Living without AC. Any ideas?

A lot depends on where you live. Not only general climate of your area but if your house has shade trees or bodies of water nearby and what kind of materials the dwelling made from.

i've lived in dryer climates most of time since 1994. My current house is 160+ yrs old and mixed construction (some wood, some adobe & stucco. The walls are a foot thick. In the summer we usually have a window open on each side of house unless rain coming in that (usually only brief hard t-storm rains in evening, during summer). The cross breeze and fans kept us quite comfortable till this year. We've just had 10-14 days of high nineties and getting below 60 only briefly just before sunrise.

The tips in post #1 work well i've used all but the swamp cooler. The Motel Daughter manages uses them tho and they work so well most folks think it's AC.

Thankfully a wind blew in some cooler air last night and it's barely 81F at 12:12 p.m. Long range forecast shows return to 90s tomorrow, but then only high 80s next weekend. Hoping it's right.
 

JustBonee said:
Life w/o A/C would be a death sentence around here this summer! .... I have Central A/C, ceiling fans in three rooms, oscillating floor fan, and an extra box fan.
.... also a large dehumidifier, that runs in tandem with the A/C unit. (All this in a 790 sq. ft. apartment)



Has anyone tried the cooling mattress toppers or electric chill blankets?


For cooling options, there are many, and they even make wonderful cooling pads for pets too.
They work very well. Bear sleeps on his some nights, and then goes to his regular bed when it feels too cold.
Click to expand...
Good to know cooling mattress toppers are available for pets too. Bonnie, if I didn't have central air and de-humidifier, I would be buying cooling toppers, asap.
 
Most of our ideas depend on unlimited electricity. There's been a lot of talk about the vulnerability of the electric grid in the US in the last few years. How would we stay cool (or do anything else) without it?
 
average-temperature-united-states-of-america-san-jose-california-us-fahrenheit.png


https://www.amazon.com/Ambient-Weat...ermo-Hygrometer/dp/B00FX8ZGOO?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I live in the San Jose area in a 70s era community of two-story 4-plexes with mediocre wall insulation. Have not used AC for over 2 decades and would cost me over $2k to replace my broken unit due to no longer usable Freon coolant issues. My 2-story unit faces west so does not receive any sun on walls till mid afternoon. Unfortunate folks with an adjacent south facing unit is much hotter so their AC bill must be horrendous. I also have one of the above $58 Ambient Weather WS-10 systems, an RF wireless Indoor/Outdoor 8-Channel Thermo-Hygrometer with Three Remote Sensors that helps understand indoor temps in different rooms and just outside my front door.

Average summer temps in our area are somewhat moderated by the Pacific Ocean. Hottest days rarely 3 digits. What I do to bring indoor temperatures lower most days during summer is open some windows both up and downstairs in the evening and especially at sunrise when temperatures are coolest, also open my front door. Thus cool air flows in through the front door screen and pushes the warmer light air out of upstairs bedroom windows. Such air stratifies, so sometimes also will use a fan to mix air and help push air up my indoor stairs. Of course, during warm days, also keep unnecessary appliances and lighting off. Whenever I leave for minor periods, will turn off my two 24 inch PC monitors. On really hot days, also have some cardboard sheets I can place against glass of the inside of 2 west facing windows that tend to warm up most.

As an example, yesterday's high was 92F and indoors when I returned at 7pm from a day in San Francisco, downstair's indoor temperatures had risen from 70F to 79F. This morning downstairs was 73F. Opening windows and front door brought that down to 68F but now at 11:30am PDT temp is 73F while outside is already 83F. Temperatures will rise from balancing of radiation heating of indoor solid objects that never change as quickly as air.
 
Having just gone without air conditioning for 3 days a couple of weeks ago, my solution was to go sleep in the neighbor's guest room. Of course, you have to be friends with the neighbor....LOL.

The first "air conditioning system" was at a yellow fever hospital here in Florida where they hung baskets of ice under ceiling fans.

As for showers, tepid-to-warm showers are best, surprisingly. Cold showers constrict the blood vessels, thus holding in heat. Warm showers dilate the veins, releasing heat.
 
I don't like A/C in my apt I have 2 Vornado whole room air circulator fans. One in my living room,the other in my bedroom
They certainly help on hot,humid summer days
I bought them in a catalalog 'Whatever Works' they cost around $50, I've been using them for past couple of yrs
A couple of years ago I bought one at local Home Depot
 
When I was young and first married, we had a new apartment that had a "whole house fan". It was in the ceiling over the stairwell. That thing opened up and sucked everything, all hot air, cigarette smoke, cooking odors, everything; out of the house. I worried it would suck the blinds off the windows!
:ROFLMAO:

My friends had them too, in their single residence homes. I wonder what happened to them.
 
Before we had an air conditioner, I installed a whole house fan in the attic. When turned on, it sucked air out of the house and blew it out the attic vents. Outside air would blow in through any open window. It worked well in the evenings.

It's still up there and still works. I only use it now if I want to clear the air in the house for some reason, like smoke in the kitchen.
 
During the warmest part of the summer, I open 5 windows and put box fans in 3 in the evening. That only works if the temps fall below 70 at night. In the morning I shut the windows and close the blinds. I also have ceiling fans in most rooms. I run the one in my bedroom, also. All that fan use made my electric bill shoot up to almost $35 last month.
 
Grampa Don said:
Before we had an air conditioner, I installed a whole house fan in the attic. When turned on, it sucked air out of the house and blew it out the attic vents. Outside air would blow in through any open window. It worked well in the evenings.

It's still up there and still works. I only use it now if I want to clear the air in the house for some reason, like smoke in the kitchen.
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Don, I wish I had one, even tho' I quit smoking long ago and never deep fry food..... sometimes I just want to change the air entirely.
 
Several good ideas were posted here already.
Some of my ideas:
1) If you have a basement, use it, because they tend to be cooler than the rest of the house.
2) Also, wet some clothing and wear it (water tends to be cool).
3) Visit malls and libraries where it's cool
4) Use a fan or get a small a/c unit
5) Keep windows closed and curtained (to keep hot air/sun out).
 
Myrtle said:
Most of our ideas depend on unlimited electricity. There's been a lot of talk about the vulnerability of the electric grid in the US in the last few years. How would we stay cool (or do anything else) without it?
Click to expand...
That's true @Myrtle and it frightens me. Too many of us and too hot. The smart or lucky ones should have their own generators. I think it's a necessity now, or at least very soon. :(
 
Gaer said:
Take several icy cold showers during the day and get a little spray bottle filled with cold water to spritz on yourself.
Click to expand...

Cold water closes your pores, helping your body to retain heat and get warmer.
Having one slightly warm shower and wearing less clothes would be better.

I never use a/c, didn't use it in Los Angeles, nor in Tucson, and have never used it here either.
Barefoot and walking shorts, nothing else, works quite well when it's hot, including when it got up to 112 outside.

A couple of decades ago I stapled radiant barrier foil to the underside of the attic rafters, including the garage.
It used to get up to 130 right under the rafters, but no more, and now the inside temperature rarely gets above 80.
 
moviequeen1 said:
I don't like A/C in my apt I have 2 Vornado whole room air circulator fans. One in my living room,the other in my bedroom
They certainly help on hot,humid summer days
I bought them in a catalalog 'Whatever Works' they cost around $50, I've been using them for past couple of yrs
A couple of years ago I bought one at local Home Depot
Click to expand...
@moviequeen1 , this is interesting. Never heard of these before,

https://www.vornado.com/shop/circulators-fans/transom-window-air-circulator
 
I grew up with AC so never tried to live without it. It's a must in summer where I live. By the seventies even cars were air conditioned so I have little to add on how to help anyone without AC but if your car has it go for a drive. Also I have a neighbor who uses an ice towel for the back of her neck. It's something professional athletes use and it's more like a small pack rather than an actual tower but it does keep a person very cool AC or not.
 
No AC Here... !!!
Keep your windows, doors, and drapes shut until late in the day. This will help keep the warm air out
Install blackout curtains, especially on south-facing windows. These curtains are made with a thicker backing to help keep sunlight and heat out. Some are made with a plastic backing. If you don’t want to use that, go to a fabric store and buy some cotton quilt backing. It’s thicker than most other fabrics and will have the same effect.


Open windows and doors (with screens) in the evening and night time. Most areas cool down at night and there are nice cool evening breezes. While the humidity may be higher, the cool air will offset any discomfort.

Fans are an indispensable item in the summer. Along with ceiling fans, they get the air moving. Choose from box fans, oscillating fans, or small desk fans. They all work in much the same way.


If you have central air and heat, you may be able to pull cool air from your basement. Check for a “fan-only” option on your thermostat. If the basement has a mildewy odor, add a few drops of essential oil (like lavender) on the filter. It will help kill mildew spores, the number one cause of “basement” smell.
Having trouble sleeping at night because of the heat? Go with all-cotton sheets. I use flannel sheets even in the summer. The top sheet doubles as a really light blanket.
Your blankets should also be made of cotton. If nothing else, use a thin cotton blanket closest to your body, and blankets made from other materials on top of that.
Dress in cotton nightclothes to keep cooler at night. I sleep in a cotton tank and shorts, and it’s very comfortable.
You can put a plastic bag filled with ice under the sheets at the foot of your bed. It can cause a lot of dampness unless wrapped well. I made a pouch from diaper cloth, the kind that has a plastic coating on one side to keep it waterproof. I try to avoid plastics, but since I won’t be wearing it or eating from it, I made an exception.

Water & Ice​

Consider a misting personal cooling fan. You can find rechargeable options or simpler versions like this spray bottle with a small battery-operated fan attached to it.
Damp towels in doorways work well to help hot, dry air become cooler. If you’re trying to keep humidity out, this probably won’t work for you. I raised rabbits in high school and when it got really hot, we put wet towels over the hutches to keep them cool.
Pour some ice water into a basin and soak your feet. Your feet help regulate body temperature, so cooling them off will help the rest of your body cool off.

https://diynatural.com/no-ac-in-house/​

 
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Grampa Don said:
Before we had an air conditioner, I installed a whole house fan in the attic. When turned on, it sucked air out of the house and blew it out the attic vents. Outside air would blow in through any open window. It worked well in the evenings.

It's still up there and still works. I only use it now if I want to clear the air in the house for some reason, like smoke in the kitchen.
Click to expand...
You don't ever want to turn one of those on when you have a fire in the fireplace. Ask me how I know that........
 
John cycling said:
Cold water closes your pores, helping your body to retain heat and get warmer.
Having one slightly warm shower and wearing less clothes would be better.

I never use a/c, didn't use it in Los Angeles, nor in Tucson, and have never used it here either.
Barefoot and walking shorts, nothing else, works quite well when it's hot, including when it got up to 112 outside.

A couple of decades ago I stapled radiant barrier foil to the underside of the attic rafters, including the garage.
It used to get up to 130 right under the rafters, but no more, and now the inside temperature rarely gets above 80.
Click to expand...
Thanks! I didn't know that! Good to know!
 
Pinky said:
If you don't have central a/c, there are numerous room a/c's to be had. I've seen them on Amazon.
https://www.homedepot.com/b/Heating...ioners-Portable-Air-Conditioners/N-5yc1vZc4m4
Click to expand...
These only really help if they have a means to bring outside air in as well as blow hot air out. Some have two hoses for that purpose.
Here's a detailed explanation if you are interested as to why.

I have one under the work bench in my hobby room in the garage. It works well because I made ports in the wall to supply outside air to the condenser and exhaust the heated air.
 

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