Questions on keeping a house cool

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around strategies for keeping a house cool, particularly during hot weather. Participants share their experiences and suggestions regarding window management, airflow, and alternative cooling methods, including the use of fans and insulation techniques.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested
  • Experimental/applied

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether opening more than one window on the second floor is necessary for cooling the first floor effectively.
  • Several participants suggest that opening more windows can enhance airflow and help remove hot air from the first floor.
  • There is a concern raised about whether opening multiple windows might inadvertently draw hot air from the first floor into the second floor.
  • Another participant emphasizes the importance of wind direction and suggests a strategy of opening "up wind" windows on the first floor and "down wind" windows on the second floor to optimize convection.
  • Some participants share personal experiences of managing heat without air conditioning, including using fans and specific window-opening strategies.
  • One participant mentions the potential cost savings of avoiding excessive air conditioning use and discusses the comfort levels associated with different temperatures.
  • A participant from the UK notes that while they rarely find their house too hot, they recognize the value of insulation and reflective surfaces in managing indoor temperatures.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally agree that opening more windows can improve airflow, but there are differing opinions on the optimal number and placement of windows to achieve the best cooling effect. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the best strategies for specific house layouts and conditions.

Contextual Notes

Some strategies mentioned depend on specific house layouts and local weather conditions, which may affect the effectiveness of the proposed methods. There is also a lack of consensus on the best practices for window management in varying circumstances.

Who May Find This Useful

Homeowners looking for practical advice on cooling their homes during hot weather, particularly those without air conditioning or seeking to reduce energy costs.

Cats869
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Hi guys,

I have a question on cooling the house. So at night, I usually open windows to let all of the cold air come in and open the 2nd floor windows to let the hot air out. The 2nd floor is a large open area and has windows in the front and windows in the back.

Now, I normally open all the windows on the first floor but am wondering if it necessary to open more than 1 window on the 2nd floor. The reason why I am wondering is because my goal is to have the first floor cool as I do not care too much about the temperature of the 2nd floor. The 2nd floor is also a big open area so air can freely flow around without much obstruction. I just need to know if opening 1 window will let all the heat out for the night and is adequate enough to cool down the 1st floor or will opening a few more windows on the 2nd floor will greatly benefit the first floor temperature?

Thanks guys!
 
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Open more windows. Depending on the direction of drafts and wind, having more windows open can increase air flow.
 
Dr. Courtney said:
Open more windows. Depending on the direction of drafts and wind, having more windows open can increase air flow.

Right, and will that mean more hot air will be sucked out from the first floor and travel into the 2nd floor since more windows are open?
 
Cats869 said:
Right, and will that mean more hot air will be sucked out from the first floor and travel into the 2nd floor since more windows are open?

On average, yes.
 
Ok, thanks a lot! :) I had a feeling that would happen but just wanted to make sure with others.
 
I agree with what other have said but..

Wind can over power convection..so depending on the layout of your house some combinations of open and shut windows might be better or worse than others. A reasonably statergy might be to open "up wind windows" on the 1st floor and "down wind windows" on the 2nd floor as that should reinforce convection.
 
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CWatters said:
I agree with what other have said but..

Wind can over power convection..so depending on the layout of your house some combinations of open and shut windows might be better or worse than others. A reasonably statergy might be to open "up wind windows" on the 1st floor and "down wind windows" on the 2nd floor as that should reinforce convection.
My AC was out at the beginning of the cooling season and this is exactly what I was doing. I opened the lower floor windows on the windward side and the upper windows on the leeward side. I also mounted a fan in the upper floor to help force the circulation. It wasn't as good as having AC but it did the job.
 
Borg said:
My AC was out at the beginning of the cooling season and this is exactly what I was doing. I opened the lower floor windows on the windward side and the upper windows on the leeward side. I also mounted a fan in the upper floor to help force the circulation. It wasn't as good as having AC but it did the job.
Saved a bit if money, too, I expect. AC is one of those things that we can start to regard as a necessity and it is very easy to have it on more than necessary and also set to a lower temperature than appropriate. A bit of a dilemma, actually, because it can be very pleasant.
 
Borg said:
My AC was out at the beginning of the cooling season and this is exactly what I was doing. I opened the lower floor windows on the windward side and the upper windows on the leeward side. I also mounted a fan in the upper floor to help force the circulation. It wasn't as good as having AC but it did the job.

Sounds similar to my situation. My AC unit went out on the 2nd weekend of July.
I have two squirrel cage fans running right now, pulling the heat out of my house as fast as possible.
One was semi-permanently mounted about 20 years ago, as it seemed preposterous to buy an AC unit, when it only got über-hot for 1 week out of the year.
This past June, we set 6 new heat and rainfall records...
Still waiting for the results for July.
One of my cats melted last Friday.

pf.2015.07.31.melted.kitty.jpg


:oldfrown:
 
  • #10
sophiecentaur said:
Saved a bit if money, too, I expect. AC is one of those things that we can start to regard as a necessity and it is very easy to have it on more than necessary and also set to a lower temperature than appropriate. A bit of a dilemma, actually, because it can be very pleasant.
The control room operators on the site that I work at typically complain that twenty degrees is too hot in summer and twenty three degrees too cold in winter.
 
  • #11
Thanks for your advice guys. Finding it really helpful to keep the house cool during the heatwave this week :).
Also closing window blinds/plys in rooms that I'm not in often which helps a bit during the sunny days.

I try not to use the AC until after pretty much close to 80F or if it's really really humid in the house.
 
  • #12
Living in the UK, I seldom find that the house is too hot. But I do know that insulation is great value when trying to keep it warm in winter. It is possible to reduce the rate that the inside of your house gets hot by using insulation and reflective surfaces. It may look radical (silver backing on closed curtains or blinds, for instance) but it would be good value.
 
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  • #13
sophiecentaur said:
Living in the UK, I seldom find that the house is too hot. But I do know that insulation is great value when trying to keep it warm in winter. It is possible to reduce the rate that the inside of your house gets hot by using insulation and reflective surfaces. It may look radical (silver backing on closed curtains or blinds, for instance) but it would be good value.

Like tinfoil hats!

Only thing is, it works, in this case. :approve:
 

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