How are you dealing with the heat if you don't have AC? (Denver: day care, house)

[Timmyy]

Originally Posted by emm74

this time next year? You'd be better off if you purchase it in the fall or the spring, before peak AC need hits but before or after peak heating season too. You'll get a better deal from someone who is not working that much and has time to fill. And with HVAC, a good install is the biggest piece of the puzzle

Good point. Hopefully we will have a new one in place by this time next year.

[alloo66]

I got a portable swamp cooler, thinking about getting a whole house fan, solar attic fans work well too!

[WoundedSpirit]

I lived in a house in Southeast Denver for 14 years. It had an attic fan, but no AC of any kind. It was horrible. We bought a few evaporative coolers over the years, but none of them lasted more than a summer and ended up just being used as fans. It was a rental, and the landlord rarely put any money into it.

When I moved out, I lived in an apartment with CAC. It was glorious. Now I live in Southeast Kansas in an old house. We have 3 window AC units and a few fans, and that keeps it livable most of the time.

[Norrov]

I’m looking into getting AC since my furnace just quit working. I’m sure it’ll be expensive but having AC will be nice when we have guests.

It doesn’t bother much, I can go without. Couple fans and open windows feels fine, even this past week. If it’s super bad we chill in the basement.

[SkyDog77]

Originally Posted by Norrov

I’m looking into getting AC since my furnace just quit working. I’m sure it’ll be expensive but having AC will be nice when we have guests.

It doesn’t bother much, I can go without. Couple fans and open windows feels fine, even this past week. If it’s super bad we chill in the basement.

We do whole house attic fan most of the time, but when it’s smoky from fires or over 75 in the evenings, I like the a/c a lot.

[Mike from back east]

Here's our thread on Whole House Fans for those who want to learn more.

Questions and info about Whole House Fans should be put in that thread.

[Xanathos]

I was actually just asking my tenant about this earlier today, as I had seen the Colorado area has been going through a pretty severe heat wave. Just after buying the house and before renting it out, I had a geothermal system installed, but left one of the 2 AC units the house had in as a backup because I wasn't convinced the geothermal would be an effective means of cooling the home.



He says the thing has been working like a champ. They keep the thermostat at 70 during the day and 65 at night, and the smart home telemetry show that the backup system has only kicked on for a grand total of about 40 minutes since the start of summer. My guess is that when I have all the windows replaced with smart/nano-glass later this year, the backup system will likely be able to be completely removed because the window system will more effectively regulate temperatures.

[tcbelvis]

Originally Posted by bluescreen73

Finished basement's gonna be your best bet if you don't have AC. I'd look into getting a window-mounted evaporative cooler. Next door neighbor hard one. It was kind of a PITA to hook up and store, but the one unit kept the main floor of his house nice and cool.

I put a window evaporative in 2 weeks ago. I love it. Xcel is giving a rebate of $300 if you don't have any cooling making my unit about $200. I am so impressed with it, I have a ranch and it is perfect. First time ever using one and pleasantly surprised how well they work. I think I am just leaving it in for the winter as you said PIA.

Otherwise I hang out in the basement. I still can't believe I bought a house without AC but I think I might be ok with after all. Being from a climate where AC is a requirement made it hard for me to realize I could live without it. And I hate being hot.

[N610DL]

When I lived in Denver I had a basement apartment unit that stayed pretty temperate year round. If anything, too hot in the winter and I would have to crack a window open.

During the summer, it stayed relatively cool. I had one fan in my bedroom pointed right at me and one in the living room that provided circulation. I sweat a lot and even then I was OK because the basement unit shielded me from the sun. But this was not this way for any of the other units in the building.

[alloo66]

What people haven't discussed is also installing radiant barriers in your roof that keep the heat out as well as solar screens. Attic fans help also by keeping your attic cooler.