I would hardly run the AC if the hottest it got in summertime in Oklahoma City was 90°F. But last year, we had several instances where it got up to 100 or 105. And the dew point was 70-75 degrees all summer. So your sweat hardly evaporates. I run my AC all day to keep it 80 degrees and swampy indoors.

I would love to redo my whole house's HVAC system where one smallish central unit cools the kitchen and living room and each of the bedrooms have their own ductless mini split. This is one way to achieve zoning. There's no reason to cool the entire house to 65 degrees if I'm about to be asleep in the bedroom for the next 8 hours. There's no reason to try to keep the whole house cool when I'm about to spend my day in my home office. Just cool the room I'm in and leave the rest alone.

I could also do window units, but for some reason, my wife is vehemently opposed to them. Her parents just put window units in all their bedrooms and one in their living room. They don't use the central unit anymore. They only cool the room they're in right now, and their power bills went from $400 to $150 in summer. They paid for themselves in one season.

[–] BeMoreCareful@lemmy.world 2 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Window units are loud AF.

Running a dehumidifier has been the best thing I've ever done though. I believe I'm from a more humid environment though.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 7 months ago

One of the best things about living inland is having indoor relative humidity over 30% being high

[–] Simulation6@sopuli.xyz 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Closing vents and doors helps.

[–] Coreidan@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

You shouldn’t. Blocking vents is bad for your blower motor as your constricting the system and putting unwanted wear on the blower motor.

You can do it. But you may end up damaging your hvac system and wearing out some parts much faster then normal.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I have two types of vents:

floor vents - to send central heat to all the rooms
Ceiling vents - to send inside air outside

I can't see any problem with closing one of those types of vent

[–] Coreidan@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Again you’re constraining your blower motor by doing so. It’s added wear and tear. It won’t break over night but you will require repairs faster then if you didn’t touch the vents.

Do want you want. It’s your property. But this is similar to someone constantly leaning on their breaks when they are driving.

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I think you misread my comment. I wasn't talking about closing vents attached to a blower

[–] Coreidan@lemmy.world 1 points 7 months ago (1 children)

What other vents could you possibly be talking about if not hvac vents?

[–] psud@aussie.zone 1 points 7 months ago

Vents that they used to put in ceilings in houses in Australia to ensure there was good air exchange between the inside and outside. They vent indoor air to roof space.

They seem to have come from architects who lived in places without winter