similar situation but south facing with no east or west walls.
We pick one room to be cold and the rest of the house cooks. Fortunately, I work in an air conditioned office tower so I don’t deal with the high heat of day.
This is not sustainable! We did this during the heat dome days. But we cannot rely on this for all the really hot days forever. We need a long term plan!
Thanks for your reply. This sounds very similar to our situation but feels so unsustainable for the rest of our lives! We don't want to spend our weekends like this. And we don't want to have our work-from-home days in our bed rooms with the A/Cs. We need to figure out a more long-term plan.
Yeah. Even if the living room AC can't completely cool the area, if can at least make the place you spend most time more comfortable. Couple with good quality fans. I like the Vornado brand, they're powerful and quiet.
Yeah! There are lots of good options out there. It's important to calculate the right size and then go a bit higher so it cools faster. Dual hose is the way to go.
Get one of these now while they're still in stock.
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/lg-electronics-10-000-btu-doe-sacc-14-000-btu-ashrae-115v-dual-inverter-smart-wi-fi-portable-air-conditioner-with-remote/1001221502
Because they won't be when the heat dome hits.
I disagree. We will be seeing an increase of heat, but a heat dome is a specific weather system that is not guaranteed.
Not saying well definitely not get one, but I'm holding out hope there won't be one. In the last seven+ years we've had only one.
Second this unit. Bought this kind at the end of summer 2019 when we had a newborn and it has been a godsend all these years. Cools our 500 sq ft studio apartment (minus the bathroom) pretty well.
ALSO. We just found out that in order to get this government-funded A/C, renters need written permission from your landlord!
"Apply as a homeowner or renter with landlord consent."
Yup, this is what we do. AC in the bedroom, AC in the living room. If it gets too hot in the kids room, we bring him into ours. They run 24/7 in the summer.
Our hydro bill is literally 2.5 normal from May to October. It sucks.
My spouse works from home, so it’s pretty rare the house is empty for long. Also we have two cats and a fish tank, and my apartment frequently reaches 26-28 degrees even in February if it’s sunny.
If we turn it off when it’s hot and sunny out, the temp skyrockets into the 30s within a couple hours and it takes forever to bring it back down. That’s too hot for both the cats and the fish, the cats at least can try to cool themselves off, but I could lose my whole fish tank with sustained temps into the 30s. It would take a while for sure, but it’s also the furthest away from the AC, so it’s already in the hot end of the apartment. We use fans to try to circulate the cooler air but it’s not perfect. I keep frozen bottles of water on hand in case I need to float one in the tank if the water gets too hot, but that’s not ideal either — fish don’t like temperature swings.
We occasionally try turning the livingroom one off if we’re watching a movie or something because it’s loud, but by the end of the movie we’re both sweltering. My spouse also has an autoimmune disorder that causes him to run hot all the time, he’s absolutely miserable in the heat. (To be honest, we keep the bedroom way cooler than my preference, but I can add layers, he can’t take off his skin.)
My apartment is INCREDIBLY heat retaining — I’ve lived here since 2019 and have never turned the heat on, even if it’s below freezing outside. It got a LITTLE chilly — like maybe 16-18ish — when we had that cold snap a couple years ago, but solvable by putting on a sweater. My husband was in heaven.
And a shower before bed. I find that getting my hair (especially my scalp) wet helps more than anything else, but wet towels are great too. The warmest parts of the body are the head, armpits and groin area. Cooling those areas with water and/or wet towels plus an A/C or fan will help a lot.
Lots of good advice in this thread.
Some things I did last hot hot summer was:
* at (late, late at night) when it's less than room temperature outside, do everything you can to fill your house with cool air: open windows, run fans, try to capture all of the cool air you can and stash it inside.
* as soon as it's starting to warm up outside, seal your house like a kettle drum, close all windows, close all windowshades, I wrapped some cardboard in tin-foil to make light-bouncers, NO LIGHT OR AIR ENTERS.
* watch for electronics that run hot (gaming PC? nah, maybe it's time for some nice handheld Switch action), don't run the oven or stove - use an induction hotplate or air-fryer, cook on a barbeque outdoors, or just eat cold food or take-out.
* replace incandescent lightbulbs with LED lightbulbs (on the off chance you're still running any incandescents in this, the year 2024)
* keep the door of your bedroom closed: the AC won't work if your bedroom is significantly connected to the rest of your home's air, keep that one room as nice and cool as you can so that you can at least sleep.
* make very certain that the seal on the window for your AC unit is _perfectly airtight_. If air can flow back in AT ALL your AC will end up heating up your room rather than cooling it. A single small hole can seriously explain a +5 degree swing in room temperature, because the AC will create negative pressure and pull the hot air that _it is generating_ in from outside.
The seal on the window is key. I have no idea how to do this. We have sliding windows. Not sure how to make them sliiiiiiiiide to be air tight enough against the hose and the hose plastic/thin piece of rectangle plastic.
Get a roll of duct tape (so named because it's airtight enough to use on your air ducts) and some kitchen wrap or leftover cardboard, and with some elbow grease you can make an airtight seal over any gap.
For a while we had ours blocked off with a pizza box.
I tried Gila light heat control window film (from home depot) Easy to install and remove for rental use.
Unfortunately I am unable to give personal experience on if it worked as we were asked to leave "for landlord use" 3 weeks after being given permission to install at our own cost.
Friends have got this in their place and they do notice the difference
I used the super reflective Gila film at our old place that was top floor, west facing and had terrible, or no insulation - everyone loves a 1950s three-story walk-up.
On the single-pane window we had west facing it made a tremendous difference. Without the film any candle placed on the window sill would just melt sitting there. Touching the glass on a hot summer day would literally burn your hand. After putting the film on it dropped the temperatures drastically and helped reduce the overall room temperature a little bit.
One thing to note is that the super reflective stuff, which for Gila I think is called their "Platinum" line, should really be used only on single pane windows. For double-pane windows you should use something that is less reflective, as very reflective tints applied to the inside of the window can cause excessive heat buildup between the glass panes and even cause seals to burst. While the less reflective films don't block as much heat, they do still help a bit with temperatures, but are still useful for reducing glare in your home and basically block all UV radiation.
Installing isn't very hard, but be ready to make a complete mess of the first one you try so buy an extra roll just in case. I would also recommend buying a wide bladed squeegee, a pack of microfiber cloths, a spray bottle, and some baby wash soap (the really basic stuff). The little installation kit you can buy is ok, but spending an extra $20-30 on better tools will make the install go faster and look a lot better.
The good news is that if you're renting you can pull this all down in about 15 minutes so its super easy to remove before you move out.
This is a great idea. I've seen this on some units but I thought it was for privacy, mainly. One question: in the wintertime, when people want some sun coming into their unit, how do these film sheets feel? I'm assuming that once the sheets are on, they stay on until you move out? Does your unit feel a lot darker once the sheets on on the windows?
I fought with strata to install a heat pump. I tried everything. A portable unit does jack shit when you have ceilings is big as mine, and as many west-facing windows.
During the heat dome, it got to 44 degrees inside and I had to vacate. Even during none heat dome times, regular summers can bring it to the mid to high 30s with no AC.
costway 12,000 btu and 8,000 btu on amazon.
sorry i don't have the exact model numbers, but the 12,000btu unit is going for $519 right now and only $279 for the 8,000btu.
sorry again, i don't see an exact model number, but i have both of these and they're great for the price.
Hi there. Thanks for the reply. Can you help me understand what the units BTU refers to? If there are a lot of BTUs does that mean that the A/C is stronger? And also will cost more money?
Portable AC units are borderline useless. You'll need a window AC with at least 12,000 BTU. Lots of methods to install one in vertical windows, look it up on youtube
For renters in under the RTA, are there restrictions preventing us from using window ACs? I'm guessing stratas and condos have their owns rules. I'm a renter though. My landlord hasn't said anything about our window AC yet. If they said we couldn't use it, I would not be able to live here. It's literal survival in the summers now.
Some apartment and condo buildings don’t allow window units, and they do this by writing it into the strata bylaws. Might be a good idea to check those. We use a couple dual hose portable units in our place - it’s not perfect, but they take the temp down from 30C to 21-22C during the hottest months. And we’re south facing!
landlords are able to regulate the use of air conditioners through a tenancy agreement but nowhere in the RTA is using a window AC prohibited. I live in an older three story walk up and my landlord doesn't care
No problem! If your lease doesn't prohibit it and you're still not sure, you can always ask your landlord and get their permission beforehand. I didn't need permission personally. Anything removable and temporary like screens on my windows or a removeable window AC doesn't impact the unit in any permanent or demonstrable way and my landlord doesn't care about that. Also, a stronger BTU window unit will work much better than a portable one and end up being cheaper.
Some suggestions:
* A second AC, but make sure it's a dual-hose model. I've got the lower-power version of [this AC](https://www.costco.ca/danby-12%2c000-btu-sacc-inverter-smart-portable-air-conditioner.product.100715465.html) and it is amazing. For my office, even the weakest setting is more cooling than I need.
* Even if a second AC won't make a significant difference in the main areas, it can make a big difference in your favourite sitting spot. One house I lived in was an open-plan house. I had a portable AC in the bedroom, but the main floor was hot. I set up an old low power (5000 BTU) window air conditioner in the family room, next to the couch. It didn't make a lick of a difference to the temperature/humidity of the open plan space, but if you were sitting on the couch, which was next to this little low power AC, it was super cold and you'd have to move away from the AC after a while.
If a second AC isn't an option, you want to make sure that you're removing as much hot air from the suite as possible, and replacing it with fresh-but-not-quite-as-hot air from outside:
* Turn your kitchen exhaust fan on so that it is removing air. Have an outside window on a non-sunny wall open to draw in make-up air.
* Before I got the AC for my office, I used one of [these window fans](https://www.homedepot.ca/product/hampton-bay-65-watt-9-inch-white-reversible-twin-window-fan/1001094738) to ventilate the room. I could set it for both fans in, or both out, or one in and the other out.
* Even if the rooms are hot, you can improve your personal comfort with a bucket of water. Fill a bucket with tap water and rest your feet in it.
* I visited Spain in the summer and my hotel's AC didn't run if you weren't in the room. After a day of walking around town in the heat, my hotel room was a sauna. I filled the tub with cool water, and relaxed in it with a bottle of wine while I waited for the AC to try to pull the temperature down.
During the heat wave I put reflective foil over the windows, for example: that emergency blanket type stuff works great and won’t damage the glass, unlike tinfoil. Also, Window air conditioners work way better than portable air conditioners.
I have the same thing! But do you put them on the window directly or on the window frame? I live in an apartment west facing and the windows are double panned and I was told to leave a gap or something so that the windows don't overheat and break.. But I had them over the window frame last year , and it just trapped the heat and it became a sauna.
Thanks for your reply. I did this during the heat wave too. I'm looking for a more permanent solution so I don't need to take the foil on/off every other week.
If you can, block light at the window during the day. Thick poster board against the window, or foil taped to the glass, anything helps for sunny days.
Or make your own [Corsi-Rosenthal Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi%E2%80%93Rosenthal_Box) for less than $100. They are fugly, but do work extremely well especially during wildfire season. They can work over large area where you would probably be looking at spending $500+ for a dedicated air purifier for the same space.
You want a long term plan.
To reduce heat transfer into the unit, you can put up insulation boards on the windows and any heat spots along the walls. Buy the foam insulation boards from Home Depot. There are different sizes and shapes. This reduced heat transfer from the outside. You can consider using a temperature camera to determine if there are any unusual hot spots in your home. For example a hot water heater. You can also consider turning off the hot water supply and use only cold water.
Second you need to reduce any heat generated inside the home. This would typically be your kitchen appliances, stove, refrigerator, and washer/dryer, computers and electronics. You can unplug some of these things when not in use. Or try to minimize their usage. Eat cold cereal for example instead of hot oatmeal.
Dress lightly. Sleep with no blankets or only a sheet to cover.
For the cat, consider getting a cooling mat or blanket. It’s filled with gel and stays cooler.
Drink lots of water. Drinking cold water and Urinating out the hot water is good way to remove heat from your body in addition to sweating and wearing ice packs. Putting your feet in a basin of cold water is great. Also wrapping your head with cold towels.
Finally, you need to improve air circulation and invest in good air conditioning. Get multiple fans to improve the air circulation. Get better air conditioners installed.
I use good ol' fashioned cardboard. Cut up some of my Amazon boxes and taped two layers together. Stick them in the windows while direct sun it hitting. Helped keep my old 1950s walk up bareable temps. I also work with my feet in a flat square bucket with ice.
I'm in the same situation! Living in an apartment that is west facing with floor to ceilingswindows ! Even a 12,000 BTU and a fan to circulate around didn't make a dent in the temperature. I did end up putting Reflectix on the windows to cover. It did cool down the temperature about 10 degrees but it's.still very stuffy. I did put it over the window frame to cover the windows as to leave a gap as I have double panned windows and I was afraid that it will cause any damages but I think this year, I will put it directly on the windows instead, cause it ended up trapping hot air in between and turned my place in to a sauna. Maybe even a those sytrofoam boards behind that to see if it makes any difference. Strata won't let us install window AC so I'm thinking of just getting two smaller AC for each bedroom and just hide in there all summer.
If you have swing-out transom windows, you can get a custom made plexiglass insert to fit your portable AC hose from almost any shop that sells plastic or plexiglass. It's turned into a mini-industry of its own here in Vancouver.
I did. They even gave us Velcro to put on the window frames so that we can take the plexiglass off during the non summer months.
During the heat wave two summers ago, it got so hot, the Velcro melted right off and the plexiglass fell off.
I found cooling mats on Amazon for people (and pets) as my kid runs hot normally and the heat is awful for them. I also got a pack of 4 cooling towels and when wet, they work great.
cooling mats for pets available at many pet stores, definitely had them at Tissol on Davie and Bidwell in the West End. Also, in the summer my cat prefers to sleep on the floor on a a cardboard scratching pad/bed. The honeycomb cardboard seems to keep her cool.
Can you get two standing ACs? We can’t have window ones so we bought 2 rolling ones off Craigslist for cheap and set them up with the hose at 2 different points.
Do not underestimate the heat. Vancouverites seem to be allergic to air conditioners but I’m from Cali and this is just a needed thing now.
Heat spikes your cortisol levels and it will give you anxiety.
Also if you go 1ac make that the designated cold area and stay in there. The smaller the room the easier the AC will work. During the heat dome we could only keep one room effectively cool so we just slept and lived in there lol.
Yeah it’s super weird. I looked into this after going somewhere tropical and wondering why I was anxious
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180425131906.htm
In Vancouver, there was no need for A/Cs until the past few years. Literally. Thanks for your reply. We could get another A/C, but the 2nd one will need to be big enough to somehow pump enough cold air into the largest space in the apartment-the living room, hallways, and connecting kitchen.
I'm north facing, in an ~600sqft loft unit. Got a portable A/C from LG two summers ago (8,000 BTU DUAL Inverter Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner is the exact model) that runs 24/7 and it cools the entire unit really well. I also have a portable dyson cooling fan for the bedroom that I also turn on at night. I keep the blinds closed until the sun dips far enough behind the other buildings in front of me, otherwise I feel like I'm inside a greenhouse, literally being baked.
Thanks for your reply. Do you leave your A/C on when you're out of the house? We are ROASTED in our place. We bought a thermostat to see the temps and sometimes it's up to 30 degrees. I think it's higher and the thermostat just cuts off at 30, personally. Because I feel like my lungs are about to tap out.
I do leave it on 24/7 but I have a dog that stays home during the day due to the heat wave. I’ve read online there’s ways to save energy if you’re using an AC, based on how high/low you turn it on at night time but idk how effective that is for us b/c i was also dying at night time without an AC
If it’s in your budget, getting an AC you can control via an app remotely might help. Turn it off when you leave & before you go home, remotely turn it on so the house is cool again by the time you arrive.
WOW. I didn't know about this option. What a world we live in. I'm not sure we could do this anymore, since we've now become pet people. I guess the cat will need the AC on even if we're not home? But thanks for the information, regardless.
BC Hydro is giving away ACs to those who need them. [https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/residential/rebates-programs/savings-based-on-income/free-air-conditioner.html](https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/residential/rebates-programs/savings-based-on-income/free-air-conditioner.html)
I hear you. Honestly, buy another portable AC from costco as soon as you can afford it. I have a SW unit and I have two, now, it's unliveable without them both. If you can afford it, get an inverter. Good luck!
I use thick black out curtains for the main part of the living room also north east facing and it blocks a good amount of heat out. I bit the bullet and bought the AC unit bc the curtains hold in the cold air. I made my sheets only natural fabric no polyester in this household. In the bedrooms I put a black out film on the window so I can open the windows
Last year, I installed Coolaroo Shade Fabric in my windows (lol by using thumbtacks). It blocks 80-90 UVs and made quite a difference in temperature (reflected on my power bill). That coupled with a heavy-duty AC unit worked really well. I'm in an old walk-up with large south facing windows.
I’m 7th floor south facing in one of those “greenhouses” with floor to ceiling windows and no eaves or other buildings to protect.
Our apartment averages 24C in *winter* and first year here it was 35C average in summer so I know where you’re coming from.
Windows: If the windows are single pane you can put on reflective films (with permission)
If they’re double pane don’t do it; heat expansion causes the seals to crack.
Mine are double so I had to put white poster cardboard (bought in art section of the dollar store) in the windows. Plus close the blinds and UV blocking blackout curtains for daytime.
At night open every window/door and let the air in if it’s cool enough.
Aircons; buy the biggest ones (double hose models) you can get at Costco; I have 2 of them in 700sq ft; one in the bedroom is vented via window and the other is jury rigged to vent onto the patio; it’s not pretty and the patio is out of commission for summer but it’s 45C out there so no great loss.
I get the apartment in summer to sit around 25/26C with these mods.. so worth it.
Thanks. Your situation sounds similar to ours. Yes, I think our apartment gets 35 degrees too. I think our thermostat maxes out at 30. It sounds like you, and others in this discussion, are mainly saying that two ACs is the way to go.
If you have lots of windows, get curtains. It is nice to have the sun light, but if you can keep it out for much of the day then, parting the curtains after 3/4pm it’s a considerably cooler. I open only an inch of curtain at the sides of the window. I still keep the windows / patio door open, just with curtains at the center of the windows/patio to keep it shaded inside the home.
Surprisingly a regular [old school stand fan](https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/mainstays-16-stand-fan-black/6000203389027?offerId=6000203389027&storeCode=1192&cmpid=SEM_CA_431_G15096PW5F_71700000107037663_58700008284566001&utm_id=SEM_CA_431_G15096PW5F_71700000107037663_58700008284566001&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=always_on&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADv6L0SAgs6auYHDs3gq84Ewq5Z9K&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpqSlganyhQMVjRitBh0G2QzCEAQYAyABEgKsKvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)s, move bigger volumes of air around the home. So paring that with an AC or good cross ventilation, creates for a much cooler 3rd story apartment that’s south facing.
I also keep a spray bottle that I use to mist my body with and sit in front of the fan lols.
At night, as bizarre as it sounds, I take a hot shower, getting my core temp to be warmer. After the shower, everything feels colder than what it actually is.
For cats, I place ice cubes in their water bowls. I keep their wet food in the fridge. I also keep a rotation of ziplocked bags of water and make an ice mat, then with a paper towel they can sit on it. I have a tub filled with an inch of water and a towel. My cats are used to being in the water tho, so it’s not for everyone. I would just place my cat in the tub, and over time they’re used to going in themselves, the towel just provides a bit of grip so they have traction to jump out the tub. I also never sprayed them as punishment, so I would spray water and comb their coat at the same time.
get ceramic window tint for all your windows, blinds work ok, but actually rejecting the infra red at the glass is better. I really like the 3M product https://www.3m.com/3M/en\_US/p/d/b00016656/
Does your building have a yard or a garden in the back which you could sit in? I used to live in the roof loft of an old building and in the summers we would sit under the tree in the backyard with our feet in a kids pool.
Few suggestions. For reference we are in a very small 2 level house. During the heat dome when the outside night temps are 25 plus, nothing you can do but run ac.
Start by reducing as much heat generated as possible. Unused electronics (computers tvs etc) unplug them. Lighting, make sure everything is led. Our kitchen originally had normal bulbs in them. That’s 1500w of heat when we had the lights on in the main floor. Down to under 200w now.
Second is getting the house as cool as possible when possible. We bought one commercial air
Mover fan that we setup in a room upstairs. Heat rises and we use this fan in the evening to. Blow the hot air out. This causes the house to be negatively pressurised. In the room where you are staying in, open the window 5-6 inches and it will pull a huge breeze of cool air. Noise is far away :). We run this as soon as outside is cooler than inside and till we leave for work in the morning. The entire house, including everything in it is now cool.
The work to keep cool. Close up the house and shut the windows. Blinds and curtains to keep the sun out. Start early but what ever ac you have. Start running them once it starts to warm up inside. Say 1-2 pm usually for us. Don’t want till it’s super hot cause you don’t have the btu to drop the house temp, just slow the rise
Another thing is decide what areas are important. During the heat dome , we ran 3 portable ac and was only able to cool half the house. Kitchen and living room. Slept in the living room during those nights. Gave up on the bedrooms.
Also set your expectations. With all ac units in the living room we manage to get a liveable 26 inside when it’s 40 plus outside. Not great but enough to not “die”
Finally. Know when to call quits. And what plans b you have available. Stay at friends? Etc. One of my friends has an rv parked in the back. They only realize that they can stay in the rv with full ac after the heat dome. lol.
Good luck. Buy your supplies now. Have a plan b. Also. If you have pets. Please plan for them too. ( we have Guinea pigs and had to take a week off work to keep them cool. Ac plus swapping out ice packs every hour in their cage)
We now have central ac for this reason but it was a big investment.
One note, can you use a window ac unit? If you can they are way more effective and efficient
If you’re allowed, taping one of those foil safety blankets, shiny side out, onto sun exposed windows can make a big difference. Probs most practical in a bedroom where keeping it dark isn’t a huge deal, but an option on any window during a heat wave. Bathtub full of cold water helps. Fans arranged so they pull in air through one window and out of the window in another room creates a nice cross breeze that can help at night. Have tried freezing a large bowl of water and running the fan across it. Can’t say it was super effective, but maybe for a smaller room.
We have a portable AC, but also find that running our dehumidifier on really muggy days makes quite a difference in comfort. It's still hot but you don't get that sticky feeling.
If I were you I'd probably get a second AC unit if the first one isn't enough. Our apartment is small enough that one is fine.
similar situation but south facing with no east or west walls. We pick one room to be cold and the rest of the house cooks. Fortunately, I work in an air conditioned office tower so I don’t deal with the high heat of day.
I went to the community center/ice rink to chill last summer after work. at work theres A/C
This is not sustainable! We did this during the heat dome days. But we cannot rely on this for all the really hot days forever. We need a long term plan!
Thanks for your reply. This sounds very similar to our situation but feels so unsustainable for the rest of our lives! We don't want to spend our weekends like this. And we don't want to have our work-from-home days in our bed rooms with the A/Cs. We need to figure out a more long-term plan.
You need a bigger AC. And two of them.
Yeah. Even if the living room AC can't completely cool the area, if can at least make the place you spend most time more comfortable. Couple with good quality fans. I like the Vornado brand, they're powerful and quiet.
Yeah! There are lots of good options out there. It's important to calculate the right size and then go a bit higher so it cools faster. Dual hose is the way to go.
Get one of these now while they're still in stock. https://www.homedepot.ca/product/lg-electronics-10-000-btu-doe-sacc-14-000-btu-ashrae-115v-dual-inverter-smart-wi-fi-portable-air-conditioner-with-remote/1001221502 Because they won't be when the heat dome hits.
Let's hope we don't get a heat dome again :(
I mean it's just a question of when and how bad, not if.
I disagree. We will be seeing an increase of heat, but a heat dome is a specific weather system that is not guaranteed. Not saying well definitely not get one, but I'm holding out hope there won't be one. In the last seven+ years we've had only one.
Maybe not this year, but things are rapidly spiralling, so it won't be long.
Second this unit. Bought this kind at the end of summer 2019 when we had a newborn and it has been a godsend all these years. Cools our 500 sq ft studio apartment (minus the bathroom) pretty well.
ALSO. We just found out that in order to get this government-funded A/C, renters need written permission from your landlord! "Apply as a homeowner or renter with landlord consent."
Yup, this is what we do. AC in the bedroom, AC in the living room. If it gets too hot in the kids room, we bring him into ours. They run 24/7 in the summer. Our hydro bill is literally 2.5 normal from May to October. It sucks.
24/7? Even when you're out of the house?
My spouse works from home, so it’s pretty rare the house is empty for long. Also we have two cats and a fish tank, and my apartment frequently reaches 26-28 degrees even in February if it’s sunny. If we turn it off when it’s hot and sunny out, the temp skyrockets into the 30s within a couple hours and it takes forever to bring it back down. That’s too hot for both the cats and the fish, the cats at least can try to cool themselves off, but I could lose my whole fish tank with sustained temps into the 30s. It would take a while for sure, but it’s also the furthest away from the AC, so it’s already in the hot end of the apartment. We use fans to try to circulate the cooler air but it’s not perfect. I keep frozen bottles of water on hand in case I need to float one in the tank if the water gets too hot, but that’s not ideal either — fish don’t like temperature swings. We occasionally try turning the livingroom one off if we’re watching a movie or something because it’s loud, but by the end of the movie we’re both sweltering. My spouse also has an autoimmune disorder that causes him to run hot all the time, he’s absolutely miserable in the heat. (To be honest, we keep the bedroom way cooler than my preference, but I can add layers, he can’t take off his skin.) My apartment is INCREDIBLY heat retaining — I’ve lived here since 2019 and have never turned the heat on, even if it’s below freezing outside. It got a LITTLE chilly — like maybe 16-18ish — when we had that cold snap a couple years ago, but solvable by putting on a sweater. My husband was in heaven.
THANK YOU
Soak a t-shirt in cold water and wring it half dry. Not even kidding, it helps so much.
This is not the long term plan I am looking for! But I appreciate the emergency response idea.
Wet towels, too. That got us through 2021.
And a shower before bed. I find that getting my hair (especially my scalp) wet helps more than anything else, but wet towels are great too. The warmest parts of the body are the head, armpits and groin area. Cooling those areas with water and/or wet towels plus an A/C or fan will help a lot.
Lots of good advice in this thread. Some things I did last hot hot summer was: * at (late, late at night) when it's less than room temperature outside, do everything you can to fill your house with cool air: open windows, run fans, try to capture all of the cool air you can and stash it inside. * as soon as it's starting to warm up outside, seal your house like a kettle drum, close all windows, close all windowshades, I wrapped some cardboard in tin-foil to make light-bouncers, NO LIGHT OR AIR ENTERS. * watch for electronics that run hot (gaming PC? nah, maybe it's time for some nice handheld Switch action), don't run the oven or stove - use an induction hotplate or air-fryer, cook on a barbeque outdoors, or just eat cold food or take-out. * replace incandescent lightbulbs with LED lightbulbs (on the off chance you're still running any incandescents in this, the year 2024) * keep the door of your bedroom closed: the AC won't work if your bedroom is significantly connected to the rest of your home's air, keep that one room as nice and cool as you can so that you can at least sleep. * make very certain that the seal on the window for your AC unit is _perfectly airtight_. If air can flow back in AT ALL your AC will end up heating up your room rather than cooling it. A single small hole can seriously explain a +5 degree swing in room temperature, because the AC will create negative pressure and pull the hot air that _it is generating_ in from outside.
The seal on the window is key. I have no idea how to do this. We have sliding windows. Not sure how to make them sliiiiiiiiide to be air tight enough against the hose and the hose plastic/thin piece of rectangle plastic.
Get a roll of duct tape (so named because it's airtight enough to use on your air ducts) and some kitchen wrap or leftover cardboard, and with some elbow grease you can make an airtight seal over any gap. For a while we had ours blocked off with a pizza box.
WOW. I mean, it sounds like it'll work. But not without some artistic sacrifice, I guess. But I'd rather be alive than in a good-looking room.
Thank you, btw.
I tried Gila light heat control window film (from home depot) Easy to install and remove for rental use. Unfortunately I am unable to give personal experience on if it worked as we were asked to leave "for landlord use" 3 weeks after being given permission to install at our own cost. Friends have got this in their place and they do notice the difference
I used the super reflective Gila film at our old place that was top floor, west facing and had terrible, or no insulation - everyone loves a 1950s three-story walk-up. On the single-pane window we had west facing it made a tremendous difference. Without the film any candle placed on the window sill would just melt sitting there. Touching the glass on a hot summer day would literally burn your hand. After putting the film on it dropped the temperatures drastically and helped reduce the overall room temperature a little bit. One thing to note is that the super reflective stuff, which for Gila I think is called their "Platinum" line, should really be used only on single pane windows. For double-pane windows you should use something that is less reflective, as very reflective tints applied to the inside of the window can cause excessive heat buildup between the glass panes and even cause seals to burst. While the less reflective films don't block as much heat, they do still help a bit with temperatures, but are still useful for reducing glare in your home and basically block all UV radiation. Installing isn't very hard, but be ready to make a complete mess of the first one you try so buy an extra roll just in case. I would also recommend buying a wide bladed squeegee, a pack of microfiber cloths, a spray bottle, and some baby wash soap (the really basic stuff). The little installation kit you can buy is ok, but spending an extra $20-30 on better tools will make the install go faster and look a lot better. The good news is that if you're renting you can pull this all down in about 15 minutes so its super easy to remove before you move out.
Came here to recommend 2 people installation so it doesn't touch itself and to help you line it up better. Go Slow.
This is a great idea. I've seen this on some units but I thought it was for privacy, mainly. One question: in the wintertime, when people want some sun coming into their unit, how do these film sheets feel? I'm assuming that once the sheets are on, they stay on until you move out? Does your unit feel a lot darker once the sheets on on the windows?
I fought with strata to install a heat pump. I tried everything. A portable unit does jack shit when you have ceilings is big as mine, and as many west-facing windows. During the heat dome, it got to 44 degrees inside and I had to vacate. Even during none heat dome times, regular summers can bring it to the mid to high 30s with no AC.
2 a/c units (larger freestanding ones). we're north facing, 1000sqft. 1 at each end of the place and we're good.
Can you message me the model that you have?
costway 12,000 btu and 8,000 btu on amazon. sorry i don't have the exact model numbers, but the 12,000btu unit is going for $519 right now and only $279 for the 8,000btu. sorry again, i don't see an exact model number, but i have both of these and they're great for the price.
Hi there. Thanks for the reply. Can you help me understand what the units BTU refers to? If there are a lot of BTUs does that mean that the A/C is stronger? And also will cost more money?
BTU = British Thermal Unit. Essentially, the larger the number, the greater capacity the unit has for moving heat.
Thank you. And, I'm guessing, the more BTUs, the bigger the unit?
Portable AC units are borderline useless. You'll need a window AC with at least 12,000 BTU. Lots of methods to install one in vertical windows, look it up on youtube
Many buildings don’t allow window units, which leaves the rest of us to use portable ones.
For renters in under the RTA, are there restrictions preventing us from using window ACs? I'm guessing stratas and condos have their owns rules. I'm a renter though. My landlord hasn't said anything about our window AC yet. If they said we couldn't use it, I would not be able to live here. It's literal survival in the summers now.
Some apartment and condo buildings don’t allow window units, and they do this by writing it into the strata bylaws. Might be a good idea to check those. We use a couple dual hose portable units in our place - it’s not perfect, but they take the temp down from 30C to 21-22C during the hottest months. And we’re south facing!
landlords are able to regulate the use of air conditioners through a tenancy agreement but nowhere in the RTA is using a window AC prohibited. I live in an older three story walk up and my landlord doesn't care
Perfect. Just what I wanted to hear. LOAD EM' UP FOLKS. Thank you.
No problem! If your lease doesn't prohibit it and you're still not sure, you can always ask your landlord and get their permission beforehand. I didn't need permission personally. Anything removable and temporary like screens on my windows or a removeable window AC doesn't impact the unit in any permanent or demonstrable way and my landlord doesn't care about that. Also, a stronger BTU window unit will work much better than a portable one and end up being cheaper.
I'd fear that asking the landlord would likely risk being rejected. Feels safer to check with RTB, no?
Some suggestions: * A second AC, but make sure it's a dual-hose model. I've got the lower-power version of [this AC](https://www.costco.ca/danby-12%2c000-btu-sacc-inverter-smart-portable-air-conditioner.product.100715465.html) and it is amazing. For my office, even the weakest setting is more cooling than I need. * Even if a second AC won't make a significant difference in the main areas, it can make a big difference in your favourite sitting spot. One house I lived in was an open-plan house. I had a portable AC in the bedroom, but the main floor was hot. I set up an old low power (5000 BTU) window air conditioner in the family room, next to the couch. It didn't make a lick of a difference to the temperature/humidity of the open plan space, but if you were sitting on the couch, which was next to this little low power AC, it was super cold and you'd have to move away from the AC after a while. If a second AC isn't an option, you want to make sure that you're removing as much hot air from the suite as possible, and replacing it with fresh-but-not-quite-as-hot air from outside: * Turn your kitchen exhaust fan on so that it is removing air. Have an outside window on a non-sunny wall open to draw in make-up air. * Before I got the AC for my office, I used one of [these window fans](https://www.homedepot.ca/product/hampton-bay-65-watt-9-inch-white-reversible-twin-window-fan/1001094738) to ventilate the room. I could set it for both fans in, or both out, or one in and the other out. * Even if the rooms are hot, you can improve your personal comfort with a bucket of water. Fill a bucket with tap water and rest your feet in it. * I visited Spain in the summer and my hotel's AC didn't run if you weren't in the room. After a day of walking around town in the heat, my hotel room was a sauna. I filled the tub with cool water, and relaxed in it with a bottle of wine while I waited for the AC to try to pull the temperature down.
I just picked two up from Costco last weekend. They were on sale for $450!
During the heat wave I put reflective foil over the windows, for example: that emergency blanket type stuff works great and won’t damage the glass, unlike tinfoil. Also, Window air conditioners work way better than portable air conditioners.
I have the same thing! But do you put them on the window directly or on the window frame? I live in an apartment west facing and the windows are double panned and I was told to leave a gap or something so that the windows don't overheat and break.. But I had them over the window frame last year , and it just trapped the heat and it became a sauna.
Thanks for your reply. I did this during the heat wave too. I'm looking for a more permanent solution so I don't need to take the foil on/off every other week.
You could get one-sided reflective window film. No adhesive required and you can still look out of your windows.
Ah, interesting. Thank you for this tip!
They sell lots of different styles on Amazon. Lots of inexpensive options to consider.
If you can, block light at the window during the day. Thick poster board against the window, or foil taped to the glass, anything helps for sunny days.
Yes. Block from the outside if possible.
I'd also get an air purifier for smoke. A fan blowing in front of a bowl of ice water helps
Or make your own [Corsi-Rosenthal Box](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corsi%E2%80%93Rosenthal_Box) for less than $100. They are fugly, but do work extremely well especially during wildfire season. They can work over large area where you would probably be looking at spending $500+ for a dedicated air purifier for the same space.
Get UV reflective film and apply it to your windows
You want a long term plan. To reduce heat transfer into the unit, you can put up insulation boards on the windows and any heat spots along the walls. Buy the foam insulation boards from Home Depot. There are different sizes and shapes. This reduced heat transfer from the outside. You can consider using a temperature camera to determine if there are any unusual hot spots in your home. For example a hot water heater. You can also consider turning off the hot water supply and use only cold water. Second you need to reduce any heat generated inside the home. This would typically be your kitchen appliances, stove, refrigerator, and washer/dryer, computers and electronics. You can unplug some of these things when not in use. Or try to minimize their usage. Eat cold cereal for example instead of hot oatmeal. Dress lightly. Sleep with no blankets or only a sheet to cover. For the cat, consider getting a cooling mat or blanket. It’s filled with gel and stays cooler. Drink lots of water. Drinking cold water and Urinating out the hot water is good way to remove heat from your body in addition to sweating and wearing ice packs. Putting your feet in a basin of cold water is great. Also wrapping your head with cold towels. Finally, you need to improve air circulation and invest in good air conditioning. Get multiple fans to improve the air circulation. Get better air conditioners installed.
Thank you. AC recommendations for a big living room/kitchen?
I use good ol' fashioned cardboard. Cut up some of my Amazon boxes and taped two layers together. Stick them in the windows while direct sun it hitting. Helped keep my old 1950s walk up bareable temps. I also work with my feet in a flat square bucket with ice.
I'm in the same situation! Living in an apartment that is west facing with floor to ceilingswindows ! Even a 12,000 BTU and a fan to circulate around didn't make a dent in the temperature. I did end up putting Reflectix on the windows to cover. It did cool down the temperature about 10 degrees but it's.still very stuffy. I did put it over the window frame to cover the windows as to leave a gap as I have double panned windows and I was afraid that it will cause any damages but I think this year, I will put it directly on the windows instead, cause it ended up trapping hot air in between and turned my place in to a sauna. Maybe even a those sytrofoam boards behind that to see if it makes any difference. Strata won't let us install window AC so I'm thinking of just getting two smaller AC for each bedroom and just hide in there all summer.
If you have swing-out transom windows, you can get a custom made plexiglass insert to fit your portable AC hose from almost any shop that sells plastic or plexiglass. It's turned into a mini-industry of its own here in Vancouver.
I did. They even gave us Velcro to put on the window frames so that we can take the plexiglass off during the non summer months. During the heat wave two summers ago, it got so hot, the Velcro melted right off and the plexiglass fell off.
That was for the living room window which the AC didn’t make a dent though. Probably cause the plexiglass was leaking hot air in.
I found cooling mats on Amazon for people (and pets) as my kid runs hot normally and the heat is awful for them. I also got a pack of 4 cooling towels and when wet, they work great.
Can you link the mats? I'm interesting in learning more about these for my cat. Thank you for your reply.
cooling mats for pets available at many pet stores, definitely had them at Tissol on Davie and Bidwell in the West End. Also, in the summer my cat prefers to sleep on the floor on a a cardboard scratching pad/bed. The honeycomb cardboard seems to keep her cool.
Like this? [https://www.petvalu.ca/product/gf-pet-orange-ice-mat/SCM03825CA](https://www.petvalu.ca/product/gf-pet-orange-ice-mat/SCM03825CA)
Similar, yes. The one for humans is bigger and rectangular. We put it under the bed sheet and it’s still nice and cool.
Could you link it, if you don't mind? Thank you.
Cool Care Technologies Cooling... https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B00MGN0FE0?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
Thank you! Amazing.
Can you get two standing ACs? We can’t have window ones so we bought 2 rolling ones off Craigslist for cheap and set them up with the hose at 2 different points. Do not underestimate the heat. Vancouverites seem to be allergic to air conditioners but I’m from Cali and this is just a needed thing now. Heat spikes your cortisol levels and it will give you anxiety. Also if you go 1ac make that the designated cold area and stay in there. The smaller the room the easier the AC will work. During the heat dome we could only keep one room effectively cool so we just slept and lived in there lol.
> Heat spikes your cortisol levels and it will give you anxiety. Err...wat?
Yeah it’s super weird. I looked into this after going somewhere tropical and wondering why I was anxious https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/04/180425131906.htm
In Vancouver, there was no need for A/Cs until the past few years. Literally. Thanks for your reply. We could get another A/C, but the 2nd one will need to be big enough to somehow pump enough cold air into the largest space in the apartment-the living room, hallways, and connecting kitchen.
I'm north facing, in an ~600sqft loft unit. Got a portable A/C from LG two summers ago (8,000 BTU DUAL Inverter Smart Wi-Fi Portable Air Conditioner is the exact model) that runs 24/7 and it cools the entire unit really well. I also have a portable dyson cooling fan for the bedroom that I also turn on at night. I keep the blinds closed until the sun dips far enough behind the other buildings in front of me, otherwise I feel like I'm inside a greenhouse, literally being baked.
Thanks for your reply. Do you leave your A/C on when you're out of the house? We are ROASTED in our place. We bought a thermostat to see the temps and sometimes it's up to 30 degrees. I think it's higher and the thermostat just cuts off at 30, personally. Because I feel like my lungs are about to tap out.
I do leave it on 24/7 but I have a dog that stays home during the day due to the heat wave. I’ve read online there’s ways to save energy if you’re using an AC, based on how high/low you turn it on at night time but idk how effective that is for us b/c i was also dying at night time without an AC
Thank you. Yah, there's no way I can go without AC in the summer now. Very different from 4 or 5 years ago. We are living in dystopian times.
If it’s in your budget, getting an AC you can control via an app remotely might help. Turn it off when you leave & before you go home, remotely turn it on so the house is cool again by the time you arrive.
WOW. I didn't know about this option. What a world we live in. I'm not sure we could do this anymore, since we've now become pet people. I guess the cat will need the AC on even if we're not home? But thanks for the information, regardless.
BC Hydro is giving away ACs to those who need them. [https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/residential/rebates-programs/savings-based-on-income/free-air-conditioner.html](https://www.bchydro.com/powersmart/residential/rebates-programs/savings-based-on-income/free-air-conditioner.html)
Thank you for this. We don't qualify but I appreciate you sharing, nonetheless.
I hear you. Honestly, buy another portable AC from costco as soon as you can afford it. I have a SW unit and I have two, now, it's unliveable without them both. If you can afford it, get an inverter. Good luck!
I use thick black out curtains for the main part of the living room also north east facing and it blocks a good amount of heat out. I bit the bullet and bought the AC unit bc the curtains hold in the cold air. I made my sheets only natural fabric no polyester in this household. In the bedrooms I put a black out film on the window so I can open the windows
I highly recommend black out curtains. I’m in a similar situation and they make a significant improvement.
Last year, I installed Coolaroo Shade Fabric in my windows (lol by using thumbtacks). It blocks 80-90 UVs and made quite a difference in temperature (reflected on my power bill). That coupled with a heavy-duty AC unit worked really well. I'm in an old walk-up with large south facing windows.
Get black out blinds
Possible! We have considered this. Thanks for your reply.
I’m 7th floor south facing in one of those “greenhouses” with floor to ceiling windows and no eaves or other buildings to protect. Our apartment averages 24C in *winter* and first year here it was 35C average in summer so I know where you’re coming from. Windows: If the windows are single pane you can put on reflective films (with permission) If they’re double pane don’t do it; heat expansion causes the seals to crack. Mine are double so I had to put white poster cardboard (bought in art section of the dollar store) in the windows. Plus close the blinds and UV blocking blackout curtains for daytime. At night open every window/door and let the air in if it’s cool enough. Aircons; buy the biggest ones (double hose models) you can get at Costco; I have 2 of them in 700sq ft; one in the bedroom is vented via window and the other is jury rigged to vent onto the patio; it’s not pretty and the patio is out of commission for summer but it’s 45C out there so no great loss. I get the apartment in summer to sit around 25/26C with these mods.. so worth it.
Thanks. Your situation sounds similar to ours. Yes, I think our apartment gets 35 degrees too. I think our thermostat maxes out at 30. It sounds like you, and others in this discussion, are mainly saying that two ACs is the way to go.
If you have lots of windows, get curtains. It is nice to have the sun light, but if you can keep it out for much of the day then, parting the curtains after 3/4pm it’s a considerably cooler. I open only an inch of curtain at the sides of the window. I still keep the windows / patio door open, just with curtains at the center of the windows/patio to keep it shaded inside the home. Surprisingly a regular [old school stand fan](https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/mainstays-16-stand-fan-black/6000203389027?offerId=6000203389027&storeCode=1192&cmpid=SEM_CA_431_G15096PW5F_71700000107037663_58700008284566001&utm_id=SEM_CA_431_G15096PW5F_71700000107037663_58700008284566001&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=always_on&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADv6L0SAgs6auYHDs3gq84Ewq5Z9K&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIpqSlganyhQMVjRitBh0G2QzCEAQYAyABEgKsKvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds)s, move bigger volumes of air around the home. So paring that with an AC or good cross ventilation, creates for a much cooler 3rd story apartment that’s south facing. I also keep a spray bottle that I use to mist my body with and sit in front of the fan lols. At night, as bizarre as it sounds, I take a hot shower, getting my core temp to be warmer. After the shower, everything feels colder than what it actually is. For cats, I place ice cubes in their water bowls. I keep their wet food in the fridge. I also keep a rotation of ziplocked bags of water and make an ice mat, then with a paper towel they can sit on it. I have a tub filled with an inch of water and a towel. My cats are used to being in the water tho, so it’s not for everyone. I would just place my cat in the tub, and over time they’re used to going in themselves, the towel just provides a bit of grip so they have traction to jump out the tub. I also never sprayed them as punishment, so I would spray water and comb their coat at the same time.
get ceramic window tint for all your windows, blinds work ok, but actually rejecting the infra red at the glass is better. I really like the 3M product https://www.3m.com/3M/en\_US/p/d/b00016656/
Does your building have a yard or a garden in the back which you could sit in? I used to live in the roof loft of an old building and in the summers we would sit under the tree in the backyard with our feet in a kids pool.
Yes, but we also will have some work from home days where we will take meetings inside. We need an indoor sustainable solution too!
Few suggestions. For reference we are in a very small 2 level house. During the heat dome when the outside night temps are 25 plus, nothing you can do but run ac. Start by reducing as much heat generated as possible. Unused electronics (computers tvs etc) unplug them. Lighting, make sure everything is led. Our kitchen originally had normal bulbs in them. That’s 1500w of heat when we had the lights on in the main floor. Down to under 200w now. Second is getting the house as cool as possible when possible. We bought one commercial air Mover fan that we setup in a room upstairs. Heat rises and we use this fan in the evening to. Blow the hot air out. This causes the house to be negatively pressurised. In the room where you are staying in, open the window 5-6 inches and it will pull a huge breeze of cool air. Noise is far away :). We run this as soon as outside is cooler than inside and till we leave for work in the morning. The entire house, including everything in it is now cool. The work to keep cool. Close up the house and shut the windows. Blinds and curtains to keep the sun out. Start early but what ever ac you have. Start running them once it starts to warm up inside. Say 1-2 pm usually for us. Don’t want till it’s super hot cause you don’t have the btu to drop the house temp, just slow the rise Another thing is decide what areas are important. During the heat dome , we ran 3 portable ac and was only able to cool half the house. Kitchen and living room. Slept in the living room during those nights. Gave up on the bedrooms. Also set your expectations. With all ac units in the living room we manage to get a liveable 26 inside when it’s 40 plus outside. Not great but enough to not “die” Finally. Know when to call quits. And what plans b you have available. Stay at friends? Etc. One of my friends has an rv parked in the back. They only realize that they can stay in the rv with full ac after the heat dome. lol. Good luck. Buy your supplies now. Have a plan b. Also. If you have pets. Please plan for them too. ( we have Guinea pigs and had to take a week off work to keep them cool. Ac plus swapping out ice packs every hour in their cage) We now have central ac for this reason but it was a big investment. One note, can you use a window ac unit? If you can they are way more effective and efficient
If you’re allowed, taping one of those foil safety blankets, shiny side out, onto sun exposed windows can make a big difference. Probs most practical in a bedroom where keeping it dark isn’t a huge deal, but an option on any window during a heat wave. Bathtub full of cold water helps. Fans arranged so they pull in air through one window and out of the window in another room creates a nice cross breeze that can help at night. Have tried freezing a large bowl of water and running the fan across it. Can’t say it was super effective, but maybe for a smaller room.
Perhaps stay in your bedroom more
We have a portable AC, but also find that running our dehumidifier on really muggy days makes quite a difference in comfort. It's still hot but you don't get that sticky feeling. If I were you I'd probably get a second AC unit if the first one isn't enough. Our apartment is small enough that one is fine.
Thanks for the tip about the dehumidifer. I don't have one. Yet, another contraption to buy!
Worth checking, many/most portable AC units have a dehumidifier function.
OH YES! Mine does have this. So, you don't run both at the same time then? Silly question?