Summer temps, air conditioning and what to expect...

[Coolair]

Originally Posted by TheOrca

I used AC this summer

In NYC the air conditioning is a necessity. Still on it and no open windows.

[Podo944]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

C'mon,people! Instead of portables, window-units or fans (inadequate), take advantage of the NW's cheap electricity, and just get a combo furnace/AC unit. If your furnace is old, you can get a more efficient and compact one that combines with A/C to fit in the same space as the old furnace. It's more expensive at the outset, but your monthly bills will be lower than with a window unit or two. Window units consume a lot more electricity than central A/C.

And if you have a new house with an efficient furnace, I don't know what your best options would be for adding central A/C. Check with a heating/cooling specialist. Central A/C is bliss!
.

Sadly our apartment complex only allow portables. No window units allowed which would really help on space saving in this tiny apartment.

If we settle here and buy a house, central air would be something we'd like for sure.

[Podo944]

HEY!! I thought it was supposed to start cooling down in September! Not heating up!! Lol!!

So glad we bought that second portable!

[RocketDawg]

It's funny how different parts of the country are. Here, you'd be hard-pressed to find a home without central heating and cooling. It gets hot in the summer, and lasts a long time, but the worst part is the accompanying humidity. I grew up in a similar climate, without AC, but I can't imagine doing it now.

[Podo944]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

It's funny how different parts of the country are. Here, you'd be hard-pressed to find a home without central heating and cooling. It gets hot in the summer, and lasts a long time, but the worst part is the accompanying humidity. I grew up in a similar climate, without AC, but I can't imagine doing it now.

Yeah, I hear down south, they call it life support!

[Botev1912]

I have been using the AC almost every afternoon and evening in the last 40 days.

[texasdiver]

Originally Posted by RocketDawg

It's funny how different parts of the country are. Here, you'd be hard-pressed to find a home without central heating and cooling. It gets hot in the summer, and lasts a long time, but the worst part is the accompanying humidity. I grew up in a similar climate, without AC, but I can't imagine doing it now.

The big difference is here in the Pacific Northwest even when it gets hot during the day, it cools way down at night. So you can just open your windows at night and let the cool air in. Then close them in the morning or noon before it starts to get hot and your house will stay reasonably cool all day if it is decently insulated. Today, for example, the high was about 90, but the low tonight is forecast to be 55 degrees at 3 am. and it won't break 70 degrees until 11 am tomorrow. I can open my windows at night and cool the house down to the 60s with some good ventilation and it won't start to heat back up until tomorrow afternoon. And if I close the windows it won't really get that hot.

You can't possibly do that in the south. When we lived in TX it was often still in the 80s during the night after hitting 100-105 every day. You just have to keep the AC running 24/7 to keep the house liveable.

We also tend to have more shade here with lots of big trees, and the sun is lower on the horizon due to the higher latitude. So the houses tend to get less direct sun and radiant energy than in your part of the country where it is directly overhead for longer in the day.

[Botev1912]

Originally Posted by texasdiver

The big difference is here in the Pacific Northwest even when it gets hot during the day, it cools way down at night. So you can just open your windows at night and let the cool air in. Then close them in the morning or noon before it starts to get hot and your house will stay reasonably cool all day if it is decently insulated. Today, for example, the high was about 90, but the low tonight is forecast to be 55 degrees at 3 am. and it won't break 70 degrees until 11 am tomorrow. I can open my windows at night and cool the house down to the 60s with some good ventilation and it won't start to heat back up until tomorrow afternoon. And if I close the windows it won't really get that hot.

You can't possibly do that in the south. When we lived in TX it was often still in the 80s during the night after hitting 100-105 every day. You just have to keep the AC running 24/7 to keep the house liveable.

We also tend to have more shade here with lots of big trees, and the sun is lower on the horizon due to the higher latitude. So the houses tend to get less direct sun and radiant energy than in your part of the country where it is directly overhead for longer in the day.

That doesn't work if you live in a newer neighborhood without big trees (which I prefer because of more natural light). The house does not cool down at all until 5 am, so AC is a must during these hot days. Actually I have been using the AC a lot since mid July.

[SusVelo]

I run the air probably as much as anyone as I run hot and I like it cool, and I'm still amazed at how low my electricity bill is compared to hot places I've liked Utah.