With the heatwave conditions in Brisbane this week (excuse me Mother Nature – it’s supposed to be autumn?!), I came across this old blog post in the archives about why I love air conditioning so much.
So much so, that when we bought a new house last year, I refused to move in until air con was installed in our bedroom!Β
A couple of things have changed since I wrote the post below … we only have 4 (instead of 5) air conditioning units installed here, and they are all split systems rather than “window rattlers”. We have a big 7kw one that does the whole downstairs living area, as well as air con in two of the bedrooms, and the upstairs rumpus, and they have been in pretty much constant use over the summer. I was dreading the power bill (usually $1100 at the old house for December, January and February) – but got a very pleasant surprise. At $550 it was literally HALF what we used to pay! Are split systems that much more efficient and cheaper to run than window units?
While we do get a lovely sea breeze especially out on the upstairs deck, it doesn’t really make much of a difference inside the house. So I’m very thankful to have air con again and the reasons are just as valid now, as they were when I first wrote the post below in November 2016!
Why I Love Air Conditioning
I have decided that air conditioning in Queensland is a necessity, not a luxury.
Despite living here all my life, I really can’t handle the heat and humidity – and I swear it’s getting worse over the years (or maybe that’s just me getting older?).
Home air conditioning was pretty much unheard of when I was growing up. Long before I reached school age I dreaded having an afternoon nap, because that meant lying on my bed in my west-facing bedroom. I can still feel the sweat trickling off my skin, so that I stuck to the nylon bedspread. Ughhhhh.
The long school holidays in December and January weren’t much fun. It was simply too hot to do anything except loll around on the couch watching TV. We would escape to the shops for a bit of air conditioned comfort, or if we were really lucky, visited friends with a pool.
These days, I love my air conditioning π .
It might be overkill but we have five – count them FIVE! – air conditioners scattered throughout the house.
There are window mounted ones in Mr 22’s bedroom, our bedroom, the media room and my office. It might look tacky tacky but this is definitely one case where I am putting comfort over style.
Oh, and we also have a big split system which cools the kitchen, dining and family room areas.
We did think about replacing them all with ducted so it doesn’t look quite soΒ “trailer-trash” – but: a. it’s expensive to instal and b. even more costly to run. Miss 20 says her boyfriend’s family have ducted, but rarely put it on due to the expense. Quelle horreur!
7 Reasons to Love Air Conditioning!
- Without air conditioning I don’t sleep properly. When Janet gets tired and cranky, this is not a good situation for anybody.
- I’ve noticed that when it’s uncomfortably hot, it’s not just me … everybody gets a little hot under the collar!
- I actually enjoy cooking and making meals during summer – including Christmas Day – something that would never have happened before air conditioning!
- I don’t stick to my chair while I’m working in the office.
- We don’t have a pool, and having a shower to cool down just doesn’t work – by the time I’ve towelled off I’m just as hot all over again.
- My makeup doesn’t melt off even before I’ve finished applying it.
- I’m much more productive and creative when I’m enjoying air conditioned comfort, instead of over 30 degree heat!
I don’t know how anybody can live without air conditioning in a climate like this. Even roasting in the classroom is a thing of the past, as I think most schools now have air conditioning.
I wonder if I will ever get used to it though – it still feels quite decadent when I put the air conditioning on!
But then I think about how I visited my friend in Christchurch one winter many years ago, and how she told me about her astronomical heating bills. Her one month power bill was more than what we paid for three months! But it was so cold, they just had to have it.
So now I’ve decided that we are the same here in Queensland, only with air conditioning. Or at least that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it.
Life without air conditioning? Unthinkable!
I love air conditioning. Who’s with me?!
Lyndall @ Seize The Day Project says
Our previous house was a sweatbox! Even the candles melted!! In our current home, we have 2 air conditioners, but they are rarely used. There’s nearly always a bit of breeze where we live. Our house faces north and has a long breezeway which brings the fresh cool air into the house. I’m not really a fan of air conditioning. I can’t sleep with it on at all – too noisy! π #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
We have breezes being so near the bay – trouble is, our neighbours are heavy smokers, so to open the windows means we are passive smoking. UGH. So I’m doubly glad to have my air conditioning!
Deborah says
I just had upstairs and downstairs ones in my last Brissy place and the upstairs one was a bit problematic.
In my little apartment here I had ducted aircon but the place was tiny and the aircon unit itself pretty small I think.
As you know I’m getting it installed at my house today. The guy is here at the moment and I’m looking forward to the flexibility of having it – being able to use it to cool in summer and heat in winter – but still a bit nervous that I might have not needed it in my house on the hill and could have used that money for something else….
(But if I didn’t have the breeze I get I’d consider it a necessity as I REALLY feel the heat!)
Janet Camilleri says
I’m envious of your breezes – and the fact you can open a window without inhaling the next door neighbour’s cigarette smoke!
Min@WriteoftheMiddle says
Totally agree with you! I could not live without my aircon. We have ducted – a brownie point that went towards the decision to purchase this house! We also have a pool and while that is nice – you can’t spend all your time in there. I like to work at my computer in comfort and I like to generally be comfortable. The good thing about ducted is that you have a control panel and can choose which bits to have on or off. I often find that just having my bedroom one on cools the whole front of the house which includes my office area and that does me just fine! #TeamLovinLife
Janet Camilleri says
It really does make life bearable during our long hot summers doesn’t it π
Raychael Case says
We have ducted evaporated air conditioning in our temporary accommodation. It would be over twenty years old. It chews through both the electricity and water usage and only really gets the house slightly cooler than the temp outside. As hot as it gets in Perth, especially with me having hot flushes, I’m finding it hard to justify the expense of running it when it is just me at home during the day.
We are now looking at building or purchasing something new for our next home. I’m not sure which way to go in terms of heating and cooler. Hopefully something that is economical to run.
Janet Camilleri says
Maybe get solar installed to lessen the cost of running air con/heating?
Sydney Shop Girl says
Planning the air conditioning for my house as I read this!
SSG xxx
Janet Camilleri says
You’ll love it π
Bec Bowyer says
Yeeeeeeeeesssss! We had evap cooling as a kid (Melbourne) and it worked really well. The house we moved into 5 years ago also has evap cooling which unfortunately just doesn’t cut it anymore. The climate has def become more humid in the past couple of decades. A few weeks ago we had a reverse cycle unit installed in our kitchen/living area and it’s AMAZING. I’m so grateful for it!
Janet Camilleri says
I know, isn’t it wonderful? We might be spoilt but also incredibly grateful!!!
Leanne @ Deep Fried Fruit says
Because Canberra is a dry heat it was strongly recommended we get evaporative cooling. It’s ducted and you have to let natural air into the house via open windows and doors. My husband loves it because he still gets to feel like he’s part of summer. I’m finding that with the whole climate change thing that Canberra is starting to experience some bouts of humidity which means the cooling doesn’t work. Plus in the extreme heat it only gets down to around 24-25 degrees in the house at its coolest. Having said that, it’s better than the 38 degrees that’s going on outside!
That was a long way to say, I LOVE AIR CONDITIONING in whatever form possible.
Janet Camilleri says
I think I’ve heard evaporative cooling is cheaper to run – I wonder if that’s true? We live close to the bay so do get a lovely sea breeze, unfortunately we don’t get to enjoy it as it also brings all the secondhand smoke from our neighbour’s place *cough choke splutter*.
Kerrie @travelswithmum says
I love aircon! I struggle in the heat and humidity so put it on most days during summer, love it!
Janet Camilleri says
I don’t know how we ever lived without it! I know I’m spoiled, but just so incredibly grateful x
Kathy Marris says
Sigh! I would love air con but my hubby keeps saying we don’t need it as we get nice sea breezes at our place. However there are days when we don’t get a breath of wind and we swelter.
Janet Camilleri says
We get a sea breeze too Kathy but unfortunately the next door neighbours are heavy smokers, and often sit out on their pergola to smoke. The sea breeze is usually a south easterly which means we cop all their secondhand smoke, it’s so gross, that I can’t open a window even if I want to!
Beth | AlmostPosh.com says
We have ducted heating and cooling in the main part of the house and a split system in the extension. The trick is to run it at the right temp for optimal cost efficiency, close off unused rooms and keep blinds closed! We usually use our gas log heater in the loungeroom in winter if we’re all in the lounge room.
Janet Camilleri says
We usually run our big split system at 25 degrees, so I’m proud that we are running it more economically than the 24 degree minimum that is usually advised π don’t know if it actually saves much but whatevs!
Dad Life says
I am with you, I don’t know how people lived before air conditioning… ok well I know they did, but they must have been hot and due to that got on each others nerves more. There is a cost to running the AC but once you find that right temperature that doesn’t break the bank it feels great!
Janet Camilleri says
Sometimes I’m tempted to move to a cooler climate but as long as I’ve got my air con – and now it’s not so expensive to run – I’m happy to stay put!
Gerard says
Great article on your experience with air conditioning. I also live in Australia but on the west coast in Perth. I also work in the air conditioning industry. Wall splits have increased popularly these days because of costs. They are becoming cheaper and more efficient.
Keep up the great work