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Post by anxiousmom on Jul 24, 2015 0:25:20 GMT
My answer depends on where you are. In my area, even though I don't mind the heat, no a/c would be difficult even for me. I have had to do it after losing power in hurricanes and it was miserable. My house was built in the 1920's-back before a/c was standard and the houses were built to maximize the cross breezes. But these days, sleeping with the windows open isn't safe, and newer homes are built to be energy efficient with no real way to cool the inside unless the air is on.
If I had to go a week, barring a hurricane which makes it unsafe to drive, I would head to my parents house.
A good way to cool off is to wet a wash cloth, wring out the excess water and stick it in the freezer. Take it out and drape over the back of your neck. Another is to run cool water and hold your wrists under the cool water for a minute or two. Fans are good, but they mostly push around hot air so the 'swamp cooler' idea is good (ice in front of the fan.) And, as always, cool showers.
Make sure you drink lots of water. Lots and lots of water. Sweating is your body's way of regulating it's own temperature and if you are not drinking water, you don't sweat and you feel hotter (not to mention you risk heat related health issues.)
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tiffanytwisted
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you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Jul 24, 2015 0:26:25 GMT
Move into an extended stay hotel? LOL I'm only half kidding. Damn! You beat me to it. Of course, I should have known w/a 2 pager that someone would have said this already! |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 24, 2015 0:28:47 GMT
After spending countless days outside watching soccer tournaments in extreme heat, I've come to love the Frog Tog. It really cools your body down. Frog TogI am sorry for the hijack, but I would like to ask whether that feels wet on your neck or makes your clothes wet? The only thing I hate more than feeling hot is feeling hot and wet, so I am curious. I'm curious about this too. If it didn't get my clothes all wet I'd be interested in keeping some at the cabin. |
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raindancer
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Post by raindancer on Jul 24, 2015 0:29:22 GMT
DIY air conditionerI would probably just have one of these in each room I was sleeping in, and then move them to what ever room we are in most of the time blowing on us directly. Sort of like a fan, only better. 
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jul 24, 2015 0:31:53 GMT
That ice in front of the fan is colloquially known as a swamp cooler An ok window air conditioner at Wal Mart would be under 200. You could have one cool room for respite or sleeping, at least. When I was little, my parents had a window unit in their little 10 x 12 room. We five kids piled in their bed and lined up on the floor around their bed. Crowded but cool sleeping. It was blissful to take a break during the day. The basement was also much cooler as long as it did not stay hot for too many days. Pull in as much cool air at night as you can. |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 24, 2015 0:34:02 GMT
Here's a link for a way you can make a DIY air conditioner in about 30 minutes and it costs about $20. I'd say it's worth a shot! There are several other places online that show how to do it if you Google it. DIY air conditioner |
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Post by crazy4scraps on Jul 24, 2015 0:35:00 GMT
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scrapaddie
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Post by scrapaddie on Jul 24, 2015 0:41:23 GMT
I think it depends on where you live; if it happened where we live, my tip would be to find a pet-friendly hotel, because no way could we stay in our house for a week without A/C. But that's just me... good luck staying comfortable! ETA: and I think the window unit would be a good solution only if your house is smallish, or isn't open plan. Our house is both open plan, and large (2500 square feet), and two story. Putting a window air conditioning unit in our house would be pointless, I think- it would probably burn itself out and not really do any meaningful cooling. The idea behind a window unit is that you cool one room and hang out there. |
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 24, 2015 0:51:22 GMT
After spending countless days outside watching soccer tournaments in extreme heat, I've come to love the Frog Tog. It really cools your body down. Frog TogI am sorry for the hijack, but I would like to ask whether that feels wet on your neck or makes your clothes wet? The only thing I hate more than feeling hot is feeling hot and wet, so I am curious. I don't have a Frog Tog, but one with beads in it. It was $15 at REI. I'll track down the brand in a minute. You have to soak it for 30 minutes and the beads swell up. It's incredible--it almost looks empty when dry, but swells up and completely fills the tube when wet. It does not drip or get my clothes wet. I wore it for DS's graduation and I was really happy with the cooling effect and the state of my clothes. ETA: Kafka Kool Tie. And it's only $11! |
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Post by txdancermom on Jul 24, 2015 0:56:25 GMT
If it was me - we would be staying at a motel or with friends with a/c - it is too hot here in TX to live in a house without a/c for more than a day
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scrappinmama
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 24, 2015 1:14:16 GMT
Thanks for the great tips! We live in the Kansas City area. It hasn't been that bad today. The fans are keeping us cool. This weekend is supposed to be in the 90's though. I will go out tomorrow to look at a window a/c. We can put it in one bedroom and all sleep in that bedroom. I went out and bought the frog togs, and they do help, but do wet your shirt.
Unfortunately, we don't have family here, and I don't want to impose on friends. So will try to cope as best we can, and hope that the a/c can get installed faster. And if it does become unbearable, I will go to a hotel. Maybe Great Wolf Lodge!
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Post by lisacharlotte on Jul 24, 2015 1:26:51 GMT
no AC as kid. when we moved to NC I was dying. I used to wet down with a spray bottle then slept in front of a box fan.
in our current house in NE we have a basement that is not a walkout so it stays very cool. I would sleep there if no AC.
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Post by Merge on Jul 24, 2015 1:50:25 GMT
Move into an extended stay hotel? LOL I'm only half kidding. That's exactly what we would be doing - no kidding! DH is extremely hot natured and wouldn't be a pleasant person to live with if there was no a/c. That's exactly what I was thinking. We were without power for two weeks after Ike. The second week it was in the 90s. I could deal, but DH was an absolute pill. He actually went out and slept in the car (running in the driveway, with the a/c on) for a couple of hours one night. It was a miserable experience and one I would go a long way to avoid repeating. |
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scrappinmama
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Jun 26, 2014 12:54:09 GMT
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 24, 2015 1:52:06 GMT
Well, I just went to the basement and it's cool down there. We're going to make the best of this. We will have a family sleepover party in the basement. We can watch movies, play board games and football. I will bring down some junk food to snack on.
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Post by meridon on Jul 24, 2015 2:11:34 GMT
Glad you are making the best of it! I hope you all get some rest tonight! Please be careful and stay hydrated though!
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 7:03:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 2:12:23 GMT
Well, I just went to the basement and it's cool down there. We're going to make the best of this. We will have a family sleepover party in the basement. We can watch movies, play board games and football. I will bring down some junk food to snack on. Great attitude! I would like to say that this is how we would handle it, too, but after 4 or 5 days of a family sleepover in the basement, I would probably be irritated. My kids would love every minute of it - especially the movies and junk food part. Eat lots of ice cream and freezer pops and order pizza! Find a place that has some buy one get one deal so that you have leftover pizza for lunch. Hopefully the time will pass quickly. |
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 24, 2015 3:09:35 GMT
Oh I'm sure we will be getting cranky. Fortunately it's a large basement where we can spread out.
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Gravity
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Jun 27, 2014 0:29:55 GMT
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Post by Gravity on Jul 24, 2015 3:26:18 GMT
Have you asked the A/C company doing your repair if they can loan you a window unit? When my A/C went out a few summers ago, the repair company loaned us 2 window units until they could get to our repair.
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scrappinmama
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Post by scrappinmama on Jul 24, 2015 12:13:06 GMT
I will ask. I hadn't even thought of that.
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 7:03:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2015 13:21:19 GMT
After spending countless days outside watching soccer tournaments in extreme heat, I've come to love the Frog Tog. It really cools your body down. Frog TogI am sorry for the hijack, but I would like to ask whether that feels wet on your neck or makes your clothes wet? The only thing I hate more than feeling hot is feeling hot and wet, so I am curious. It can get your shirt wet a bit if you don't wring it out well. But when I'm so freaking hot it doesn't matter! |
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twinsmomfla99
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Post by twinsmomfla99 on Jul 24, 2015 15:10:07 GMT
Put a bowl of ice in front of the box fans so they are blowing cold air on you. i walked into my hospital's pharmacy during an especially brutal heat wave and there was a big ice chest on the ground. it was filled with ice and was sitting in front of a floor fan. I asked if the pharm tech if it was working and she said yes. it was that extra blast of cold air they wanted because the pharmacy doors kept opening automatically and letting the a/c air out. I've done it on a much smaller scale on my desk at work and it actually works. We call that "redneck A/C" at our house, but boy does it every work! |
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scorpeao
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Post by scorpeao on Jul 24, 2015 15:31:09 GMT
The ice in front of the fan works great. I've also slept with an ice pack when my a/c was on the fritz. I work in a lab, so I have access to ice packs that stay frozen for most of the night. It works to make sleeping a little more bearable.
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Deleted
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May 14, 2024 7:03:36 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jul 25, 2015 2:10:08 GMT
Guess who's A/C broke today?!!!
And I can't find the freaking Frog Tog!!!
All I can do is laugh.
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Post by Basket1lady on Jul 25, 2015 2:28:04 GMT
Amazon has them with same day delivery for me. You can also find them at the box box stores or sporting goods stores.
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