Stop the Temperature Wars at Home
If you've ever shared a living space with other people, you know that at any given time, at least one person will feel too hot while another feels too cold. Body temperature is person-specific (did you know redheads feel hot and cold more intensely than other people?), and so are the best cooling solutions for each individual. So what are the most frequent topics of the temperature wars at home, and how can we solve them?
Fresh Air v. Recirculated Air
Some people just don't like air conditioning. These people usually complain about the resultant dry, stale air, and they crave a fresh breeze in the house. But when they live with an AC lover who prefers the windows closed, how can they compromise?
Solution:
Portable AC and an indoor/outdoor evaporative cooler (swamp cooler)
- Set up your evaporative cooler in an agreed-upon room and open the windows. An open door can also allow the fresh, moist air to circulate.
- The portable nature of your cooler makes it easy to use outside as well, so it can function as a dual-purpose unit and can be moved around as required.
- Install your portable AC in a separate room with a door so the AC won’t overwork itself trying to offset the moistened air released from your air cooler.
- This arrangement can bring in moist, cool, fresh air for one family member and cool, dry air for another.
- For those who share a bedroom, you may need to alternate nights or weeks between your cooler and air conditioner since the air conditioner requires all windows to be closed.
Freezing-cold Air v. Slightly Cool Air
Sometimes the cooling conflict is not related to dry air over moist air but is focused around the actual temperature. Since ACs can bring down the temperature of a room more drastically, it's hard to adjust a unit for those who have different cooling requirements.
Solutions:
Portable AC
- Try to position your AC so that the vent is specifically focused in the direction of the person who wants the most cooling.
- As the room reaches an ideal temperature, you can turn off your AC for a while so the other person can thaw out a little. Turn the AC back on once the temperature starts to heat up again.
- If you keep different hours from your housemates, you can use the timer to switch your AC unit on or off depending on who is at home.
Evaporative cooler (swamp cooler)
- Air coolers are known for spot cooling, which means they cool the immediate area around them.
- Set up your air cooler in the living room and ensure that the person craving cool air is sitting as close to the powerful fan blower as possible. Anyone who wants slightly warmer air can simply sit farther away from the unit or move near an open window.
Chilly Bedroom v. Warm Bedroom
Here are a few ideas for when people in a shared bedroom have drastically different cooling needs:
Solutions:
Portable AC
- Take advantage of the timer feature. Not only does it benefit those with the same cooling needs, but it can be a great solution to home temperature wars.
- If one person prefers a cooler setting when trying to sleep, try setting your unit to a cool temperature on low speed, program the timer to shut off the unit or lower the temperature a few hours later. That way, the person more sensitive to air conditioning can also be comfortable. Some portable air conditioners with timers include MM14CCS Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control and HL14CESWK Series Portable Air Conditioner with Remote Control.
Evaporative cooler (swamp cooler)
- The person desiring the most cool at night can sleep on the side of the bed nearest to your cooler's fan blower, while the other person can simply sleep a little closer to the nearest open window, which will let warm air flow inside the room.
Portable cooling systems, such as evaporative air coolers and portable air conditioners, are extremely versatile and allow for effective solutions to eliminate the temperature wars at home—once and for all.