Thermostat is at 73. House temp is 80.

[trof]

trof's theory:
A heat pump/AC will only drop the temp 20-25 below outside air temp (OAT).

At night, we gain on it.
Temp is at 73 when I get up in the morning.

Just got our electric bill.
$220.
Highest we've ever had.
20% was for 'fuel surcharge'.
Oil near 80 bucks a barrel.
And the beat goes on...
:-(

[Momgonepostal]

1. have you had it checked out lately?

Sometimes if there's a leak in a duct, you can loose some cool air out the attic.

Whatever the case, I'm sorry for your big bill. We got ours today, and it was only $132, BUT we have less than 1000sf and haven't used the ac as much this year because of cooler weather.

[trof]

2. Yeah, get it checked out every year.

I think it's just 'stretched' now.
Temps in high 90s all week.
High 70s at night.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

3. Here are some cooling hints that have worked for my family...

Heavy draperies in the rooms that get the most sunlight in the summer, ceiling fans, keeping it dark in the main rooms you are in during the day. The darker it is, the cooler it is. This has saved my mother, who has terrible insulation in her house, hundreds of dollars in the summer. Hope they help....:shrug:
Duckie

[cobalt1999]

4. We don't even bother with A/C.

Just open the windows, turn the ceiling fans on high, and have a cool drink. Of course that doesn't work for many modern homes. When we designed our house we went and looked at turn of the century southern homes for none A/C cooling ideas. High Ceilings, upper and lower opening windows, cross ventilated hallways, and lots of porches which shade the windows. We probably only use the A/C for 10 days per year.

[trof]

5. I want to build a dogtrot house.

They capture the 'Bernoulli effect'.

[Radio_Lady]

6. OK, Trof, explain yourself.... or I'll have to GOOGLE this...

[trof]

8. Dogtrot house:

OK, this one's a bit 'rustic', but the benefit is the wind tunnel effect of the open hallway.

It magnifies any breeze.
And it creates a low pressure area in the hallway.
So if you open windows in the exterior walls, in comes a breeze, migrating toward the hallway.

Here's a more modern example:



See the whole slide show and concept here:
http://archrecord.construction.com/residential/hotm/archives/0708HotM-1.asp

[FloridaJudy]

17. That first one's a typical "cracker" house

The kind built by the earliest white settlers in Florida. If you'll notice, it's also raised above the ground - prevents that nasty dampness that can creep up from Florida soil, as well as increasing ventilation. And the tin roof offsets the worst of the sun's rays. It's practical architecture for this climate. There was a vogue for modern versions back in the environmentally conscious 70's but it never caught on. I expect it reminded people too much of "Tobacco Road".



It's a pity, really. I'd love to build one if I ever get the money.

[Radio_Lady]

19. Thanks, Trof. I thought exactly what Florida Judy thought... I've seen

homes all across the south with that configuration. Most of them were not elegant... but I can see from the description that they served the purpose.

As a matter of fact, even homes in Mexico and Hawaii have had that concept.

Appreciate the link, Trof.

Mine would have to be in a mountainous area of the south, at around 3,000 ft. elevation, maybe near Hendersonville or Ashville, NC -- with cool nights. I might need a central wood stove.

But I'm getting off track here.

[cobalt1999]

9. The older designs were quite ingenious

It's amazing how builders of homes now, build them so you are forced to run your central heat/air to make it livable.

Build a dogtrot house on the water and you'll have a nice cooling effect.

[kedrys]

7. I didn't realize you were at my house

Thermostat: 74. Actual house temperature: 81. Electric bill: prolly around the $300 mark.

We're doing the same thing you are: ice the house down overnight so it's livable at least part of the day tomorrow.

:(

[rainbow4321]

10. Heat pumps ********suck********

I've had more problems with the f'n thing as has, apparently, everyone in our neighborhood over the years. Not a day goes by that I don't see an A/C truck around here. That "20 degree" rule may be fine if you live in a place that stays in the 80's year round...but they have no business having them in TX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Drove by our bank clock/thermometer this morning, 94 degrees at ***9:30am****. Temps are supposed to max out at 104 this week.

Doesn't help that mine seems to have some sort of freon leak so it barely does the 20 degree cooler thing. I set it at 74 but house temp keeps maxing out at 77-78 by the end of the day.

Waiting on an AC guy now (one of those we'll be there "between 10 am and noon deals").
Must be something about heatpumps and freon leaks cuz it's been a thorn in my side for 8 years now. More within my budget to get the damn thing filled up again every 6 months than it is to buy a whole new unit.

[Rosemary2205]

18. No -- heat pumps ******megasuck******

I've never met one that worked well unless it's where the air temp is pretty constant and comfortable to begin with.

[Scooter24]

11. Mine was just over $450 last month.

Our thermostat is programmed to keep the house at 72 from 10am-10pm, then it goes to 78 from 10pm-10am

Living in TX, AC is a must! :)

[Richard Steele]

12. We're seeing the exact same phenomenon here.

This latest heat wave has just been beyond our
AC's ability to rectify.

[Lex]

13. Yes, it's miserable.

:cry:

[Richard Steele]

15. I just try to remind myself how much worse it could be...

I just installed an AC for a friend of Sweetie
last weekend; her place had to be 95 degrees inside
and she'd had nothing but a ceiling fan to deal with
it.

My life is pretty sweet compared to a lot of others.

[cwydro]

14. same here

but it is hot in Florida.

[struggle4progress]

16. Easy enough to solve: turn the thermostat up to 81 or 82