Re: Good Temp To Set

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Tissyanne wrote:
@Kachina624 , I grew up with evaporative coolers. My Daddy would change the pads out, and the house smelled so fresh.

My grandparents had one, and they kept a window open in the dining area. The cool air would blow through the house. I will always remember how nice that was.

I live in West TX, where there is very low humidity. The evaporative coolers work very well.

@Tissyanne Where do you live in West Texas? I spent 7 glorious years in Midland. Really liked it but I had refrigerated air there. There were coolers in many houses. Yes, you have to keep a window or two cracked a bit or the cooler will create a vacuum. It also makes the inside air humid which I like. It's good for my furniture and sinuses.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

Kachina624 · ‎03-10-2010

@Jordan2 You can cover the vent in any room you're not using so the air in the ducts will be directed to other room. Hardware stores carry magnetic covers that you just stick over the vent or you can use foil and tape it on. I always cover the vents in my bathrooms in the summer.

New Mexico☀️Land Of Enchantment

rockygems123 · ‎06-04-2012

@Kachina624 Good to know. If I didn't already have AC I'd consider an evaporative.

Normally we're very dry here, it's just been the last couple months with monsoons.

Years ago we had daily short afternoon showers but nothing like this. We're drying out now finally.

jackiejenny · ‎10-23-2011

@DrBabs wrote:

My Dad was an engineer with Lennox. Never recommended closing off rooms/vents -- the central HVAC system is calibrated for specific air load and balance. The AC operates in its most optimal state if there is a 20 degree variance between outside and inside temperature. Knowing that's not always possibhle I have found that 76 works well for this house during most of the Texas summer.

My brother is an engineer and he says the same thing. Never close off vents because it screws up the calibration/load/balance.

That makes sense to me, so I've never done it.

Tissyanne · ‎12-07-2012

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Tissyanne wrote:
@Kachina624 , I grew up with evaporative coolers. My Daddy would change the pads out, and the house smelled so fresh.

My grandparents had one, and they kept a window open in the dining area. The cool air would blow through the house. I will always remember how nice that was.

I live in West TX, where there is very low humidity. The evaporative coolers work very well.
@Tissyanne Where do you live in West Texas? I spent 7 glorious years in Midland. Really liked it but I had refrigerated air there. There were coolers in many houses. Yes, you have to keep a window or two cracked a bit or the cooler will create a vacuum. It also makes the inside air humid which I like. It's good for my furniture and sinuses.

@Kachina624 , Midland is two hours south of me. We have passed through there several times while traveling. My parents had a home in Artesia many years ago, before I was born. My Daddy loved New Mexico, and he took us to Cloud Croft, and Carlsbad many times. I always loved when we stopped at the stores that sold the pecan logs.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

For a two story house, often a split system is worth it. Only heat downstairs and cool upstairs as needed.

RedTop · ‎09-01-2010

I'm in WV, and keep the thermostat on 72 year round for heating and cooling. That is the magic number that suits all 4 of us.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

I don't have central air but instead I have a large portable AC (14,000 BTU) which is still able to run off of a 110V outlet. Anything bigger than 14,000 BTU would need a 220V outlet (like what your dryer/stove uses) and I don't have one of those for a large AC window unit.

I close the door to rooms I don't need cooled and keep the window coverings closed. Even on 100-degree days, it stays comfortable in here. My house is also uber insulated for energy efficiency.

Meowingkitty · ‎06-19-2010

@Kachina624 wrote:

@Biftu wrote:
Evaporated coolers work best in dry climates such as the west coast. The east coast needs air conditioners due to humidity. Running air conditioners can be quite expensive. I set mine to 78 and use fans.
@Biftu Anywhere along the coast would probably be too humid for an evaporative cooler. The inland desert areas would be more appropriate. My area is classified as high desert and it works great.

I'm in Arizona and once it hits 105 a swamp box is useless even with the dry temps. It just doesn't get cool enough and it's muggy. And you can forget about it once the monsoon season hits which is soon.