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Post by JoeP on Jul 16, 2013 8:41:51 GMT
Yikes ... he must look like a join-the-dots puzzle
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Post by Shake on Jul 16, 2013 14:47:38 GMT
I wondered how your air conditioning worked, whether it was a central unit serving the whole house or add on units for specific rooms. It's not ideal, the back staircase gets quite warm, which is why we don't use it much and keep the doors closed there (it also gets very cold there in winter). It's related to the heating: we have a furnace, but don't use it, so there is duct work throughout the house, but it goes unused. We're thinking that perhaps when we (eventually) do our addition, that we'll install central air then.
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Post by tangent on Jul 16, 2013 17:55:34 GMT
In theory, we don't need air conditioning in the UK even when it's quite hot. For example, on Saturday it was a scorching 28C (82F), but the average temperature was only 20C (68F). Given that most houses in the UK have insulated walls, all you need to do is open all the windows when it's cooler than the ideal temperature, say 21C, and close then when it's hotter than that. The insulated walls keep the house lovely and cool throughout the 24 hours. The only snag with that is that the cold period occurs at night when most people are asleep and don't want to invite burglars into their homes, and the hot period during the day is when most people open their windows to let in the fresh air! It's the wrong way round. So my idea for cheap air conditioning is to install low power fans - 12 volt PC fans will do - that expel or impel air when the air outside is cooler than inside. Bingo!
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 16, 2013 20:00:01 GMT
I have cracked open my attic door. Seems to help the heat leave in an upwards direction, but I don't go up there because it's like a furnace! Ideally, an extractor fan near the top of the house set on a thermostat would do the job. Even if cooler air came in above the bottom of the house, it would be inclined to head downward by convection. If I was planing on staying here much longer I'd probably do a number of things like that here.
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Post by JoeP on Jul 16, 2013 20:12:05 GMT
I sometimes carry a digital thermometer to work (when I've been through days of finding it too hot and wanting to know if it's just me). My current office area has been over 25° quite often, and really gets hard to bear above 26°.
Today it was 28.3° and for a change everyone agreed it was too hot.
I retired to another area ( the basement, in fact) where it was slightly better.
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Post by tangent on Jul 17, 2013 3:03:34 GMT
Ideally, an extractor fan near the top of the house set on a thermostat would do the job. Even if cooler air came in above the bottom of the house, it would be inclined to head downward by convection. Yes, that would do the trick, although extractor fans can be noisy sometimes.
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 17, 2013 7:36:23 GMT
Yes, but that's often down to how powerful they are. When I moved into the flat I used to own, there was an extractor fan in the bathroom which, due to the usual level of moronic design of such things, was built in a windowless room, surrounded by the rest of the flat. It came on with the light switch and ran for many minutes after it was turned off, which meant you had to brush your teeth in the dark or use a torch to go to the toilet, or else disturb anyone else. I almost instantly swapped it for one with a humidistat one, which came on when the humidity level rose (running a bath) and went off again when it was no longer needed. Totally solved the problem. It also had an override for those times when it was really needed.
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Post by tangent on Jul 17, 2013 10:18:15 GMT
I'm wondering how powerful it needs to be to serve as a cooling system. Ideally you would want it running quietly in the background all night.
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Post by JoeP on Jul 17, 2013 12:28:23 GMT
One of the useful things about air conditioning in humid weather is drying out the air. You don't get this with an extractor fan, or indeed a direct fan.
I wonder if there is a passive (powered by available heat differentials or breezes) way of dehumidifying air?
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Post by JoeP on Jul 17, 2013 13:26:40 GMT
Today it was 28.3° and for a change everyone agreed it was too hot. Outside it threatens to be 30 degrees - but they have fixed the office air-conditioning and it's bearable today.
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Post by Kye on Jul 17, 2013 15:13:24 GMT
It's 29 here now, but it's still morning. I think we're looking at 33 for the afternoon. It's supposed to cool down for the weekend though.
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Post by Moose on Jul 17, 2013 17:27:16 GMT
I don't get the terrible pun
Bit cooler here but not much
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 17, 2013 19:23:01 GMT
I don't get the terrible pun Bit cooler here but not much It was a "little cooler"
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 17, 2013 19:37:39 GMT
As I was leaving work today, there was lightning, thunder and a very few massive raindrops. I think it needs a good rain... not until I've taken Honey out for her walk, hopefully!
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Post by Kye on Jul 17, 2013 21:47:25 GMT
We just had a very satisfying thunderstorm. It didn't get rid of the humidity, but at least the temperature is down to 26.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2013 5:06:13 GMT
It's really warm here as well now. I like it.
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Post by Mari on Jul 18, 2013 8:52:58 GMT
I do not. Was just cycling at 9 AM and already sweat was dropping off my forehead. Gross weather.
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Post by raspberrybullets on Jul 18, 2013 9:33:09 GMT
Gross? It's just lovely! It's barely even hot really. Maybe cos I'm sweaty anyway I prefer hot weather cos at least then I can wear small amount of clothes and sweat instead of having to cover up and be sweaty under all my clothes. Now that is gross!
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Post by JoeP on Jul 18, 2013 11:18:51 GMT
We just had a very satisfying thunderstorm. *envious* I like good thunderstorms. One of the good things about Johannesburg in the summer. You don't get so many in England.
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Post by tangent on Jul 18, 2013 12:00:58 GMT
It's really warm here as well now. I like it. I'm glad it's nice for you at last. By Sunday and Monday, it will be even hotter, touching 30°C.
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Post by Deleted on Jul 18, 2013 12:02:22 GMT
I don't really sweat much when I'm cycling. I'm alright up to 30°C.
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Post by tangent on Jul 18, 2013 13:56:13 GMT
It can be very nice, cycling when it's hot with a cool breeze blowing in your face. The heat tends to get to me when I'm sitting down inside the house.
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Post by ProdigalAlan on Jul 18, 2013 14:48:25 GMT
Going for. A ride on a motorbike when it's hot is really nice.
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bill
Senior members
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Post by bill on Jul 18, 2013 19:05:34 GMT
Do you still wear your leathers?
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 18, 2013 20:39:26 GMT
I still wear all my gear, although in the extreme days I have to forgo the trousers as sweat makes them stick to my legs, which is a hindrance.
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Post by whollygoats on Jul 19, 2013 0:41:42 GMT
I still wear all my gear, although in the extreme days I have to forgo the trousers as sweat makes them stick to my legs, which is a hindrance. I trust you don't tend to go commando?
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Post by jayme on Jul 19, 2013 1:32:03 GMT
I still wear all my gear, although in the extreme days I have to forgo the trousers as sweat makes them stick to my legs, which is a hindrance. I trust you don't tend to go commando? Assless chaps?
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 19, 2013 7:33:10 GMT
Would stick to the seat then, too! If I can, I still wear them, but have to remove my jeans or whatever from underneath. I'd rather wear them all the time, but making it difficult to put your feet down is more dangerous than it's worth!
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Post by Deleted on Jul 20, 2013 22:07:43 GMT
It can be very nice, cycling when it's hot with a cool breeze blowing in your face. The heat tends to get to me when I'm sitting down inside the house. It is nice. Much better than using public transport!
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Post by Alvamiga on Jul 21, 2013 7:54:31 GMT
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