How long could you last without A/C?

[pilesoflaundry]

Here in GA, not long. I made it a few weeks last summer when our's was broken but I didn't like it! Ice pops, cold drinks and fans helped us through.

Back home I could go longer without it. My neighbors central air died and they put in a few window units and really strong fans and the house and it's really not bad in there at all. A 1 level house is easier to do that than a multi-level house.

 

[jackemail]

Lasted 13 Southern, summer days (high heat and humidity) after straight line winds severely damaged our part of the city and knocked out all power. Don't know if we could have lasted many more, and we were the only ones on the block who decided to stay home.

 

[palmtreegirl]

NJ- We had a couple window AC's we'd use when it got real hot.

PA- We lived in the Poconos and didn't have or need AC, it never got that hot.

Fl- Definitely need it, we wouldn't want to last a day/night without.

 

[brenalexacamp]

i'd get the window unit- use it all summer, pay for the repair in the fall/winter when guys are slow- maybe they'll cut you a deal.

 

[Kika]

My AC went out at 1:30pm this afternoon.
The repair guy is here now.
So I guess 3 hours.
(For full disclosure, I am in Orlando, and it is hot and humid, as most of you who have been here in the summer know.)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

(For full disclosure, I am in Orlando, and it is hot and humid, as most of you who have been here in the summer know.)

So I had to compare Orlando and St. Louis because surely you are hotter, right? Nope.

St. Louis - 94 with a 102 heat index.

Orlando - 91 with a 100 heat index.

 

[eliza61]

So I had to compare Orlando and St. Louis because surely you are hotter, right? Nope.

St. Louis - 94 with a 102 heat index.

Orlando - 91 with a 100 heat index.

I'm a firm believer that once you go over the 90 degree mark especially with those heat indexes, it's moot.

That's like the people who swear Arizona's 100 degree heat is not so bad because it's a "Dry" heat. I've never been to Arizona but until I do, I'm not buying it. 100 is nuclear.

 

[mikron]

Living in Florida for the last 18 years when our air units reached 15 years we replaced them bsfore they could break. We have heat pumps so we also use them for heat.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm a firm believer that once you go over the 90 degree mark especially with those heat indexes, it's moot.

That's like the people who swear Arizona's 100 degree heat is not so bad because it's a "Dry" heat. I've never been to Arizona but until I do, I'm not buying it. 100 is nuclear.

We were in DFW for 3yrs and it was a dry heat some of the time. Big difference. Dry heat is so much better. It is just miserable to breathe here. It is not the heat but the dewpoint. It is awful.

Right now in St. Louis the dew point is in the 70's. You can feel the water in the air as you breathe.

 

[LisaInNc]

I am in St. Louis MO and people will die in their homes without AC. It is not a luxury but a necessity here.

Fortunately there are programs in place to help out people every year from AC unit donations to cooling shelters.

those are very rare cases. How did anyone ever survive in MO before air conditioning?

Lisa

 

[lacrosse_lady72]

I'm a firm believer that once you go over the 90 degree mark especially with those heat indexes, it's moot.

That's like the people who swear Arizona's 100 degree heat is not so bad because it's a "Dry" heat. I've never been to Arizona but until I do, I'm not buying it. 100 is nuclear.

I've been to Las Vegas and live in Reno when the temperature was at or above 100, and I've been to Palm Springs where it was 110 and it's really not terrible. The humidity was never above 10%.

I've also been to Florida with a 90-100% humidity when it's been 97-98 and that was HOT and very uncomfortable.

Then I've been here in Oregon where it was 110 and the humidity at about 60% and that felt like the end of the world.

My point is, I've been witness to what humidity can do and it's awful.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

those are very rare cases. How did anyone ever survive in MO before air conditioning?

Lisa

The urban areas are usually where the heat related deaths are for the most part. Elderly who don't turn on the AC.

They really have been doing well with urban programs to keep people cool and check on the elderly.

 

[lucas]

We live in South Florida and a few years ago, after a bad hurricane, we were without electricity for 10 days. No ac really wasn't too too bad. Cold showers are another matter!

 

[dizkids]

I am in NJ too. I would be the biggest complainer if there were no AC in my house. Instant headaches so it is a necessity in my world. I am guessing my DH would buy one for each room just to shut me up!

GOOD LUCK....be still dont move and stick your head in the freezer if you can : )

 

[Northstar]

Like Lucas said, as long as there are cold showers.... and a fridge, ice water, and a shady spot to hang out in... I can survive forever without AC.

Come to think of it, I've never lived in a home with AC. I remember seeing some pretty awful movies just to get into the AC theater when I was living in Boston some hot, muggy summers.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

Exactly what I did when I came home to no electricity a couple weeks ago. I called Hotel Brother and SIL to make sure their A/C was running strong and drove on over.

I too would be staying at the Sister and BIL Inn!

 

[dislaney]

Not very long at all!

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We have central air and have not turned it on once in two years. We just decided that we were not going to do it. We are all in great shape, so it isn't a problem. All of the main rooms have great ceiling fans and we have many, many windows. No problem.

 

[Disneylover79]

DF says I would last 5-10 mins... I say that I will last 2 mins... DF jokes and calls me his penguin (funny to say since we live in South Florida)...

 

[Planogirl]

We lost our central unit last year and the whole thing both inside and outside needs replacing. We also decided to hold off because it's expensive and we have other priorities right now.

We did buy two window A/C units and one portable unit. It is often well over 100 here and still very hot at night and none of us can sleep if we're super hot. Fans just blow the hot air around. I don't regret spending the money since we decided to wait and they all total cost less than a tenth of what the big unit will cost.

ETA: I'm impressed by all of you who live in hot climates and say that you can survive without A/C. But why?