I am having a hard time keeping my apartment cool with the AC?
Question:I have a 2 story loft apartment on the 3rd floor, my bedroom has cathedral ceilings that go up about 16 feet. I am having a hard time keeping it cold without my electric bill going through the roof. Any suggestions on how I would keep it cool?
Thanks
Answers:
Your real problem is that you're on the 3rd floor, and all the heat from the building below you is rising into YOUR apartment. You should be thankful for that cathedral ceiling--all the heat in your apartment is rising into that space.
Yes, ceiling fans are a great idea--but apparently you're renting? So it's up to the landlord to install them. If s/he does so, get one in every room s/he's willing to install them. Then make sure you understand how to switch the direction of the blades so that they're pulling the cold air from the floor UP, not pushing down the hot air from the ceiling.
If ceiling fans are out, go out and invest in some cheap table fans and/or floor fans. A couple of powerful (expensive) ones would work well; so would more numerous, smaller (cheaper) fans. Get some that oscillate, some that don't. Keeping the air moving around you, especially moving the cold air on the floor, will help you feel a lot cooler. In fact, if the outside temp is conducive to it, turn off your AC, open your windows and turn on your fans.
Remember, you don't really need to keep the apartment cool--you need to keep YOURSELF cool! That's actually a lot easier than cooling off a huge space.
So, a trick I used for many years: Keep your hair/head wet. As long as you don't have to look fabulous, just go dunk your head under the tap until your hair is thoroughly soaked. Towel it dry just enough that it isn't dripping all over the place--otherwise, let it keep your shoulders/back damp. You'll be amazed how much cooler you'll feel. A related trick: keep a glass of ice water at your side all the time. Stuff the glass with ice, add as much water as it will take, and keep sipping at it, all day long. Much cooler!
Keep your blinds or curatins closed during the day..that should help a great deal.
A ceiling fan would help to feel cooler by moving the dryer cooled air around. Good luck! ;-)=
hmm... those upper apts do get rather stuffy in the summer...make sure to keep your windows covered and don't leave doors & windows open during the day. maybe you should get a new energy star ac-if possible. good luck!
climate change has a lot to do with our places getting warmer. I'm on the second floor and having the same problem even though I have 4 fans going plus an AC going and it's only the "beginning" of summer here. I can say though my bills are very low because I unplug everything always, and unplug the pc when not in use. I don't heat water for the bath, I don't use the stove (I use the microwave instead, and I have heavy-dury covering over my windows and I have tape on my door plus insulation. I've already made myself comfortable by wearing very lightweight clothing.
You said you're in an apartment, and as you know, because of climate change, the best apartment you could be in is a small efficiency (that way it would be easier to cool and heat and not cost an arm and a leg), and it also depends on your income which either yu can increase, or the alternative is to mvoe to some place you can afford, rather than going bankrupt. Move now before you are hurt financially.
If you owned the place I'd suggest the loft being blocked off and being made a full attic and then using an AC unit in there plus good insulation and a light colored roof, and maybe some solar panels. It not being your house there's not more I can say..
It really depends on what kind of air conditioner you're using and where it's located.
If you're using a window unit, you probably need a MUCH more powerful unit, and you'll need one on each level.
Give us more info!
Is it central or window?
How's your apartment layed out?
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