Living with no A/C (Denver, Littleton: rental homes, homes, contractor)

[MustangMommy]

Originally Posted by David Aguilar

I'm on my fourth summer without A/C in Denver, and every single summer it has sucked.

I checked the thermostat in the hallway yesterday, a very uncomfortable 87F.

If I wanted to feel this in my home all day, I'd move to the tropics.

We bought like 4 box fans at Wal-Mart a few weeks ago. One for each side of the bed, one for the living room, one for the kids. It still blows. Fans in front of the window with it open helps, but try to do that AND sleep during the day (I'm a day sleeper, or at least I try, during the summer).

When we buy our next place, if it doesn't have A/C, I'm not buying it.

I just have to keep reminding myself that come September all will be fine again.

Thanks for being honest! I know some people can do without AC, I don't think we are those people lol. I think with us moving in at the end of summer we should be able to make it a few weeks without it and buy it later.

3k is cheaper than our realtor told us it would be, he was telling us around 6k

[Teckeeee]

3k is because they can easily " cut into " our existing hvac system.

[Teckeeee]

If it were me get 3 bids and let them know you are getting 3 bids so the sharpen their pencil.

[Teckeeee]

Last thought it will initially cost more, but you may want to get 2 smaller units 1 for each floor and only cool what you need you electric bill will be a lot less. If your electric is co-op IREA like we are in Parker than we get cheap rates and crank it up!

[SkyDog77]

Single duct swap cooler roof mounted is a very inexpensive and very useful option.

[davidv]

If you are to have it installed, wait for September and October. I always get offers in the mail for cheap a/c and furnaces because the dearth of HVAC work in those months. The contractors want to get rid of any a/c inventory they have left, and they have few jobs because no one is turning on their furnaces yet.

One more thing: you might want to look into getting a new furnace at the same time. If the house has a 15+ -year-old furnace, it would be easier and cheaper to get them both at the same time.

[MustangMommy]

Originally Posted by davidv

If you are to have it installed, wait for September and October. I always get offers in the mail for cheap a/c and furnaces because the dearth of HVAC work in those months. The contractors want to get rid of any a/c inventory they have left, and they have few jobs because no one is turning on their furnaces yet.

One more thing: you might want to look into getting a new furnace at the same time. If the house has a 15+ -year-old furnace, it would be easier and cheaper to get them both at the same time.

Awesome! Thanks for the advice.

[Shikadance]

Originally Posted by MustangMommy

Awesome! Thanks for the advice.

You are better off waiting until fall or winter to get the best deals on ac units..

If you are moving into your home in August then you will not have many days
of excessive heat unless we have a very unusually high temps like last summer.

The nights will be getting longer and hopefully we will have the monsoon rains
in the afternoon to make things comfortable until September arrives.

[Indigo Cardinal]

I bought a townhouse that is about 1000 sq feet spread over three levels. All the windows face east or west, and didn't have AC. And for years, that was fine. The upper west-facing bedroom might get a bit warm in the afternoon, but not unbearably so.

But the past few summers have seemed hotter and hotter, to where I was miserable no matter what part of the house I was in or how many fans were blowing.

My furnace died last year (the original, the house in 27 years old), and I figured if I was going to spend money for a new furnace, I might as well get AC installed while I was out it.

I did, and believe me--it was worth every penny.

[BarryK123]

I have a wall of south-facing windows and would probably be more comfortable with no heat than no AC.