HELP!!!!!!!!! question about cooling the house.

Question

Problem: Our central air is having a difficult time keeping up with the heat wave, we've actually turned it off an opted for open windows b/c it makes NO difference.

I've purchased two oscillating fans, the digital kind that blow cold air (rather than just circulate the warm air)

To achieve a cool down in the house, would it be more beneficial to...

- leave the central unit off and windows open, or

- turn the central unit back on and close windows

once I turn these new fans on?????????

THANK YOU

Answer 1

You do know even central air needs service from time to time, like recharging, filter changes and interior and exterior cleaning.  It also helps if you make sure your cold air is not escaping.  If you have gaps in the walls or holes in the ducts that are runnig the air throughout the house.  My neighbors has been pooring cool air under her house and my parents spent a summer cooling the attic almost by itself. you can even close off parts of the house you are not using, close the vents and the doors, hang blankets over door ways where there is no actual door, the extra air will go into the rooms you want the coolest.  Keep the house dark.  make sure to cover windows and such, the sun beating in makes it harder to cool the room. Put construction paper or aluminum foil over the window panes (with tape) as well as thick curtains.  Once your home cools off at night try not to let the heat in or the air out during the day.  it only takes a few seconds for the cold air to be gone if a dog or kid leaves a door open and then it is almost impossible to cool the house back down in this heat.

try these tips if they dont help then just turn off the ac save some money and open the winow and sit in the tub to try to avoid a heat stroke

Answer 2

I have a window unit in the room I spend the most time in, cools down quick. I don't even bother with the central, but I live by myself so I can do that.

Answer 3

Well, fans cool people, not rooms.  So if you are comfortable enough to be in a room with the windows open and the fans on then go for it.  But they won't cool the whole house.  Plus you'll be saving money on the electric bill.  If the house is to uncomfortable hot then turn the ac back on and use the fans in the rooms that you are in.  IT will at least help you feel cooler even if the temp in the house is still high.

Answer 4

I live in southeast Texas.  The land of heat and humidity and ac is a necessity all year long.  Here are a few tips that I use.

AIR CONDITIONING TIPS

Raise the central air conditioner thermostat to 78 degrees. Window units should be adjusted accordingly. Each degree cooler than 78 may increase your bill by as much as 3 percent.  Leave it on consistantly.  Turning your ac off while your're not at home makes it work much harder at cooling your home when you are there.  

Use energy efficient electric ceiling fans and portable fans to circulate air and help occupants feel cooler.

Close window blinds, drapes and curtains to reduce warming in the home from direct sunlight.

Check the air conditioner filter to ensure it is clean. Repeat monthly and change the filter when necessary.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with cooler-burning fluorescent bulbs to reduce the amount of heat created in the home.

Install solar screens or films on sunny windows.

Leave storm windows and doors closed when the air conditioner is on.

Have a professional inspect the air conditioner and check the refrigerant level.

Do not allow cooled air to escape from the home. Check caulking around doors and windows. Close the fireplace damper. Fill holes and gaps where wiring and pipes enter the house and insulate the attic.

Answer 5

since we have a 2 story home and it get pretty hot also, what I did was buy some insulation for your curtains (I only sew it to the ones that faces the sun during the hottest time of day), it's like a thick plastic, they sell those at any fabric stores. And we added a whole house fan upstairs so when I get home from work I turn on the AC and close up all the windows in the whole house except for one window for air flow and, the cool air is pulled upstairs since it is hottest I leave it on for about half an hour to an hour. Hope that helps

Answer 6

It depends on how old is the the a/c system.  if it's undersized, that could be the problem, but the most common problem is the coil on top of the furnace, clogs up with dirt over time, and the furnace can't move the air as well.  cold air is heavy and it will just fall in the furnace if it has too much restriction.   It happens all the time.