Keeping cool - saving money

**mommy4ever** · 07-22-2011, 11:07 AM

I noticed several threads on heat waves. That is usually us! But this year it's rain. But I thought we could put our collective frugal minds together for tips and tricks to keeping cool.

A couple years ago, i noticed summer power bill was skyrocketing, so I did some research, not comprehensive, but what I remember and find useful.

For those with houses be sure you have attic vents, in the heat an attic can get REALLY hot, no vents can make it horribly hot 150º easily. And for some reason many homes were built without venting, shoddy workmanship I guess, for every roof there should be a minimum of 2 vents, we're a split level so we have 4, if there's none, look into adding them as it's a mold hazard too, your roof with thank you for it as will your bank account. So that is a start.

We decided to try one more thing. A couple years ago while researching, I read something about attic fans as an alternative to a/c. Dh grumbled about it, the neighbor did too, both telling me it's a bunch of hogwash(ok not those terms, think 2 tradesmen talking here..lol). Well last year the 2 window a/c ran non stop and we couldn't get the house to cool. My mom gave me a big square fan and a window fan to help us out as they had installed central air and there were no fans available in stores due to the heatwave(not that there was no money to buy them). I told dh that we should try the square fan in the attic access, again he grumbled saying it won't work. I asked what would it hurt, I didn't buy the fan, we were given it. He conceded, and WOW, it made a huge difference. The fan is not strong enough to completely eliminate the A/C from running. But it's definitely an improvement.

I want to get an actual attic fan with the vent on the side of the house that REALLY moves air, but this is our frugal version of it and it really helps. We do have to deal with the fan noise, but it's a white noise so it's not bothersome, and it reduces our power for $40/mo over last year, so for the 4 months, $160 savings.... not bad.

This year as soon as the temps hit 72ºF dh put in the fan..lol. Hmmm hogwash, huh?

We also installed new windows this year in our living room. We did it ourselves, as we figured they were leaking into the wall, thankfully, they did not. But they were only being held in by brickmold outside

there was NO nails in the frame work at all, we pulled off the brick mold and the windows literally started to fall out. The thought is scary as they could have fallen IN at any time if some one had pushed on them from the outside. I chose windows that could open, as we only had 2 windows on this level that could open and they are on the same side of the house along with the only storm door, so no cross breeze. Now there is airflow

When we did renovations a year an a half ago, dh put an attic access to our lower roof, there wasn't one before... I have no clue what the builders were thinking. So, I'm thinking of looking for another fan to vent the attic there too, that might be enough to eliminate A/C. Takes way less energy to run a fan than a/c.

I am also getting the kids acclimatized to warmer house temperatures. Before when it hit 73, every one was whining and complaining. Now the house sits around 77-80 and every one is fine except dh..lol. But he goes down to the lower level where it's just cooler and it's all good. He'll turn on the A/C in the bedroom 20 minutes before bed so he's comfy to fall asleep. Now at 75 I'm considering a sweater..lol. I grew up without A/C, we had some wicked heat waves and we survived. I also find that I don't get as sick in the summer with less a/c running. I'm also able to be outside more as the temp contrast isn't as harsh to my system.

What do you do to keep cool in the heat?

**ladykemma2** · 07-22-2011, 11:53 AM

is the air blowing INTO the attic or down into the house?

**mommy4ever** · 07-22-2011, 11:55 AM

Into the attic, forcing the hot air out the vents, it also is sucking air from the house and blowing it out, which pulls air from the lower levels bringing cooler air onto other areas.

**SillyLily :-)** · 07-22-2011, 04:52 PM

huh, that's an interesting concept. i wonder what effect the fan has on fiberglass insulation???? any thoughts on that???

**mommy4ever** · 07-22-2011, 05:12 PM

We have blown in insulation but it isn't affected. The attic access is framed, the insulation to the outside of that. The fan blows straight up. There is no insulation on the fan when we take it out. Dusty, yes, but no clumps. Dh checks every year, and the insulation is where it was. If you had some concerns where the fan is blowing you could lay some piece of plywood around that immediate area to prevent it, but it never disturbed our.

AirScape - The Energy-Efficient Natural Cooling Solution here is where the actual idea came from. Our home made version isn't as pretty..lol. But it helps alot. Not as efficient, but better than nothing. I don't have a spare $900 right now. But I'm thinking after we finish replacing windows, it's my next project!

**imagine** · 07-22-2011, 09:50 PM

We have had actual attic fans in two house we owned they are very powerful and noisy. In the one story bungalow with windows on all sides. You would open all the windows and get a very nice circulating breeze in our current maze of a Victorian home we do not get as good of a direct breeze

Down side to attic fans they are so powerful that they bring dirt and tiny nat bugs in through the screen windows.

Most awesome benefit doing a complete air change after illnesses

**mommy4ever** · 07-22-2011, 10:00 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

We have had actual attic fans in two house we owned they are very powerful and noisy. In the one story bungalow with windows on all sides. You would open all the windows and get a very nice circulating breeze in our current maze of a Victorian home we do not get as good of a direct breeze

Down side to attic fans they are so powerful that they bring dirt and tiny nat bugs in through the screen windows.

Most awesome benefit doing a complete air change after illnesses

The newer ones have claimed to be quieter, but the benefits as you said,nice breeze, circulated air... fantastic.

Gnats not so good... but hey, being comfortable over all is awesome!

**imagine** · 07-22-2011, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by mommy4ever

The newer ones have claimed to be quieter, but the benefits as you said,nice breeze, circulated air... fantastic.

Gnats not so good... but hey, being comfortable over all is awesome!

Being forced with great speed through the screen they are not living so you just dust and sweep the up with the dirt and dust that blew in

**mommy4ever** · 07-22-2011, 10:20 PM

my windows are open regardless, we're dusty in summer due to windows and winter due to fireplace.... what can a person do?

**craftypam** · 07-22-2011, 10:50 PM

My parents had a ceiling fan and never had air. I don't remember it being psrticulsrly noisy and there were never bugs because of it. I'm not sure it helped much in this high 90's temps, but otherwise it did cool the house.

I save on my electric bill by turning the air off at night. We actually have the air conditioning to keep the house cool when the temperatures are really hot. The house stays very cool all night and then we turn it on again in the am. We also have ceiling fans in the bedrooms and f/r. It helps by being able to turn the a/c temperature up.