/C (Denver, Highlands Ranch: rental, house, to buy)

[Caligirlanj]

moving to the area next month. have a potential rental home but there is no air conditioning. we are comning from the Los Angeles area where a good part of the year can be sweltering hot temps. Is it going to be unbearable to live in Littleton without an a/c?

[Mike from back east]

Originally Posted by Caligirlanj

moving to the area next month. have a potential rental home but there is no air conditioning. we are comning from the Los Angeles area where a good part of the year can be sweltering hot temps. Is it going to be unbearable to live in Littleton without an a/c?

Most likely it will NOT be unbearable, though a few days might be a bit warm. We have low humidity which makes things much more bearable than humid coastal areas (we're from DC) and the elevation here means the nights usually are refreshingly mild/cool. Our home here in COLO SPGS has A/C but we only use it a few days each summer. If you were in central Denver it would be good to have A/C, but you're "probably" okay in Littleton. If there are allergies in the family, it might be a requirement.

We have some people on here from Littleton / Highlands Ranch and I'm sure they'll add more specificity.

[JDBattleMC]

I grew up in Littleton. I would say it depends on how sensitive you are to heat. If you are the kind of person that likes driving on a hot day with the window down and is fine, you would be fine without A/C. Your house will easily get to 80-85+ inside during the summer, practically every day. It will cool off at night. I find 80 inside unbearable, its your call.

[formercalifornian]

I live in a non-a/c house in the southern metro, and I think it's perfectly tolerable.

How shaded is the lot? Does the house have good windows and window coverings? Is there a whole house fan?

One thing that can make a tremendous difference is adding UV film to your west- and south- facing windows. It's not expensive, and your landlord might even spring for it if you ask.

Otherwise cook your food outside; keep the drapes drawn; dress in light, loose clothing; go swimming when the days are sweltering; and gloat to your neighbors about your low energy bills, especially when Xcel initiates tiered billing for the summer.

[tfox]

I've spent a number of summers in Colorado without A/C. In my experience there's usually a week or two in summer where you really wish you had A/C. Before and after that you'll barely notice not having A/C. The fact that so many homes in Metro Denver don't have A/C will tell you something. (Don't get me wrong, having one is nice, when those hot days in July do come).

During that 1-2 week period, you need to close all the shades during the day, then open up all your windows after sunset. Then shut the windows in the morning and close the shades. That will really help. If you have ceiling fans of course that makes a big difference too.

[2bindenver]

I have never used the a/c in my house.

That said, if it proves to be unbearable, it can be added.

[chilicheesefries]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

I have never used the a/c in my house.

That said, if it proves to be unbearable, it can be added.

Not on rental it can't be addded easily.

I grew up living in Littleton without A/C and if that's what you're used to you'll be fine. Now that I have A/C I have to say for comfort it is very necessary. I do like the whole house fan for when it's still cool at night but for the days when the overnight temperature stays above 70 or so it's nice to have a way to cool down. When I go to my parents house now without the A/C I am uncomfortable.

[Jebby]

I did a reverse move, from the Littleton area to LA (county at least). The Littleton house didn't have AC, and I thought it got a tad on the warm side during the summer. We had a portable swamp cooler I used to fill with ice water that worked like a charm.

However, I quickly learned a different understanding of hot after moving to one of the valleys in the greater Los Angeles area. If you are moving from one of the valley's, you will probably find the summer in Littleton to be mild. You might have to buy a fan (or portable swamp cooler), but AC is not a necessity.

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

A portable swamp cooler sounds like a great idea. You'd be adding much needed moisture to the air, which would help the air feel cooler and would help with sleeping.

[whoisjongalt]

I would NEVER live in a place in Denver without AC. I moved here from SoCal and it's as hot as hell here in the summer...hotter than it was in Santa Monica at least. For someone coming from the midwest, it may be tolerable but, believe me, it's as hot or hotter than LA in the summer. It usually cools off at night but, if you're home during the day, it sucks.