this post was submitted on 23 Nov 2024
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So just wondering, how do you guys keep cool during the hot days (especially when it's in the 40s) without A/C?
It's been so long at this point since I lived in the country without A/C that I've kind of forgotten how to do the do. I don't pay the power bill, so at the moment I have pretty much zero hesitation about turning the air con on the night before hot days to keep the house cool. But once I move, I will start paying for my own utilities, and in any case, the house doesn't have a splitty or anything, just a single gas heater in the living room
The only thing that's coming to mind is a wet towel draped over a pedestal fan or two. I'd prefer not to buy one of those portable ones with the pipe that goes out the window because in my experience they usually just end up heating the space it's in, with the only cooling being the air it blows out (mike used to radiate heat out the sides like mad). And I'm a bit concerned with energy efficiency
I have a very old air con so I only put it on for days like yesterday. I look at the weather ahead of time. Do everything in the cooler days. Exert no sudden moves on the hot days.
Go full sloth mode, ay?
Yes
I lived without cooling for a long time. You can have icypoles or freeze a little water in the bottom of your water bottle so it stays cold.
Also you can wring out a T-shirt or a bandana in cool water and put it on. The water will pull heat out of you. When it gets warm rewring it with cool water.
Watch your environment too - if there are any windows that face the sun that will heat up that room and probably the rest of the house. Closing the blinds helps but putting cheap blackout curtains over that is another barrier to keep the house cooler. Taping foil over the windows looks bad but that really helps a lot.
Also if it gets cooler overnight let the cool air flow through by opening two opposite windows/doors in whatever way is safest. Then once cool seal up the house before morning and keep the hot sun/outside air out.
ZOOPER DOOPERS β₯οΈβ₯οΈβ₯οΈ
We couldn't afford them when I was young. I'm going to indulge on behalf of past me
I'm not sure I'll be able to safely leave the windows open, as they're all outwards opening and open from the bottom. You could probably get in relatively easy, as it's all ground level. But while I'm awake it should be right
I keep the screen doors locked with the wooden doors cracked
As someone whoβs kind of done it all and lived mostly without airconβ¦ What I have found helpful:
Iβve had portable units from evaporators to vented aircons. The cool air from a portable aircon is an amazing, but my unit was noisy as all hell and made it hard to sleep.
Thanks Llab! Super helpful, especially the foam mattress idea. I don't know why I've never thought of that. Lounge rooms in my experience are often the only places air conditioned, so sleeping out there makes sense. And a foam mattress is certainly a lot more comfortable than the couch!
And I actually can't sleep without the sound of a fan on. I pretty much have a fan running 24/7, although these days I use an air purifier rather than a fan. When I go to hotels, I play white noise if there isn't a fan
be active in the early morning and evening, rest during the day
take a tepid shower, dress cool and loose
Oh yeah, you've just reminded me, when we lived in the country, we used to wet our heads under cold water and sleep with a wet pillowcase or towel on our neck/head. We had a long hair cat for a while, and on the super hot days we used to give it a bath in lukewarm water to stop it from getting too hot
I rub the cats down with ice cubes. Some like this more than others. Have you got any of those first aid hot/cold gel things? A frozen one of those on your head or neck looks dorky but feels amazing.
No first aid kit as yet, but once I settle in and have the super essentials sorted, I'll buy a fire extinguisher and first aid kit
May I recommend a super basic sewing kit too? You'll save a shit ton of money if you can do basic clothing repairs. And a hammer.
And a pair of pliers.
A cheap tool set would cover a lot of bases and provide a storage box
Pretty sure he builds computers, so that and screwdrivers are likely covered already
Thereβs a couple of things not involved with computers that are a PITA to not have when needed. (If he doesnβt.)
The $21 one looks good for bare minimum and would probably be enough to handle IKEA furniture. But I got the $55 one to have tape measure, needle nose pliers, socket set etc. Just to avoid suddenly needing something later then having it float around loose.
A nice array, (the tools are rubbish, but that's not the point right now) 100% want a shifter.
Yeah, theyβre not great quality but good to have for infrequent use. Covers the bases
No splitty is gonna suck :( I would do everything you can to reduce humidity. Get a squeegee for the shower, shower early in the morning, do clothes drying and automatic dishwashing the day before if possible. Fill up ice trays for smoothies and iced coffee too.
I think one of the most underrated things about living by myself is having cold water always available in the fridge, and ice cubes always available, too. At the last place we did have a water jug in the fridge and many ice cubes trays, but nobody gave a shit and would never replenish what they use. It fucking sucked on hot days
Not answering your question with this but I just want to say again how excited I am that you're moving out to your own digs π Having nobody fuck with your pantry and fridge items is THE BEST
THANK YOU! It really is! I've been by myself for quite a few months now, so it's not super new, but it'll be great to know that people can't mess with my home environment anymore
(Side note: the new house is in what I reckon is a better area. My current area is very posh, but there's not really anything to be walked to. There is a small supermarket within walking distance, but it's 15 minutes up a steep hill. There's also a yuppy cafe, but they charge $6 for coffee and $12 for a croissant. This new area has a train station, bus stop, library, like 10 indian restaurants, a pharmacy, etc etc all within a 10 minute walk)
Oooh this is all coming up Baku! New place defo sounds way more useful for you and in case the house gets hot or uncomfortable or whatever you've got plenty of other good places to hang out at and explore, this is excellent. Posh area only sounds nicer if you have a bougie house and a car. Yay!!
Ohhhh good point, I can always duck down to the library on uber hot days! I think it's open on weekends, too!
Agree on the bougie areas. Unfortunately I don't drive/have a car, and we probably have the worst house in the suburb (through decades of lack of adequate maintenance, it's pretty much falling down and half the wood's rotted at this point)
Also, it's just very sterile. Most of the houses are white double decker things, most of the cars are white, and most of the people here are very up themselves with a ton of inherited wealth and property. It's been an interesting experience to live with maybe the 10%, but I think I got in far better with the less pure feeling area I'm moving to
Oh lord I know the kind of suburb you're talking about. Ugh. It's time for you to truly experience society and life as an independent human, on your own terms, not just one stuck under care. This new suburb sounds like it's much better suited for that
Definitely make use of free air-conditioning as much as you can on the hot days! If a hot day falls on cheap movie night and there's a cinema nearby, that's a nice option too.
All the best with the move, keep us updated! We've missed having you around here
β₯οΈ
If it's not too humid then you can go a long way by shutting down windows/doors/blinds during the day and opening up in the dead of night. I used to have a little portable evap cooler - a fan with a water reservior. Pop some ice water in that and sit in front and it can make everything bearable. No idea what they cost these days (I think we got ours as a hand me down anyway).
If it's hot and humid (less likely down here but lately I have noticed it more and more), normal fan and open windows is key -get that air moving. And embrace the siesta!
Thanks! I avoid opening the windows here because we don't have fly screens, and I'd rather be a bit stuffy than deal with bugs and creepy crawlies. The new place doesn't either, but I'm definitely going to buy those removable sticky tape ones. Unfortunately outwards opening windows does mean that I can only really put them inside, which'll look funky, but eh
The PO has flyscreens that work off magnetic tape and can be cut to size. Basically you outline the window frame with one half of the tape, then the flyscreen just sticks to the tape. Easily removable too. I've got these on my windows now, and I recommend.
Can i ask which brand? Will need this for my current place as well - flyscreens on kitchen and bathroom windows but not the lounge and bedroom weirdly enough.
Called "Magic Mesh" Magnetic Window Screen. Pack of 1 window costs about $15. Fits windows up to 139.7 by 91.4 cm size. No tools required except for scissors. Fits on wood, aluminium and vinyl window frames.
Bewdy. Thanks for that, saved on my to do list. Nothing like an endorsement from the Witch to save me from the sea of similar products out there with wildly varying reviews.