"meirman" wrote in message
...
In alt.home.repair on Sun, 10 Jul 2005 19:15:27 -0700 "Pagan"
posted:

"meirman" wrote in message
news
A friend's house faces west and it gets so hot in the afternoon that
his rather new and just recharged central AC can't keep up with it.
Much hotter than other places. Cathedral ceiling.

All I can think of is anti-heat window film. Does this work? Can he
do it himself? He's afraid it will look tacky after he does it.

Depends on what he has for windows. If he has newer low E double
windows,

Probably not. The house was built in the 70's or 60's. He has an
almost bay window with lots of 12" panes.

The low E windows, which is what I had installed a couple years ago, are
damn impressive. You get all the light, and almost none of the heat. It
makes a HUGE difference, especially with large windows.

film isn't likely to do anything. It may be poor or lack of insulation
in
the walls facing West. I'm told insulation can easily be added to walls.
Check Google.

He has a little window to the side of his front door and says he can
really feel the heat in front of it when the summer sun is shining.
Made a curtain for that one, but wants to look out the bay windwo.

With a window film kit, all you need is a hair dryer and a steady hand.

Or he won't be able to see out the window. Does it look as dark as
tinted windows on cars do, or are they dark on purpose and the
anti-heat part isn't so dark?

Any recommendations for a good brand or where to get it?

www.doitbest.com

Good idea. I relayed all this to him.

Hadn't found it yet when I posteed but also found these. Both sell
retail.

http://www.gordonglassusa.com/listing.htm?cd=341 This looks good and
certainly affordable, and they ship. (I use "shipping" as a search
word.) No samples, at least of what he wants.

http://www.concordwindowfilms.com/ also this. You can also buy a
sample pack for 10 dollars that includes a ten dollar coupon for any
other package of film.

The price seems to be between 33 and 80 dollars for the film, plus
shipping. Not a lot if it is pleasing.

If I recall correctly, www.doitbest.com, which is the Do It Center's retail
web site (they have several stores in L.A.) has them significantly cheaper.
Whether they're any better, I don't know.

Thanks a lot.

Thanks again.

I'm happy to have heard your ideas, and I'm still very interested if
someone knows anything bad about this idea.

Me too. Other than having plastic over your windows, I really don't see
anything too bad. If done with care, it's unlikely they'll be very
noticable.

Oh, should he stop using his ceiling fan in the summer?

Depends. He could try it and see if the light breeze cools him off as
well
as AC.

He should also check his registers. They might be closed, or the air
otherwise blocked by a kinked duct.

He'll see this.

He should consider planting a couple trees in front of his house. That
will
save him money on AC bills, make his home look nicer, and give him a good
place to hang a hammock.

They planted a magnolia tree this year, but in front of the bedroom
for some reason. There's more room on that side and I guess he
thought charging the AC would solve the problem.

I just had a brand new central air system installed in my house, and I still
planted trees in front, as well has installed ceiling fans, a whole house
fan, new windows, storm doors, and I'm not done yet. Next will be
insulation under the house, in the walls, and when the new roof goes in
within a couple years, new attic insulation, soffit vents, and solar roof
vents.

I don't believe cranking up the AC is the answer to anything, and my goal is
to use it as little as possible. These things cost a bloody fortune to run,
not to mention the wear and tear of pushing it to cool a virtual greenhouse,
or the reduced humidity which can irritate the lungs, eyes, and skin, and
dry out any fancy wood in the home. (of course, not all of this stuff was
done just for energy reasons, but also ascetetic and functional
reasons...house is over 60 years old)

Another tree or two would be the cheapest way to help his hot house, after
the window film. Heck, even some tall bushes would help.

I'm only harping on this because I'm assuming, with his window film idea,
that he's not made of money. I hate to see a guy spend hundreds of dollars
feeding an AC unit when he doesn't have to.

Pagan

Pagan



Meirman
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