Air Conditioning

[LC_Diva]

Re: Air Conditioning

There ain't no living in Florida without it.....

I hear ya! We leave ours on year round.

[rybread]

Re: Air Conditioning

This is going to make me sound like a huge brat, but when my husband and I were looking for a home, I absolutely refused to live in any place that did not have air conditioning. I'm ok with my car not having air conditioning (and it doesn't - neither does my husband's), but only because the wind through the windows when moving makes the heat bearable. [That and a/c is expensive to fix!]

When its too hot, I'm totally unproductive, become a slug, can barely bother to get up off the couch because its too darn hot, and nevermind getting up to cook. I end up hating being at home, which I don't like feeling, because my home is my sanctuary! I'm constantly sweaty, and so I feel ick/dirty all the time. The list goes on and on... I've lived in homes both with and without a/c, and I can safely say that I felt my quality of life was better when I wasn't constantly battling the heat. I certainly was more productive, and as a result felt better about life, anyway.

[Atkid]

Re: Air Conditioning

I just got my electric bill, and it's over $200. Grrrrrrrrrrrr stupid inefficient central air.

Yeah mine was 245. for July, can't wait to see the August bill.

[kkat55]

Re: Air Conditioning

This is going to make me sound like a huge brat, but when my husband and I were looking for a home, I absolutely refused to live in any place that did not have air conditioning. I'm ok with my car not having air conditioning (and it doesn't - neither does my husband's), but only because the wind through the windows when moving makes the heat bearable. [That and a/c is expensive to fix!]

When its too hot, I'm totally unproductive, become a slug, can barely bother to get up off the couch because its too darn hot, and nevermind getting up to cook. I end up hating being at home, which I don't like feeling, because my home is my sanctuary! I'm constantly sweaty, and so I feel ick/dirty all the time. The list goes on and on... I've lived in homes both with and without a/c, and I can safely say that I felt my quality of life was better when I wasn't constantly battling the heat. I certainly was more productive, and as a result felt better about life, anyway.

AMEN! Ours went out for about two weeks last July during a hot spell and I felt so angry EVERY day -- I can't stand sleeping when it is so hot and sticky!! Why bother taking a shower, getting dressed just to feel full of perspiration again (before you even walk out the door)!! Ugggh!!

I'm so glad it is working! I don't know how the old timers made it without the a/c.

My grandmother used to say that it didn't feel as hot back in her day (20's - 30's) and she felt it was due to all the cement and asphalt pulling the heat closer to the ground.

I think a/c is one of the BIGGEST things I'm thankful for!!

[kkat55]

Re: Air Conditioning

BTW, this is the first year that our bill didn't go over $200. The highest it has been this summer is $157.

My husband went through and checked all the vents (ductwork), found some holes, repaired them and it seems to be working a little better this year. We keep it at 85 degrees when no one is home, 78 degrees otherwise and at night I put it down to 75/76 degrees. By this time the 75/76 feels chilly and makes it nice snuggling under the covers!!

[Coop2004]

Re: Air Conditioning

[QUOTE=Jerzaka]I don't know how we survived as kids. Growing up, we didn't have air-conditioning. We had window fans.QUOTE]

You were lucky - we didn't even have any fans.

Now my parents have a unit installed in the living room. And my Aunt, who lives upstairs has several fans. I kinda feel guilty having central air, in a way. My mother will be 78 in two weeks, my aunt will be 80 on 8/26 and my father will be 79 in November. I called them up today, because we've been having temps hovering around 100 degrees for the last 2 or 3 days.

[Coop2004]

Re: Air Conditioning

We have central AC in our house. We also have fans circulating the air. My son has been spending his time dowstairs in the rec room/play room area. He complains it hot when he comes upstairs....now understand, it's about 74 upstairs with no humidity. I will have a sweater on at times up here, but he thinks it's hot since he's playing where it's in the mid 60's most of the day.

I'm a teacher and only the newest schools in our district have AC. The main school I was in did not have it. Our district hasn't closed because of extreme heat since I've been there. It would be nice if they did, but they don't.

We're lucky that our house (2 story French colonial) has 2 A/C and 2 heaters. When I'm in my computer room, I also have a floor fan going.

Growing up, none of our schools had A/C. I remember for 3 summers after graduating from High School, I was in a choral music program that was held in the middle school auditorium. Although the school was less than 10 years old at the time, there was no A/C. We didn't have time to memorize the music, so I had to wear my eyeglasses. The first summer, for the concert, I wore make-up that included foundation - BIG MISTAKE. At one point, my eyeglasses literally slid off my face and I was extremely lucky that I caught them before they fell to the ground!!

[Coop2004]

Re: Air Conditioning

I don't think that Yankees are prepared to handle summers like we have here! I know my relatives from upstate NY sure can't handle it when they come down for a visit!

I know that we get the opposite up here. One time, my FIL's sister came for a visit from Florida (she's lived there for at least 35-40 years) in November. It was really mild here in Jersey - didn't even need an over coat. She, however, was freezing!!

I remember going to Bermuda in January about 7 1/2 years ago. The temperature was in the low to mid 70's. The locals, however, were wearing coats.

Throughtout the year hear, in NJ, our temperatures can range anywhere from the teens and 20's (sometimes lower) in the winter to 80's and 90's in the summer. And the humidity can get pretty oppressive (I realize that is true elsewhere). This morning, when I took my dog out (about 5:45 a.m.) the temperature was already about 81 degrees and the heat index was about 90. It was stifling, to say the least.

[sadie147]

Re: Air Conditioning

I'm absolultely terrified of my next hydro bill.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Air Conditioning

I know that we get the opposite up here. One time, my FIL's sister came for a visit from Florida (she's lived there for at least 35-40 years) in November. It was really mild here in Jersey - didn't even need an over coat. She, however, was freezing!!

I remember going to Bermuda in January about 7 1/2 years ago. The temperature was in the low to mid 70's. The locals, however, were wearing coats.

Throughtout the year hear, in NJ, our temperatures can range anywhere from the teens and 20's (sometimes lower) in the winter to 80's and 90's in the summer. And the humidity can get pretty oppressive (I realize that is true elsewhere). This morning, when I took my dog out (about 5:45 a.m.) the temperature was already about 81 degrees and the heat index was about 90. It was stifling, to say the least.

Yep, that's what happens LOL. My relatives come down here in Late Nov and they're wearing shorts, flip flops and short sleeves, everyone else has on long pants, sweaters and shoes and socks! LOL If I went up there I'd be bundling up I'm sure! Its all in what you're used to! When I lived in Hawaii it got down to 69 one time in over 3 1/2 years, people were wearing winter coats, wool skirts and boots! LOL, I didn't eve think they owned that kind of clothing! But they thought it was freezing!

Isn't it horrible when its so hot so early in the a.m.? It was 77 when I got up this morning and by 8am it was 86 already! Ick!

[MotherOfGizmo]

Re: Air Conditioning

This is going to make me sound like a huge brat, but when my husband and I were looking for a home, I absolutely refused to live in any place that did not have air conditioning. I'm ok with my car not having air conditioning (and it doesn't - neither does my husband's), but only because the wind through the windows when moving makes the heat bearable. [That and a/c is expensive to fix!]

When its too hot, I'm totally unproductive, become a slug, can barely bother to get up off the couch because its too darn hot, and nevermind getting up to cook. I end up hating being at home, which I don't like feeling, because my home is my sanctuary! I'm constantly sweaty, and so I feel ick/dirty all the time. The list goes on and on... I've lived in homes both with and without a/c, and I can safely say that I felt my quality of life was better when I wasn't constantly battling the heat. I certainly was more productive, and as a result felt better about life, anyway.

I wouldn't live without it either! That's why I bring mine with me where ever we move!

[Atkid]

Re: Air Conditioning

Yeah mine was 245. for July, can't wait to see the August bill.

Okay just got my new bill, hit an all new high of $333. and it was through August 1st.

[ttdriver]

Re: Air Conditioning

Okay just got my new bill, hit an all new high of $333. and it was through August 1st.

OMG!!!! I was feeling sorry for myself at $219!!! But yanno, I look at it this way: Divorce would cost alot more than that ... no man could live with me if I didn't have AC!!!

Betty

[Coop2004]

Re: Air Conditioning

Yep, that's what happens LOL. My relatives come down here in Late Nov and they're wearing shorts, flip flops and short sleeves, everyone else has on long pants, sweaters and shoes and socks! LOL If I went up there I'd be bundling up I'm sure! Its all in what you're used to! When I lived in Hawaii it got down to 69 one time in over 3 1/2 years, people were wearing winter coats, wool skirts and boots! LOL, I didn't eve think they owned that kind of clothing! But they thought it was freezing!

Isn't it horrible when its so hot so early in the a.m.? It was 77 when I got up this morning and by 8am it was 86 already! Ick!

We have friends in Florida (they used to live in NJ up until about 35 years ago). I believe it was the beginning of last summer that the temperatures during the day were in the low - mid 70's. They said the had to turn the heat on.

I say it's all relative (i.e. what you're used to).

[Coop2004]

Re: Air Conditioning

I can't stand sleeping when it is so hot and sticky!! Why bother taking a shower, getting dressed just to feel full of perspiration again (before you even walk out the door)!! Ugggh!!

And if you blow dry your hair, like I do, forget about it!!

I remember in the house we owned before our current one, we had no central air. We had a couple of window units, but because my husband gets real sick with them (window units), we didn't have one in our bedroom. We had two windows behind our headboard and one window on the side that I slept on. It was around July 4th, about 3 a.m. Monday morning and I'm laying there sweltering. All of a sudden two cars crashed at a nearby intersection and I believe that it was the drivers got out of their cars and starting cursing at the top of their lungs, using the "f" word, etc. My husband woke up and we both just stayed there!! I'm sure that the heat didn't help the situation!!