Air conditioning in Spokane (South Hill: rental, houses, neighborhood)

[Shaydizzle]

I am moving to Spokane in a couple of weeks. I've been tracking the weather for months and have noticed that the vast majority of high temperatures this summer have been 90+. My house does not currently have air conditioning but my realtor told me it could be installed fairly easily. Obviously I know were headed into the cooler season so I won't do it right away but should I plan to install a/c next spring? How do most people cool their houses?

[WendyK]

Depends on the size of the house. Many of the newer, larger homes have central AC installed. Smaller, older homes that didn't originally have central AC will have wall or window AC units, and more recently the portable units have become popular. Some people don't use any type of AC during the summer but it's pretty uncomfortable. If you have a forced air furnace, you can probably add central AC and you'll appreciate having it during the summer.

[wiseguy15]

I would definitely get AC installed and do it now, do not wait until Spring. Prices are lower this time of year on AC, wait until the weather warms up in the Spring and you will pay more. And get it done before the weather turns cold and HVAC people are busy tending to people with furnace problems that surface when they first start up their systems.


I am 30 minutes away in Coeur d'Alene and when I contemplated moving to this area I thought I could do without AC but I was surprised at how many homes here have it. Glad I have it as we have had a lot of hot days this summer, life is too short to sweat it out.

[mistyriver]

I live on the South Hill and when we were initially looking at houses we really wanted a beautiful old home. Till we realized that it would be a major hassle to install AC with non forced air heating systems in the old homes.

We ended up in a beautiful old neighborhood in the Rockwood area with a newer home and immediately put in AC. Best decision ever. I have no idea how the previous owners managed without it given the soaring ceilings and huge windows in this house.
We did it in October and as Wiseguy says it was a great move to have it done at that time of year.

My daughter also lives on the SH in the Comstock neighborhood and since they were replacing their 1940 furnace they went ahead and also installed central AC, also in fall.

[Upthewazzu]

I don't live in Spokane, but I live nearby. When we were building our house in 2009, the builder had an option for installing A/C for something like $3k. It was a no-brainer, especially since our house is a two-story. Others folks in our neighborhood chose not to install A/C, and I can't imagine the last few summers having been anything less than completely miserable for them. As for your realtors advice, I'd HIGHLY recommend you verify just how "easy" it is to retrofit an existing house with A/C. The realtor isn't the one ponying up the cash to have it installed.

For reference, it was 102° here yesterday.

[Shaydizzle]

Thank you everyone for your responses! The house is located on South Hill and does have central gas forced air furnace. Thank you also for the tips of having it done in fall. Sounds like we'll need to make that a priority asap.

[mistyriver]

Originally Posted by Shaydizzle

Thank you everyone for your responses! The house is located on South Hill and does have central gas forced air furnace. Thank you also for the tips of having it done in fall. Sounds like we'll need to make that a priority asap.

Welcome to the neighborhood! I hope you love it as much as we do.

[PS90]

Just for perspective, we are still living in a rental house while our house is being built. When we moved in 5 years ago, the house has no A/C, and the landlord mentioned that we "shouldn't wish for A/C here for more than 1 or 2 days per year".

Now, here it is, and 3 of the last 4 years have needed A/C for at least 2 or 3 WEEKS per year. This year, it's been 84 degrees or hotter in the house almost every day since early July. And that's with 2 portable A/C's.

So, the moral of the story - DEFINITELY get central A/C.

[tickyul]

Spokane can get quiet roasty.....I think AC is kinda necessary in the area.

I didn't mind the heat in Spokane during the day, but usually turned-on he AC before bed to cool thing down.

[Boxkicker]