Home without A/C in San Jose (San Francisco, Santa Clara: condos, house)

[MediocreButArrogant]

I'm looking at some homes in the 800k-1.2M range in the Silver Creek area, and was very surprised that some of them do not have central A/C. I have a home in Santa Clara now and could not imagine not having A/C for the few weeks of the year that it is hot, and I'm sure my location is a few degrees cooler than where I'm looking. These homes were built within the last 25 years.

I'm assuming that since these homes already have central heating, it wouldn't be too hard to just stick an A/C coil in the furnace(s), install an A/C condensing unit, and have central air, for just a few thousand dollars. Anything wrong with my thinking here?

[MaikeerinWA]

Get some estimates, but I would think that the cost for a home with central heating would be something like $5,000, depending on the size of the house.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Most people cannot justify the cost of installing central air for a few hot weeks / days per year.

It is considered a luxury, especially when you consider how expensive everything already is around here.

[rimmerama]

Originally Posted by MediocreButArrogant

I'm looking at some homes in the 800k-1.2M range in the Silver Creek area, and was very surprised that some of them do not have central A/C. I have a home in Santa Clara now and could not imagine not having A/C for the few weeks of the year that it is hot, and I'm sure my location is a few degrees cooler than where I'm looking. These homes were built within the last 25 years.

I'm assuming that since these homes already have central heating, it wouldn't be too hard to just stick an A/C coil in the furnace(s), install an A/C condensing unit, and have central air, for just a few thousand dollars. Anything wrong with my thinking here?

Depending on how well the home is built, it may not need A/C. You'd be surprised how well good insulation and windows do at keeping the temperature in the house comfortable (I won't say you can keep it chilled at 60 degrees like you could with an A/C...).

[tstieber]

It's a weird mindset in parts of the Bay Area. People would rather insist that they just "don't need" A/C than be comfortable. And of course, it's easier to tolerate heat than cold for comfort. But I agree with you.

I grew up in Walnut Creek, which is more inland, and hotter than San Jose, and I can't remember a single house that did NOT have A/C, regardless of size or price. It was a necessity out there. Closer to the bay, people are weird about it, but I'm starting to see more and more condo developers install central air even in San Francisco and Emeryville condos, where the walls of glass amplify the indoor temperature like a greenhouse. San Jose averages in the 80s in the summer, and typically, the inside of your house will get close to that temp without climate control, and hotter if you have a lot of windows. To me, that's not comfortable. And like you said, there are several weeks a year that get into the 90s. I would just install it. Use it when you need it, and don't when you don't.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by rimmerama

Depending on how well the home is built, it may not need A/C. You'd be surprised how well good insulation and windows do at keeping the temperature in the house comfortable (I won't say you can keep it chilled at 60 degrees like you could with an A/C...).

My parents built a retirement home in Walnut Creek a few years ago, and it's REALLY well insulated compared to the tract home I grew up in (which would literally be 90 degrees INDOORS if you turned off the AC in the summer). But even then, a little AC is needed. It feels stuffy indoors above 78 or 80 degrees. So insulation is great, but you kind of need both.

[BayAreaHillbilly]

Originally Posted by tstieber

It's a weird mindset in parts of the Bay Area. People would rather insist that they just "don't need" A/C than be comfortable. And of course, it's easier to tolerate heat than cold for comfort. But I agree with you.

I grew up in Walnut Creek, which is more inland, and hotter than San Jose, and I can't remember a single house that did NOT have A/C, regardless of size or price. It was a necessity out there. Closer to the bay, people are weird about it, but I'm starting to see more and more condo developers install central air even in San Francisco and Emeryville condos, where the walls of glass amplify the indoor temperature like a greenhouse. San Jose averages in the 80s in the summer, and typically, the inside of your house will get close to that temp without climate control, and hotter if you have a lot of windows. To me, that's not comfortable. And like you said, there are several weeks a year that get into the 90s. I would just install it. Use it when you need it, and don't when you don't.

Great if you can afford it, but a luxury not a necessity in most inner bay locations.

[roadwarrior101]

Originally Posted by rimmerama

Depending on how well the home is built, it may not need A/C. You'd be surprised how well good insulation and windows do at keeping the temperature in the house comfortable (I won't say you can keep it chilled at 60 degrees like you could with an A/C...).

We have a brand new place, which is very well insulated, yet our A/C comes in handy. It may not be life or death without it, like it would be in Phoenix or Dallas. However, there are times when it is a bit uncomfortably warm to sleep in the summertime without it.

[tstieber]

Originally Posted by BayAreaHillbilly

Great if you can afford it, but a luxury not a necessity in most inner bay locations.

I can tell you that even in Emeryville, where it usually peaks around 70F in the summer, west-facing condos with big windows end up like a baking greenhouse. We use a portable AC unit every single day for months on end and wish we had built in units. If you're in a shaded house with cross-ventilation, then you probably don't need it. All depends on your orientation and layout of the lot and home.

[rimmerama]

Originally Posted by roadwarrior101

We have a brand new place, which is very well insulated, yet our A/C comes in handy. It may not be life or death without it, like it would be in Phoenix or Dallas. However, there are times when it is a bit uncomfortably warm to sleep in the summertime without it.

Well, I'm in south San Jose, and I have found that if I just leave all the doors and windows closed (after having them open during the night, usually), and close the drapes, it stays pretty cool. I do leave the central air fan on, though...

Sometimes I do turn the A/C on (I don't particularly like having all the blinds closed when I'm at home) - however, if I didn't already have an A/C, I'm not sure I would spend the money putting one in.

I would be curious about other factors - once upon a time I had a projector, and a 600watt gaming computer with a huge monitor - now I have a plasma T.V and a laptop - a lot less ambient heat being produced.