My apartment is too hot for me & LO

brideinsummer04

I am so frustrated with this heat. It seems like this is the hottest summer yet and my apartment is so hot I can't take it anymore. The electrical company has been reducing the electricity to avoid blackouts. Running the AC all day long still only cools the room to 80 degrees. Today my husband forgot to leave it on when he left (LO and I left the apt before him) and when we returned the temp was 93 degrees in the nursery. It's literally hotter in our apartment than outside. I've been running the AC (which we just got last summer) in there since we got home 3 hours ago and it is still 82 degrees. I am really concerned about LO sleeping in this heat. I am wondering if I should pack up and live with my mom for the summer. Any other suggestions for trying to stay cool? I know we could go to stores and whatnot during the day but sleeping at night is so uncomfortable and I'm so worried about SIDS. (Moving is not an option at this time otherwise I would have been out of here already!)

Rachel.lilly

Try setting up fans in front of ac registers to move the cool air. If you live in an appt where the sun beats down on one side, try putting up blinds and blackout curtains. It will make your place seem like a cave but definitely help with the heat.

JWSchwarz

You said you can't move right now, but I think this is grounds for being able to break your lease or require they fix the AC so that it cools it to a livable temperature. Worth checking your state/city landlord laws for. I am a landlord and know you have to be able to heat to a certain temperature, and I think the same is true for cooling it. 

Eilis123

I would take a trip to visit your mom or rent a hotel room while the heatwave lasts.  Those are dangerous temperatures.

When I was in my 20s I lived in an attic apartment which was ridiculously hot in the summer for 3 years, and I would always go spend July with my parents and their central air.

beth2882

Rachel.lilly:

Try setting up fans in front of ac registers to move the cool air. If you live in an appt where the sun beats down on one side, try putting up blinds and blackout curtains. It will make your place seem like a cave but definitely help with the heat.

These are great ideas!  The blackout curtains make a huge difference.  We lost power during the 100 degree heatwave for a few days.  We ended up staying with friends on night.  But, the first floor stayed in the 70's with windows open at night and the blackout curtains during the day.  Of course, the second floor was unbearable.  Is your apartment on the 2nd floor or higher?  I wouldn't blame you for crashing at your mom's.  How far away does she live? 

namara5532

Definately get LO out of there, at least to sleep.  I'd be concerned about SIDS too, plus I can't imagine it's comfortable for them.

Definately look into curtains.  Our trailer only cooled to 80 with a working AC because most of our windows face west.  With curtains, the house is a lot better.

brideinsummer04

JWSchwarz:

You said you can't move right now, but I think this is grounds for being able to break your lease or require they fix the AC so that it cools it to a livable temperature. Worth checking your state/city landlord laws for. I am a landlord and know you have to be able to heat to a certain temperature, and I think the same is true for cooling it. 

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try calling the management company. I don't think they can do anything but it's worth asking. The ACs are all only a couple of years old and they work fine when it isn't over 85 degrees so I think it is the electric company. They keep reducing the power to prevent blackouts so the ACs only work at like half the power they usually work at. I've called them and complained and they said they have no plans to update the power grid in my area. I hate that there is only one electric company in my area and that they are a monopoly. I would gladly pay triple my monthly bill if it meant not roasting in my apt!

brideinsummer04

beth2882:

Rachel.lilly:

Try setting up fans in front of ac registers to move the cool air. If you live in an appt where the sun beats down on one side, try putting up blinds and blackout curtains. It will make your place seem like a cave but definitely help with the heat.

These are great ideas!  The blackout curtains make a huge difference.  We lost power during the 100 degree heatwave for a few days.  We ended up staying with friends on night.  But, the first floor stayed in the 70's with windows open at night and the blackout curtains during the day.  Of course, the second floor was unbearable.  Is your apartment on the 2nd floor or higher?  I wouldn't blame you for crashing at your mom's.  How far away does she live? 

I will try the curtains and fans- thanks!

Our apt is on the third floor which is the top of our complex so the sun beats down on the roof right above us. My mom lives 25 minutes away. I guess we will be spending most of our summer there!