Air Conditioning is it a necessity

[Denise]

Hi everyone

We are just in the process of securing our long term rental for our arrival in 2months time but the house we have fallen in love with doesnt have air con. I have spent 7 hot summers in Perth without it and although some nights were uncomfortable I can never remember it being that bad. The worrying thing is we now have 2 small children and I remember reading posts on this over christmas on how much they were suffering. What do you all think?

We are quite restricted on the properties we can arrange from the UK as the estate agent who is helping us only gets certain ones and many of them don't want pets, we are feeling pretty lucky to have the offer of this property in the area we want, the size we want and that they will accept our big daft dog is a bonus. We have friends checking it out for us and know the only thing missing is the air con.

Do you all have this and if not is it real hell with small children? I seem to remember Tracey's little one suffering?

Thanks for any replies ( In advance)

Denise

[foxychick]

I wouldn't want to be without aircon - but I'm a bit of a softy. you could always get a portable unit

[suzer]

Well with the kind of heat waves that can occur here, I would say it is a necessity. We suffered without a/c this year, and hubs has for most of his years in Australia, which are many;) My nieces & nephews live without a/c but for one main room I think, but I do think it could be very hard if you aren't from here. I'm from Chicago so am used to heat but this is something new even to me.

[graandjac]

Deffo need msome sought of Aircon....weather it be Reverse cycle or Evaporaptive........after a week of over 40 deg.......100% NEED IT

[ShaunWilson]

We couldn't live without it!!! Too hot for us in the summer.

[suziewozie]

My advice would be that you definately need air con. Again I have to agree with the others on here, Summer is too hot to live without it.

[Denise]

Oh no, wish I hadn't asked this question I kind of already knew what the answer would be. What to do now? Maybe take this rental for 6months and swap before the summer kicks in? 6months would take us to November so could get somewhere else for Christmas, surely I wouldnt need it before then?

[Diane]

It does kind of depend where the house is - if it's up in the hills, it's cooler up there so might not be a major issue. If I were you, I would take it and worry about it in six months time! We've just finished the really hot bit of the year, so it won't be an issue till about January next year anyway, and who knows what you might have found by then? If your landlords are reasonable people, you may even be able to persuade them to put something in for the summer (it's all tax deductable to them!)

Otherwise you can do what we did this year when ours broke down during the hottest week - wet sheets wrapped round the kids, turn the fans on full, and drink lots of cold water (oh and wine and beer but that's probably not such a good idea!) - oh and a paddling pool full of water for the dog!

Diane

[Denise]

It does kind of depend where the house is - if it's up in the hills, it's cooler up there so might not be a major issue. If I were you, I would take it and worry about it in six months time! We've just finished the really hot bit of the year, so it won't be an issue till about January next year anyway, and who knows what you might have found by then? If your landlords are reasonable people, you may even be able to persuade them to put something in for the summer (it's all tax deductable to them!)

Otherwise you can do what we did this year when ours broke down during the hottest week - wet sheets wrapped round the kids, turn the fans on full, and drink lots of cold water (oh and wine and beer but that's probably not such a good idea!) - oh and a paddling pool full of water for the dog!

Diane

Yes, I think you are right, its in Flagstaff Hill and is perfect apart from this issue! We will take the house as it takes a lot of the stress away and we will worry about it nearer the time, paddling pools and wine, sounds good to me. Anyway, I might win the lotto before then and buy my own air con!

[the4hopes]

Our air con went wrong on the first day in the 40s and was never fixed, we went to Bunnings and bought some fans and we survived, I wouldn't let it put you off. We got here last october so we weren't even used to the heat!
Laura