Do you have AC in your house/apt?

[pinkytoe]

It seems like every year here the heat here starts earlier and lasts longer. We talk about getting min-splits or adding central air to the heat but DH always says he doesn't want to spend the money for only six weeks of very unpleasant warmth. And it might require upgrading the electrical panel. And because we may not stay here too much longer. Maybe people have just gotten accustomed to being comfortable since everything is climate controlled now but once upon a time, no one here had AC except for very hot cities. Now it seems much of the country does. Its not too bad if we don't move around much, sleep in the basement and have fans going all the time but still weighing pros and cons. My neighbor who doesn't have AC actually sleeps outside at night since it is so much cooler at night.

[Tradd]

Hell, yes. I grew up with ac in the Detroit area. I think it was installed early 70s. Only happened as my father’s sister’s husband at the time was a hvac guy and it was a lot less expensive due to that.

I have central ac in my little rented condo. The last time I didn’t have ac was in the first apartment here in the Chicago area where I lived 1996-98. Little basement apartment in a three flat.

[iris lilies]

Yes, we have a C in our Hermann house, although it doesn’t do a good job for the second floor, which is slope ceiling.


We have a mini split in the sunroom there.


In our condo, we have a window air conditioner in the bedroom which is marginally effective. I’m at the condo and it’s 92° out and it’s ok.

[Rogar]

I got central air conditioning for the first time maybe ten years ago, and haven't looked back. I had to upgrade the electrical, too. Part of the expense I justified by thinking it would increase the resale value. And it turns out I've lived here longer than I had planned. I explored the ways to work around without it and it just makes life more pleasant. Before retiring I was home less and in the hot hours of the day, so it seemed like it was less important. One thing, you can use the oven or otherwise heat up the kitchen without heating up the house as much

[befree]

I would get a second job to pay for the air conditioning in my house. Of course, I live in Texas. Would your husband be okay with a window unit in the bedroom for those 6-8 weeks of the year? It increases your electricity costs - but, like I say, I think it's worth it. It's really tough to sleep when it's too hot.

[catherine]

We didn't have one for the first 5 years living here in Vermont but when we got the heat pump to replace our baseboard heaters, the AC came with it. We love it.I try to use the AC only when I get to the severely uncomfortable point. So far this year we've had it on 3 days.

[bae]

Nope, but I live in the Pacific Northwest in a very temperate climate.

Heck, I was using the woodstove just a week ago for heat.

[ToomuchStuff]

In my old house, no. Had a unit, but everytime I went to get it installed, whoever was going to help me, had issues (several medical, other issues as well).

[rosarugosa]

We have a window unit on the first floor, and one of those portable units on the second floor. Our house is only about 900 SF, so with those 2 units and a few fans, we can keep things tolerable indoors.
Catherine, that's the same for us; we've run our a/c 3 days this year. I plan to track our usage this year.
We have been thinking about installing a/c, either mini-split or something like the Unico system, but I'm not sure we can justify the cost. As DH gets older, handling that window unit seems more burdensome, but I also hate all the floorspace the portable units take up. I'm certainly grateful for them on the hideously hot and humid days though. For most of our lives, we got by with just fans.

[Tybee]

We have a window unit in our bedroom and are contemplating getting one for the kitchen and one for husband's office.