Air Conditioning?

[Rachel]

Originally posted by Logan
Those of you who aren't running your AC, do you keep your windows open instead? I think I would feel so stuffy with no AC and no open windows?

It really depends. If it cools off at night, we would open our windows to let in the fresh air then, and then close the house up again in the morning before it starts to heat up outside. We also have a *whole house fan* which once the temperature drops out side, will bring in the cool air very quickly.

On those occasions when the heat continues through the night, we would not do that and do use the AC. If we didn't have AC at all, and had a continued hot spell where it doesn't cool off during the night, I would definitely keep the windows open.

Actually for your keeping your ac on regularly, I would have expected your utility bill to be quite a bit higher than what you indicated.

[Pam]

Originally posted by Logan
My average utility bill in the summer (for electricity only) is about $160/mth

Logan I am heading to South Carolina!! Our bill last month, just for electric, was $242 and we haven't even gotten into the real hot stuff! Our bill tends to be higher than our neighbors' and the only thing that we have differently is 3 computers constantly running and 2 large fish tanks.

[Kfamr]

You guys try living in Florida with no AC!

[sirrahbed]

whew! I am with Rachel and glad *somebody* mentioned co$t as that is what was on my mind! I hate heat and love cool but I also pay the bills and see those numbers!! We have a thermostat war here all the time. I walk by about set it to 74. Hubby walks by and sets it down to 70. Back and forth! This month the electric only was $200. Next two months will be well over that!
Oh well I guess I should just give up and enjoy the cool!

In the winter, we rarely even run the heat - just use the buckstove and then the blowers on the fan to circulate that good heat

[Logan]

I will say one thing about my power bill. If I were having to use the upstairs unit, constantly, my bill would be double what it is, probably. I have been pleasantly surprised this summer that our bills have been as low as they are, but I know it is because when the children aren't here, I'm not cooling those 3 upstairs bedrooms. It makes a huge difference. All that changes, starting Sunday, when Helen will be back home for an indefinite period of time. It will be SO worth it, though, to have her back here!!!!

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by sirrahbed

In the winter, we rarely even run the heat - just use the buckstove and then the blowers on the fan to circulate that good heat

Now that's something I don't like. Using the heat. It makes the house so digustingly hot and muggy.

I usually open my window for some fresh air if my parents turn the heat on.

The thing is, it's usually not as warm in the rest of the house as it is in my room. The cold air and the hot air go to my room FIRST. So I get the coldest air, and I get the warmest. So not only is it disgudtingly hot throughout the whole house, it's burning in mine!

[FizzGiggs_Mommy]

My A/C is set a 66 the lowest it will go. Some mornings I have to wear a sweatshirt because it is so cold in the house.

[Toby's Mommy]

I like it at about 73. We just got it fixed yesterday so 73 is heaven it used to be 85 in the house and like 83 outside! I asked my mom yesterday why we don't have it on 65 and she said it is so hot out that you can have a heartattack from going from so cold to hot in a short time.

[sirrahbed]

Originally posted by Kfamr
Now that's something I don't like. Using the heat. It makes the house so digustingly hot and muggy.

I am with you here Kay! Fake heat feels terrible - though I find it very dry and get nosebleeds!! I would much rather bundle up and breathe the cold air - makes you sleep so much better! The buckstove just knocks the edge off of the really frosty days in the center of the house while the bedrooms remain cold. I love it that way. Saves $$ too! Well, wood fuel is not cheap but we usually scrounge it in the spring when folks are topping and thinning trees and age it ourselves.

[Samantha Puppy]

I prefer our AC to be between 72 - 78, depending on the type of day it is outside. Eventually, I think my husband would like to get a "smart" thermostat that you can program, like to turn the AC to 78 when you're gone at work to save money but that you can program to go down to 73 at 4:30pm so it's nice and cool when you get home.

[Kfamr]

Originally posted by sirrahbed
Fake heat feels terrible - though I find it very dry and get nosebleeds!!

Same here! My nose gets all screwy when the heat is on.

[popcornbird]

Logan, when our A/C is off, we normally have all the windows open. It would get too stuffy in the house if everything was closed. Of course, opening the windows would only make the house hotter if its a hot day, but when its too hot to open the windows, we always have the A/C running.

During the winter, everyone in the family keeps changing the heater settings. We all hate how the heater makes the house so dry, but it gets way too cold when its off too. We usually resort to wearing warm clothing, and having the coldest house in the city.

[Kona & Oreo's mom]

When I get home in the afternoon and evening, I set the AC on to 78, which feels very cool compared to the outside temp. At night, it's cool enough just to use a fan (no AC).