No A/C in apartments? (Seattle: renters, hotels, house)

[newintown89]

I know this might sound a silly question, but I have lived in Texas, and now Virginia and we have always had a/c units included in apartments, but I notice a lot of apartments in the Seattle area don't mention it.

Do lots of apartments not have a/c? If not, how do you keep cool in summer?

[CrazyDonkey]

Originally Posted by newintown89

I know this might sound a silly question, but I have lived in Texas, and now Virginia and we have always had a/c units included in apartments, but I notice a lot of apartments in the Seattle area don't mention it.

Do lots of apartments not have a/c? If not, how do you keep cool in summer?

Most apartments here don't have a/c. The ones that do tend to be new and expensive. Renters generally aren't willing to pay for it, and, thus, landlords are much less willing to install it, when it might really be needed just three times a year. Most make do with window fans. That said, our summers are getting noticeably hotter.

[oldgardener]

We only get a couple of hot days a year. When it's hot out, I keep the windows/drapes and doors closed during the hot part of the day, open the windows at night, and point a fan at the bed. Works fine.

[Diana Holbrook]

Used to be if someone needed AC, we thought they must some sort of ailment.... "Did you hear? Beatrice had to have an AC unit put in..."

AC at home is a form of weakness. The locals just do without, and complain about it.

[newintown89]

Interesting. I noticed there are some days in the 80's that way. I have been spoiled! Lol.

[kitty61]

Originally Posted by newintown89

I know this might sound a silly question, but I have lived in Texas, and now Virginia and we have always had a/c units included in apartments, but I notice a lot of apartments in the Seattle area don't mention it.

Do lots of apartments not have a/c? If not, how do you keep cool in summer?

Texas and Virginia are consistently uncomfortably hot [at least for me]. I'm sure if you live there you couldn't bear it unless for A/C. Seattle is much milder and tends to get a lot of rain. Plus it has ocean on the west and east coast of the city. It's actually a bonus not to be stuck in the house with the A/C.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by newintown89

I know this might sound a silly question, but I have lived in Texas, and now Virginia and we have always had a/c units included in apartments, but I notice a lot of apartments in the Seattle area don't mention it.

Do lots of apartments not have a/c? If not, how do you keep cool in summer?

It's rarely necessary to "keep cool" in the summers. The weather does it for you. Though that's been changing lately. Homes don't have A/C, either, but some new construction does have it, because the climate is changing. It's interesting, OP; when I saw your thread title in the listings, I wondered if the OP was from Texas. And here you are.

No apartments, hotels, or homes in the Bay Area had A/C, either, until the last few years. This is West Coast living. Welcome to the West Coast.


All that said, I got A/C back in the 90's, for the inevitable heat wave in the second half of the summer. Back then, having A/C was unheard of. People with south-facing apartments will be glad they have it, though. You should get a window unit. Or one of those portable floor units.

[newintown89]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

It's rarely necessary to "keep cool" in the summers. The weather does it for you. Though that's been changing lately. Homes don't have A/C, either, but some new construction does have it, because the climate is changing. It's interesting, OP; when I saw your thread title in the listings, I wondered if the OP was from Texas. And here you are.

No apartments, hotels, or homes in the Bay Area had A/C, either, until the last few years. This is West Coast living. Welcome to the West Coast.


All that said, I got A/C back in the 90's, for the inevitable heat wave in the second half of the summer. Back then, having A/C was unheard of. People with south-facing apartments will be glad they have it, though. You should get a window unit. Or one of those portable floor units.

Thank you, Ruth. Have you ever lived on the east coast?

[Diana Holbrook]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Homes don't have A/C, either, but some new construction does have it, because the climate is changing.

The climate hasn't changed that much. I think the difference is the imports from TX and CA and elsewhere who are used to having it.


People from sunnier climates are less used to heat than we are. Because they aren't out in it when it's hot.

[newintown89]

Do you guys have heating for the cold weather, or do you just wrap up? LOL.