Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Topic: Staying 'Cool' this summer. (Read 11729 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #125 – April 14, 2020, 03:55:44 pm

Like Mike, I'll be spending my 1st summer in AZ. I'll be attempting to get by with my old Coleman TSR's. I'm thinking I'll put Reflectix on the windows and skylight for added insulation and I just saw a video that warned that putting the Reflectix on the inside of windows could cause heat related problems with the glass, including breakage.
Based on that, I'll probably put Reflectix on both the inside and outside of the windows. Any thoughts?

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #126 – April 14, 2020, 04:11:54 pm

Quote

Based on that, I'll probably put Reflectix on both the inside and outside of the windows. Any thoughts?

We do everything backwards like the contrarian in Little Big Man so we usually end up staying home in Arizona during the hot months. I find that if I put the Reflectix stuff on the outside of the windows the roof air does a good job of keeping the interior cool (well, not hot). Be sure and cover your wipers. One summer sitting and exposed and they're done for.
jor

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #127 – April 14, 2020, 05:40:36 pm

Quote from: Dakota Slim – April 14, 2020, 03:55:44 pm

Like Mike, I'll be spending my 1st summer in AZ. I'll probably put Reflectix on both the inside and outside of the windows. Any thoughts?

We've used the 'bubble wrap for insulation/ heat reflection and it works well; used velcro to affix it on the inside. We also had a shade unit made for the windshield, which helps, too. RV Windshield Covers & Window Covers | Enjoy a Cool Environment I've made covers of BW for the dash, steering wheel, instrument cluster, Allison controller as well as the leveling jack cluster; keeps the dust down and reflects the damage full sun can do. I'm going to make stand alone reflective shields for the tires and outside small awnings. After seeing many coaches with destroyed tires that had the covers, I've only used Permatex spray-on protector, but facing a summer down here, the bubble wrap on a free-stand will give air circulation in between, that most covers do not. Lastly, and, most important for sleeping to beat the heat is..........MRCOOL DIY 12,000 BTU Energy Star Mini Split Heat Pump w/ Smart Controller |...

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #128 – April 14, 2020, 08:47:17 pm

I went to Home depot and bought the shipping bubbles and cut them to fit my daughters windows in her house.. pretty sure they built her house with no insulation and put a 3k AC in the attic.. Hot in the summer in phoenix... noticable difference as soon as it was put on.. and easy to remove.. Like Mike.. sprayed the window and stuck the bubble wrap to it.. just pulled it down in the winter and washed the windows.. was halfway cheap and an easy fix.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #129 – April 14, 2020, 09:42:33 pm

Just covering my shower skylight reduces the solar gain a lot .

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #130 – April 14, 2020, 10:17:55 pm

I use Reflectix on my windshield to keep heat out in the summer and use it to keep the heat in in the winter. It make a big difference.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #131 – May 04, 2020, 06:29:01 pm

Shortly, we'll feel if all the work (plus a CB++) is worth it!

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #132 – May 04, 2020, 07:06:11 pm

Yeah we're starting to getting into summer here in South Texas. It's not the heat I mind so much, nor even the humidity is much although that can be a killer, but it's how long it just goes on and on and on. Six to seven months of summer time is not fun. Six to seven months of winter up in the Pacific Northwest when we live there wasn't fun either.
I heard about the 75 degree trip or circuit. I looked it up seems you can stay in that temp range if you drive around the country in a certain way have to try it one year.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #133 – May 04, 2020, 07:11:03 pm

A LOT of Foretavel owners from the hot Texas area spend summers in Angel Fire/Eagle Nest are of N NM. 8000' plus means great summer climate. High over the next 10 days is 71 degrees F with very low humidity.

Hoping to head that way in July.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #134 – May 04, 2020, 07:20:41 pm

Quote from: wolfe10 – May 04, 2020, 07:11:03 pm

A LOT of Foretavel owners from the hot Texas area spend summers in Angel Fire/Eagle Nest are of N NM. 8000' plus means great summer climate. High over the next 10 days is 71 degrees F with very low humidity. Hoping to head that way in July.

Believe me, we sure thought about Angel Fire, but the one Park we called wanted $900.00 mo., a little steep for we , po' fok'

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #135 – May 04, 2020, 07:30:14 pm

Yup at 900 a month, time to buy a house. 😎👍🍺

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #136 – May 04, 2020, 08:04:04 pm

Quote from: bbeane – May 04, 2020, 07:30:14 pm

Yup at 900 a month, time to buy a house. 😎👍🍺

It's not just Angel Fire that's pricey: all the Parks above the 6/7 k elevation: Payson, Flagstaff and Prescott, have gone thru the roof in the past few years WITHOUT any improvements or percs. They know they've got most of us in the lower desert climes by the short hairs, and want to profit NOW! Granted, they only have a limited season to make money and I understand, but the prices have not gone up A LITTLE; they've skyrocketed!

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #137 – May 04, 2020, 08:26:52 pm

Mike,

Have you checked here-- this is where many of the Foretravel meet in the summer: West Lake RV Park | WEST LAKE RV PARK

Looks like $330/mo plus electricity (but electricity is minimal, as A.C not needed at this elevation-- over 8,000'): CONTACT GLENDA | WEST LAKE RV PARK

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #138 – May 04, 2020, 09:47:37 pm

I am not trying to rub salt into wounds just saying it like it is.

Hard for us to move from here other than a scenery change to get motivated to leave our humble abode.

70's to low 80's during summer.

60's in winter.

Yes it's expensive. Beach 1 1/2 mile away.

Doheny state beach is close.

I do like angel fire idea although. May see you there?

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #139 – May 04, 2020, 10:30:56 pm

We lived in Los Angeles for 6 months 20 years ago or so. I really liked it there. We lived in Westwood. Worked at UCLA medical center. We still have family there. I thought about moving their permanently until I started looking at the real estate expenses. Said no thanks.
This year, my first year full timing will be Northeast from here. I plan to spend a month or two in Pennsylvania then head on up to Nova Scotia. I'll take my Jeep up into Newfoundland. On the way to Nova Scotia I'll head through New York Connecticut Vermont New Hampshire and Maine not necessarily in that order. I've always wanted to see Cadillac mountain and bar harbor and Maine. In Pennsylvania I hope to go back to the first place I ever did camp and backpack on the Appalachian trail north of Harrisburg. I'll also stop in Philadelphia and see family and friends there that I haven't seen for many many years. Hope to be back in Texas before Thanksgiving, and out again sometime after Christmas or New year's. I love New Mexico and I've always wanted to backpack in the taos area. My son and I were supposed to backpack up the wheeler Peak once and we never did make it. But it's been on my wishlist for a long time.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #140 – May 04, 2020, 10:58:03 pm

Bob,

Wheeler peak (Elevation: 13,159′) is right out your window from either Angel Fire or Eagle Nest.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #141 – May 04, 2020, 11:04:28 pm

It has already been 108 over here by Bullhead City and I haven't even turned on the AC yet. I'm keeping cool with this Hessaire MC18M swamp cooler. It uses about 5 gallons of water a day. I'm in the shade though.
Hessaire MC18M Indoor/Outdoor Portable 500 Sq Ft Evaporative Swamp Air...

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #142 – May 04, 2020, 11:09:14 pm

Cadillac mountain is only 1530 ft and you can drive to the top. Back in the 50's and 60's the upper classmen at BHHS would take some freshman to the summit, strip them naked and leave them there for initiation. It was only about 3 miles downhill to town with a phone booth enroute near the Kebo Valley Country Club.
In the fall.............you can bet there were some cool freshman.

https://youtu.be/0JvEVIfuSYM

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #143 – May 22, 2020, 07:12:47 pm

Next week, we'll REALLY start finding out if MrCool can do his job.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #144 – May 22, 2020, 08:58:43 pm

Just got the first full month bill for the house with the MR Cool running. Our consumption dropped 50%. 21 KWhrs from 40

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #145 – May 22, 2020, 10:07:36 pm

Quote from: Protech Racing – May 22, 2020, 08:58:43 pm

Just got the first full month bill for the house with the MR Cool running. Our consumption dropped 50%. 21 KWhrs from 40

Our first power bill with 100% MrCool will be coming up shortly. I'll be able to not only check it with my previous files, but check it vs. our neighbor, who has dual heat pump/ac units on the roof of his 36' 5th wheell and runs 24/7 (noisy as heck, too). One thing I do know already, is our propane bill has gone waay down, since we don't use the furnaces anymore to take the morning chill off.

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #146 – June 12, 2020, 01:54:57 pm

Glad to hear your mini split is working for you in the intense AZ heat.

I just saw this video of a portable mini split AC that was built into a expedition RV. It's pretty cool how he tied into his own duct. It makes me think that the condenser/compressor portion could be installed where I am removing the old muffler and the air handler could be incorporated into a cabinet in the bedroom. If it were kept at the floor level running the hose set would be pretty easy. It would take a bit more planning to try to tie into the existing duct work.

It could also be setup where the hose set was split into 2 pieces so that you could just plug in the inside portion in the months that you want it and set it on the floor in the bedroom. Would have to look at how condensate flows out. A Lifepo4 battery set could run this overnight at his stated average draw of 550w/hr.

YouTube Link

Forest Air

Re: Staying 'Cool' this summer.

Reply #147 – June 12, 2020, 06:33:56 pm

When we got our power bill, we was very happy! MrCool ran 24/7 all of May; average outdoor temp. was 95 degrees. Used no roof air, no furnaces in the a.m, kept us comfy at 75 degrees. $20.00 !!!!!!

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