double window fans front and back of the house, box fans in between to boost circulation and staying downstairs with the two dehumidifiers
it sort of makes me wonder how much wattages we are going through but it sure is a lot quieter than AC condenser noise and also nicer to hear the birds outside in the mornings when the fans aren't running (they have a thermostat setting)
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
Location: Originally from the Home of the only 6 times Super Bowl Champs!
Posts: 12,099
We run our ceiling fans even with the ac. It helps to keep the $$ down. I keep the AC as high as we can stand it, especially at night when my dh is working and the kids and I can stand it to be a little warmer than he likes it . I've tried not using the ac but I always end up with a sinus infection. ;(
We run our ceiling fans with the ac too. I have a fan in every room. We also bought a window ac unit for the laundry room. There isn't a vent in the laundry room or the front hall. The laundry room faces west. We are hoping the window ac will help cool the hallway and bathroom along with cooling the laundry room. I am trying to keep the ac at 78 or higher.
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"Do the best that you can where you are, and be kind." by Scott Nearing
my neighbor said his heat pump would be more effective if he had done zone ones instead of in the ceiling for his split level
my hairdresser installed those kind that install up at the ceiling and the condenser unit is outside, she said they are expensive but energy efficient
my daughters who usually are always cold have begun to beg for our old ACs to be put back in the windows, we've been sleeping downstairs, my dh can take the heat, he says I just like to blend in I guess...he is upstairs sleeping, last night the sheets on the bed were hot, the carpet was hot, so tonight I am downstairs with a 12 inch fan and finally have stopped dripping dripping dripping off my chin and down my neck
it used to be a three dog night but today was a three shower day instead!
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Ellen in PA
"God has not given us a spirit of fear; but of love, power, and a sound mind."
We are using a 1950's Sears window fan in the front of the house, and a 24" barn fan in the rear at the patio door. After the sun sets and the outside temperature gets cooler than the inside temperature I turn them both on and pull out the hot air from inside. Then once the temperature in and out is pretty close to even I pull in the cool night air all night and have the 4 roof windows open for it to come in also. Then right before the sun rises everything gets closed down and curtains closed till the evening when we start all over again. During the day we keep the ceiling fans going (they pretty much go 24 hours a day) and if we sit down inside we use high velocity fans blowing right on us.
The dehumidifer runs down on the first floor which is the mudroom entrance to the house and the rest garage. It is really funny because during the day when you come inside the mud room feels like ac! It stays about 55 degrees in there and in the garage day and night. We only have one window down there and of course the two insulated garage doors so it is like a cave (as far as the coolness) lol.
We have our mudroom set up with a dining room table at one end with a TV, DVD player, and a VHS player contected to it so we put up our anti gravity chairs and sit down there sometimes when just need a cool place. Then over in the theater building we did brake down and put in the window a/c while it is so hot. So we can also go over there and watch TV or a movie when it just gets too unbearable at the house. I hate the fact of the big electric bill though! With all the fans in the house (3000 sq ft) and the ac in the theater (250 sq ft) it usually runs about $150!
__________________ cat lover We Welcome Strays
When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping"; now we just "chunky dunk"
I'm using a window a/c in the den where I usually am when in the house. During the day, I take advantage of the local library which is a/c. Also go to McD's, have a glass of iced tea or a sundae and sit and cut my coupons. They opened our City Hall in Anderson, SC as a Cooling Station with a/c, TV and cold water. I haven't heard how many residents took advantage of it. People have also gone to the Mall during heat waves. I saw the marquee in Anderson with the temp of 107 yesterday.
Never had air con of any sort in any of our houses and my temp here is hot and humid but also can be very dry and windy.
Less clothes is best
Drink lots of water and maybe a gatorade a day and keep hydrated.
Keep curtains closed if the room has sun coming in the window, but keep window open.
Keep a face cloth wet and in before you wipe your face pop it in the fridge for 5 mins to keep your self cool.
Cooling points on your body are arm pits and the groin so if you're really feeling the heat a cool both in those places is good, just don't do it in public lol!
Ceiling fan and or stand fan
BBQ or any cooking way outside and at night
Freeze oranges, grapes, and other fruits to keep you cool
Always take a cold bag and a bottle of water when you travel in the car, I do this even in winter.
I am in Florida, and I LOVE my central heat and air conditioner. It is very necessary here in Florida. During the day I have it at 66 degrees, at night I have it at 64 degrees.........we LOVE it cool. No ceiling fans in the house. We had to take them down a couple of years ago. We live in an older house with low ceilings, and when my son hit 6'6" tall, he was slamming into them. He is now 6'9" tall. LOL In all 3 bedrooms there are oscilatting fans which we use at night as well. My electric bill runs about $240.00 in the summer, drops significantly in the winter, as we rarely run the heat. LOL
__________________ Connie
Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever. ~Author Unknown
cat lover 
When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping"; now we just "chunky dunk" 
Ellen in PA 
