Homes with no central a/c (Paterson, High Bridge: moving, design, budget)

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

ROFL

Yes, I am too damn cheap. If I had central air, I probably wouldn't use it anyways.

For the DIY'ers who want a temp fix though.... from a nearby faucet, adapt out to copper tubing, take the copper tubing and coil it around the back of the grill of a standard fan, then run cold water through it. Extra cold using a bucket and ice. Instant cheap AC!

But really, I'm fine with the house where its at, though for the gf, I plan on one more improvement - a whole house fan.

For now, there are ceiling fans, and 2 portable 9inch fans for on-the spot cool downs. The majority of cooling, though, is passive techniques. I've let the tree in the back of my house (south facing side of the house) grow out a bit more to provide some additional shade. The windows on that side of the house all have thermal backed curtains, closed off during the day, wide open at night to allow the cool air to circulate. A/C is overrated (and uncomfortable for me, I hate it at work).

yea yea yea...face it! You're a cheap bastid..lol

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by wileynj

yea yea yea...face it! You're a cheap bastid..lol

Damn straight! I don't even buy coffee, I make it and put it in a thermos... which I don't clean at home, since work has a dishwasher! I don't go out to eat, I go food shopping and stock up a small portion of the fridge, and make my meals come lunch time. I considered putting a timer switch on the ceiling fans to make sure they get shut off at night. I bought LCD because they draw far less power. I don't buy name-brand for pretty much anything, and shop at the dollar store for parts to my creations...

It doesn't get much cheaper than me Maybe I could teach a DIY-For-Cheap class? Every time I watch Design on a Dime, I get pissed off by how much they waste money....

[lov403]

i think it depends on the person, some deal better with the heat than others, and there are some good options available now then there was a few years ago.
my dh won't look at a house to buy if it doesn't have central. i grew up in union county w/o central and it wasn't pleasant at times but i managed. my parents had a 10k BTU unit to cool off the entire first floor and window units in the bedrooms upstairs. i mostly used my ceiling fan except on the days where the humidity levels were high (causes migraines for me).

those new floor units with the hose out the window seem great, saw these at costco/bj's for between 250 and 350. and window units aren't so expensive but if i could have central i'll always take it. so buy and convert if you can't buy it with it.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by lov403

i think it depends on the person, some deal better with the heat than others, and there are some good options available now then there was a few years ago.
my dh won't look at a house to buy if it doesn't have central. i grew up in union county w/o central and it wasn't pleasant at times but i managed. my parents had a 10k BTU unit to cool off the entire first floor and window units in the bedrooms upstairs. i mostly used my ceiling fan except on the days where the humidity levels were high (causes migraines for me).

those new floor units with the hose out the window seem great, saw these at costco/bj's for between 250 and 350. and window units aren't so expensive but if i could have central i'll always take it. so buy and convert if you can't buy it with it.

Sanyo style units are great for older homes as well and plus can get multiple units running off of one outside unit. Not too expensive either. Some expense to tear holes in the outsdie walls but overall a good option for those that don't have an attic or basement to set the standard central A/C units into. Cape Cods are the worst! Space paks are another great item for those tight, older homes.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by wileynj

Some expense to tear holes in the outsdie wall

*looks at sledgehammer and sawzall*

Oh, right. Permits.

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

*looks at sledgehammer and sawzall*

Oh, right. Permits.

Permits? It's a window unit in my opinion

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by wileynj

Permits? It's a window unit in my opinion

Now I'm back to sledge and sawzall

[wileynj]

Originally Posted by CuCullin

Now I'm back to sledge and sawzall

You should look into those units..I can get you 20% off the price you are seeing on-line..contractor's cost : ) Let me know if you're really interested or not. You can also get them as heat / cool units.

[CuCullin]

Originally Posted by wileynj

You should look into those units..I can get you 20% off the price you are seeing on-line..contractor's cost : ) Let me know if you're really interested or not. You can also get them as heat / cool units.

Eh, I wanna see how it goes once I get around to the whole-house fan, finish replacing fins on my baseboard units, and get the pellet stove installed. Right now, I'm working on the bathroom... jackasses nailed things down that shouldn't have been nailed down, making things a slight pain in the butt. But a new vanity wall cab with mirror stops questions about A/C for a bit

[wileynj]

Central A/C system install by CuCullin at his High Bridge Home