[Thaine]

I live in California and am moving into a home that I'll be renting that apparently doesn't have AC. High temperatures exacerbate my mental illness, which is documented as a disability by the state. What are my options as far as asking for A/C to be installed? Its a 3 bedroom place so it would suck to have to get window units, though it is an option, however my landlord wont even get back to me with dimensions on the windows so I can prepare. If he wont install A/C what are some ways I can install temporary A/C units? Any recommendations on what kind would work best?

I'm really nervous it can get super hot out here, its been in the high 80s all week.

[Hairball]

There are some nice heavy duty fans out there, even though i have A/C which is expensive i use fans

[mc2ed]

I live where it can become very hot....and the home did not have AC....there is a video on youtube....

there are all kinds of variations of this...I made one with the 5 gallon bucket that cost two dollars....it really works...I had it in the bedroom for when went to sleep.....I think the air coming out was 65 degrees....not pretty though I did get a pink bucket.....it was also only the cost of running the fan....I have I used 2 of them....one for when I slept and one near my chair......

I feel a bit of concern if this affects you so much....that you are going to move into a home without Air Conditioning...of course I do not know the circumstance of the home...I do not think there are any laws that require a landlord to install Air Conditioning.....so are you really sure this is the home you wish to rent...before you get all the way moved in.....

I hope you can get what you need to be comfortable....I too am affected by the heat....I tell people...heat pinches my b***h nerve...

[Thaine]

Thanks for the suggestions. I need AC that I can keep on a thermostat for my animals too, so fans and swamp coolers wont work unfortunately. I am trying to find good window units but I know nothing about that kind of stuff.

[mc2ed]

Originally Posted by Thaine

Thanks for the suggestions. I need AC that I can keep on a thermostat for my animals too, so fans and swamp coolers wont work unfortunately. I am trying to find good window units but I know nothing about that kind of stuff.

This is something I find helpful.....I look on Amazon..and then their customer reviews.....THAT HAS SAVED me many many many times from making a purchase I would regret....and has also often steered me in a better direction than might have occurred to me....whether or not I purchase it at Amazon...I can find the product elsewhere...yet I know from people who have one how happy they are with it...or not.....good luck.....

[*Laurie*]

Hi, As you can see I'm also in California. I know how hot it will soon be, and I understand how the heat can badly effect mental health. I also understand about having pets and a/c.

I have lived in places that had no a/c and it was pretty hellish. Your landlord should definitely be responding to you. Have you requested in writing (very important) that you need to discuss a/c with him?

I am quite sure that, in the absence of window a/c, there are portable a/c units you can purchase from The Home Depot. They are not cheap, of course. In fact, Home Depot would be an excellent place to get the information you need about a/c your home.

Here's a link for you: Portable Air Conditioners - Air Conditioners - Air Conditioners & Coolers - The Home Depot

It is not your property manager's/building owner's responsibility to provide air conditioning (at least not here). I had to get permission to use my own portable air conditioner in the window space. They did however insist that their own handyman install the boards and slats around it. They added a charge for this on my rent. There are now portable air conditioners that come with expansion slats so as to fit the a/c unit into the window.

[*Laurie*]

justafriend is correct: Strangely, property owners do not have to provide a/c. They only have to provide heat. Nevertheless, I hope your landlord will work with you as far as allowing you to install some kind of a/c.

[Thaine]

Yeah, I am allowed to install it, I just need to pay for it and figure out logistics on my own. He's letting me come into the house to take measurements soon, and then thanks to your suggestions I'll go ask some experts at Home Depot and check out amazon.

[*Laurie*]

Sounds good! I firmly believe that property owners should provide a/c in California, just like they provide a heat source. People can get sick and sometimes die from the summer heat, after all.

[eskielover]

When I lived in Calif I was out in the Antelope valley where 110 in the summer was normal. We actually for somereason bought portable AC that might have had a thermostat even thlugh we had central air in our home.

We had moved into the house on a July 4, a brand new home they had just finished building. In August I had major knee reconstruction done before they did it arthroscopically. Huge full leg cast & was on crutches home from work. The bramd new A/C quit working & it was 100F IN THE HOUSE. I had no way to get out of the house as I couldnt drive with the cast on my leg. The builder kept telling me it would be weeks before they could get the part. I pleeded with them given my situation & they took the unit from the house next to ours that hadnt sold yet & exchanged our broken one with their working one. Ah what a relief that was...but in the mean time my leg got so swollen, the surgeon opened up the cast to make sure no infection then squirted bedidine on my lrg & closed the cast. The heat & the bedidine ended up burning my skin which we realized at the 2 week point when a new, smaller cast was put on....talk about miserable!!!!

Ca is definitely no place to be without AC though my parents house in the Dan Fernando Valley didnt have any AC until they finally put in a window unit when I was in High School.

I use my ceiling fans here even though I hsve a new heat pump in my home here. Dont use it unless hot & humid. Ky has some hot days but none like Calif.

Wishing you the best on this. I use Amazon all the tine to look up items I want to buy to find out reviews & model numbers. Great suggestion.