What made your day a crap one?

[chazt]

The type of house, how it was constructed, it's age and where it was built all make changes expensive to do. The money you save on buying an older home will be more than eaten up by trying to bring it up to current standards. Older materials used may be considered a toxic health hazard resulting in stupendous costs to remove. Modern standards are changing so fast that your brand new home may not meet standards 6 months down the road. Not much joy in owning a home anymore.

Bob

I understand. Had I remained in my old home it would’ve cost 100K to make all the necessary repairs and upgrades to make it livable for the next 20 years. I bought a house that, while some work was necessary, in the long term will be significantly less expensive than staying where I was. Plus, my daughter and son-in-law now have a lovely situation to raise their children. It was a win-win.

 

[TobyC]

It does seem to be getting worse. I'm still not sure that one or two weeks a year is worth the cost of trying to get AC installed though.

Try something like this, stick in in your bedroom at night, put it in a closet when not in use.

Link

 

[JamieM]

In my living room today, in the shade, it's 28.2 degrees Celsius, with 56% humidity.

 

[TobyC]

In my living room today, in the shade, it's 28.2 degrees Celsius, with 56% humidity.

That's not bad at all.

 

[Vacumatic]

In my living room today, in the shade, it's 28.2 degrees Celsius, with 56% humidity.

My bedroom is over 30C at the moment.

I was in the UAE for work ten years ago, the temp was 43C but with very low humidity, I went out for a walk and the warm but dry air on my shirted back felt fantastic.

 

[JamieM]

That's not bad at all.

The humidity kills you in the UK. I'm a fairly well-travelled person from a very young age, having travelled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa. A 35 °C in California is completely different to a 35 °C in the UK. Watch what an American says about how much hotter than anything he's ever experienced in the USA.


Higher Humidity (The "Feels Like" Effect) Because the UK is an island, the air brings in more moisture from the Atlantic. High humidity prevents your sweat from evaporating, leaving you feeling sticky and preventing your body from cooling itself. When it is 35°C in the UK, the "feels like" temperature can soar well over 40°C (104°F). In contrast, a 35°C day in California or Texas is often a "dry heat," allowing sweat to evaporate instantly.

 

[Vacumatic]

The humidity kills you in the UK. I'm a fairly well-travelled person from a very young age, having travelled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa. A 35 °C in California is completely different to a 35 °C in the UK.


Higher Humidity (The "Feels Like" Effect) Because the UK is an island, the air brings in more moisture from the Atlantic. High humidity prevents your sweat from evaporating, leaving you feeling sticky and preventing your body from cooling itself. When it is 35°C in the UK, the "feels like" temperature can soar well over 40°C (104°F). In contrast, a 35°C day in California or Texas is often a "dry heat," allowing sweat to evaporate instantly.

I had a visit to my London office from a man from Texas, he had an afternoon free and had heard of a Beer Garden in some pubs, I think he was expecting trees and grass when in fact a London beer garden has high walls and can be a real sun trap. He set himself a target of trying some, quite a lot, of dark beers and made himself comfy for the afternoon, he was shocked when he looked in the hotel mirror to see a red face.

'Lived in Texas all my life, never caught the sun like this'.

 

[TobyC]

 

[TobyC]

The humidity kills you in the UK. I'm a fairly well-travelled person from a very young age, having travelled extensively throughout Europe and North Africa. A 35 °C in California is completely different to a 35 °C in the UK. Watch what an American says about how much hotter than anything he's ever experienced in the USA.


Higher Humidity (The "Feels Like" Effect) Because the UK is an island, the air brings in more moisture from the Atlantic. High humidity prevents your sweat from evaporating, leaving you feeling sticky and preventing your body from cooling itself. When it is 35°C in the UK, the "feels like" temperature can soar well over 40°C (104°F). In contrast, a 35°C day in California or Texas is often a "dry heat," allowing sweat to evaporate instantly.

I'm familiar with humidity, the Gulf Stream brings hot ocean water up the east coast where I am, and winds from the east bring it all to me!

 

[TobyC]

Weather this weekend.

https://x.com/MinorWX/status/2070305906701590797/video/1

 

[Chris]

If your heat is forced-air through ductwork, central a/c should be a breeze. It’s just initially very pricey. Can you accommodate window air conditioners? I recently had four window units installed in my new home for a fraction of the cost of central. These new air conditioners are exceptionally quiet and very efficient.

In the mid 1960s my folks had an air conditioner installed through the wall in the main living area. It fascinated me watching the workers cut through the wall. After cutting through the first layer of brick one of the men exclaimed that he’d never seen a double layer of brick in regular house construction. The house was built in the 1930s. Perhaps that was typical for the era? Idk…

It’s an 18th century farmhouse, all thick solid stone walls. Unfortunately it’s also a listed building so a window AC unit wouldn’t be allowed.

Happily this evening the wind’s picked up and the temp’s back down to 19° C. Lovely!

 

[R181]

I doubt that most countries have enough spare electrical generating capacity to allow for a large increase in demand to operate air conditioners in private homes. Throw in poor maintenance by the owners of these electrical grids in order to generate more profits for themselves. There have already been major failures due to this. It will only get worse because of modern data centers especially those supporting AI will need power generated off line. It is turning into a mess.

Bob

 

[p.b]

I doubt that most countries have enough spare electrical generating capacity to allow for a large increase in demand to operate air conditioners in private homes. Throw in poor maintenance by the owners of these electrical grids in order to generate more profits for themselves. There have already been major failures due to this. It will only get worse because of modern data centers especially those supporting AI will need power generated off line. It is turning into a mess.

Bob

If they can handle data centres they can handle AC units (and electric cars) as offices already use AC during the working day.

 

[R181]

If they can handle data centres they can handle AC units (and electric cars) as offices already use AC during the working day.

I could be wrong, but the new data centers are stand alone mini reactors and not meant to be connected to the grid. Time will tell.

Bob

 

[chazt]

It’s an 18th century farmhouse, all thick solid stone walls. Unfortunately it’s also a listed building so a window AC unit wouldn’t be allowed.

Happily this evening the wind’s picked up and the temp’s back down to 19° C. Lovely!

Your home must be beautiful to behold