I'm renting an older home with a unique circular layout, which is great for space but not so much for heating and cooling! I've been cutting off the upstairs during winter to save on sky-high fuel oil costs. It worked well, keeping my bedroom at a chilly 64°F while the kitchen skyrockets to 83°F. Now that summer's here, I'm wondering if I should open up the upstairs to let the heat rise and use window AC units downstairs, or would it be better to use fans to circulate air instead? I'm trying to find the most cost-effective solution since moving to a two-bedroom apartment doubles my rent!
2 Answers
You might want to try opening up the rooms to let air flow better. If you can’t get window fans, regular fans aiming at open windows can help too. Adding some curtains to your south and west-facing windows could really help—keeping the warmth in when it’s cold and blocking it out during summer. If you have a basement, try pointing a fan from there up the stairs to boost airflow. Just keep experimenting to find what works for you!
Sounds like your bedroom AC is doing its job, but it’s tough to get that cool air to the kitchen. Have you thought about portable AC units that can work with open windows? Those could be a good fix. Just remember, if you do open up the upstairs, you'll likely have to cool more space, which might affect efficiency. It’s a balance between airflow and cooling capabilities!