. OK, I caved.
Meaning, my 1 small AC window unit is in my downstairs dining room window and blasting relief. Together with just 2 box fans, I've cooled off the downstairs core of the house (about 725 sf) to 78 degrees and it feels tolerable. I did close off the family room and sunroom, which get very hot.
I have one of the box fans in the basement at the foot of the stairs, blowing the much cooler air of the basement right up the stairwell into the kitchen. It's working pretty well, I must say.
I'm rather surprised that 1 small unit I have (an Energy Star unit, thankfully), which I bought years ago at Costco for $99, is doing the downstairs pretty well. As you ascend to near the top of the stairs to the 2nd floor, it gets noticeably hotter and more humid. Wonder how I'll sleep tonight. Well for now, my cooling "system" is working.
I didn't want to put any more holes in the window sills to hold that AC unit in place. It's quite heavy. But I put it in the window with no screws, closed the window on top of it, and on the outside, I put a metal folding chair with a 2 x something to prop up the AC unit on its back end.
I got the idea from my author, who I met for iced tea this a.m. in a very warm coffee shop. We chit-chatted for 2 hours, mostly about her various books. But there are some funny coincidences here.
After living in town for 15 years, I still know just a handful of people in my adopted hometown. Cus normally when I work f/t, it's somewhere else and I don't have much free time to get around here.
But I was referred to D. by my neighbor who was taking D.'s painting class at the senior center. Then a while back I discovered that D. and I both use the same handyman. Then today, I learned that the guy she had mentioned whose bathroom she was redesigning, and who had said he'd help her publicize the book via radio/TV when she's ready, well, I discovered that man was my old boss when I worked at a TV/radio PR agency 2004-2007! She couldn't have picked a better person to do it. He really knows his stuff and all the right people. We both got laid off at the same time and from what she tells me, he's still doing the same kind of work but for himself this time. It's just so funny that we know the same people, considering that I know so few here!
Didn't think I could do it, but I did,and it feels SOO much better
July 21st, 2011 at 06:47 pm
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The temp upstairs at 8:15 pm is now 90 degrees. Really hot. It's 80 on the 1st floor, altho i could keep it a few degrees cooler if I don't care about my electric bill. I'm thinking by 9, if and when the outdoor temp cools to below 80, I'll turn the AC off and sleep in the family room, which would be most comfortable. The AC is too far to reach into the family room. But it's the only room in the house with wall to wall carpet.
I have that carpet padding in the basement, but even if i shook it out, it's been sitting in the dirtiest place in the house for ages, probably covered with spiders and dust, so i don't think i'll bother with that after all. Maybe just the sleeping bag rolled out and a sheet on top of that. I won't need covers!!