Cooling Down A Condo Building

[fleuryisgod]

Just wondering what methods anyone on here has used to cool down a condo. We haven't even hit any warmth and I still have a hard time keeping my place under 25°.

Personally I have tried every combo of blinds/windows being opened or closed. Also I have at 3 fans running most of the time. Pretty much finding whatever I do makes very little difference.

I have seen there are cooling mattress pads on the market. Has anyone had any experience good or bad with these products?

Thanks for your help and advice!

[killer_carlson]

Do you have hot water heating? Often a zone valve will have seized and the effect is that the heat is on in your unit.

Talk to your condo pard and see what options they suggest.

Danby makes some smaller ac units you can get at home depot. They tend to be condo friendly but ask the board. Also, do not buy one hat is too big for the space in which it will be used. It will constantly turn itself off and you won't get the benefit you are looking for. If the room you are putting it in is 200 square feet, do not buy the 500 square foot model, even though you may want to. Trust me on this.

[fleuryisgod]

We are on hot water heating but I can feel when the heat is running...at least I am pretty certain I can feel it when it kicks on. Part of my issue is being on the top floor tends to keep my unit stupid hot all year long.

Thanks for pointing out not to get too big of an AC unit. My first thought was too look into these and get bigger then I need to ensure cold.

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Do you have hot water heating? Often a zone valve will have seized and the effect is that the heat is on in your unit.

Talk to your condo pard and see what options they suggest.

Danby makes some smaller ac units you can get at home depot. They tend to be condo friendly but ask the board. Also, do not buy one hat is too big for the space in which it will be used. It will constantly turn itself off and you won't get the benefit you are looking for. If the room you are putting it in is 200 square feet, do not buy the 500 square foot model, even though you may want to. Trust me on this.

[flylock shox]

In-window fans are fantastic. They basically wedge into any window that opens by sliding up and down, and cool a place down to outside temperature beautifully.

Not much help if it's 40 degrees out, but lots of help if it's ten degrees cooler outside than in.

[surferguy]

I also live in a warm condo. I usually don't wear pants at home. I also find that drinking a rum and water before bed will aleviate any sleeping issues in the warmth.

You can go ahead and thank me

[Kybosh]

Step 1: Obtain bag of frozen peas.
Step 2: Place said bag of frozen peas on groin.
Step 3: Watch re-runs of The Big Bang Theory in complete comfort.

[surferguy]

Step 5: profit?

[Reaper]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

In-window fans are fantastic. They basically wedge into any window that opens by sliding up and down, and cool a place down to outside temperature beautifully.

Not much help if it's 40 degrees out, but lots of help if it's ten degrees cooler outside than in.

I have to emphasize this method. The best way to work it is to have one set of in-window fans blowing cool air in one window and another set of in-window fans blowing air out another window.

[Daradon]

I get your problem and I have no help.

My bedroom window faces direct east and it heats up quick in the morning.

As you said, I keep blinds drawn when the sun is up, and open when sun is down. (Which is kind of sad and backwards. ) This helps the most. Even with that, it's hard to keep it under 25 like you said. I'm also on the top floor, I'm sure that's part of it.

I have one fan for my bedroom. I refuse to get air cond cause of environmental concerns. I also have a cool air humidifier, but I don't suggest that. I actually use it for the winter when it gets dry. Added humidity is bad in the heat, even if it starts off cool.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Do you have hot water heating? Often a zone valve will have seized and the effect is that the heat is on in your unit.

Talk to your condo pard and see what options they suggest.

Danby makes some smaller ac units you can get at home depot. They tend to be condo friendly but ask the board. Also, do not buy one hat is too big for the space in which it will be used. It will constantly turn itself off and you won't get the benefit you are looking for. If the room you are putting it in is 200 square feet, do not buy the 500 square foot model, even though you may want to. Trust me on this.

Interesting. I actually know this has been a problem in our building. Did not know it contributed to heat though. Only knew cause of leaks. Thanks!

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by fleuryisgod

We are on hot water heating but I can feel when the heat is running...at least I am pretty certain I can feel it when it kicks on. Part of my issue is being on the top floor tends to keep my unit stupid hot all year long.

Thanks for pointing out not to get too big of an AC unit. My first thought was too look into these and get bigger then I need to ensure cold.

It is possible that your neighbors may have their zone valves seized as well.

Push the condo board to do an inspection of all the zone valves in the building. Condo board should pay for the Inspection but the owners usually pay for the repair if one is needed. Around a couple hundred bucks. The board should be interested in making sure that the heat isn't on so they don't pay for it, and owners should be interested in knowing that the valves work properly.

That and the Danby are likely your best solution

[killer_carlson]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Interesting. I actually know this has been a problem in our building. Did not know it contributed to heat though. Only knew cause of leaks. Thanks!

Zone valves are notorious for seizing open or closed and should be inspected building wise every two years or so.

[Hockeyguy15]

Ceiling fans are your friend.

We have 1 in the dining area and we run it 24/7, even in winter and it makes a huge difference.

[Regulator75]

Move into a condo that has AC.

[normtwofinger]

We lived on the top floor of a condo, including having a loft in our suite. Up in the loft it would hit over 30 in the summer. Felt breaking open the skylight. Only advice is keep all the windows you can open all the time. Being the top floor, you don't have to worry about someone breaking in.

[CaramonLS]

I've got the exact same issue. If you've got a gas fireplace, turn off your pilot light.

I also run a little Air Conditioner - works to perfection in the summer.

[rd_aaron]

Originally Posted by flylock shox

In-window fans are fantastic. They basically wedge into any window that opens by sliding up and down, and cool a place down to outside temperature beautifully.

Not much help if it's 40 degrees out, but lots of help if it's ten degrees cooler outside than in.

I'm going to suggest this as well. I have something similar to this:

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

It easily drops the temperature in our room by a few degrees at night. I got mine at Canadian Tire about 4 years ago for $40. It's not this exact model but it looks the same.

[maverickstruth]

Putting a bowl of ice in front of a fan can help as well. It's not an elegant or particularly long-term solution (especially since you have to keep refilling the bowl), but I've found that it really works well in a pinch.

[GoinAllTheWay]

I live in a 4 lvl condo where it can reach blazing temperatures in the summer time. Unreal how hot the top floor can get. The only solution for us as a $200 room air conditioner. Greatest thing we have bought for our place yet. I can not sleep in a hot room. I'd rather it was to cold then to hot. We bought the type that runs a dryer vent type hose to a bracket in your window that the other end of that hose snaps into and blows all the hot air outside directly.

If funds are tight, one of the in window fans that others have spoken of may be a good idea. If it's cool outside, drawing in air directly should work too. Even better if you can buy a second unit for a room across the hall that vents outside as that should create a nice cross breeze and cool things off. Even just one in your bedroom with the door closed should cool it off enough to be comfortable at night.

Nothin beats AC though. Pick one up if you can. Added benefit of drying out a humid room too.

[troutman]

My two story condo is uncomfortable upstairs on warm days. We have two sky-lights up there. A floor fan works okay. Having windows open does not seem to help much. Downstairs is cooler with the window open (but I can't leave it open all night - ground level).

Will ceiling fans upstairs help?AC?