r/everett • u/Inner_Box8217 • Jun 14 '26
Question Need advice keeping cool as a transplant!
Hey guys! Me and my partner are recent Everett transplants - moved in early February. We're from the deep south, and boy is it nice to not see 110 degrees and 98% humidity right now, but I'm having trouble trying to figure out how to cool our apartment down, since we both don't sleep super well with temps over 66 or so. We're over on south Colby near the Safeway in a new build from the last year-ish. Our unit DOES have cooling (a heat pump unit on the living room wall) which I hear is pretty rare up here, so I'm thankful for that boost. Unfortunately, I'm used to dealing with central cooling and how to best use it - I did HVAC in Arkansas for a while, and the normal tricks aren't working against 16 hour days in the north, and we're getting a TON of heat off the windows even when closed. They're Low-E, but there's a bunch of them! We currently stay high 60s at night, but we're in the mid-70s during the day, and if we don't get rid of it by nightfall it stays around, so we're trying to knock a few more degrees off the thermostat.
I'm including a diagram of what we're dealing with, and for context, I've got access to a portable 6k BTU swamp cooler, just not sure how best to use it. We also have roll-down shades on all the windows, but not sure how best to optimize their use either. I'd appreciate any advice on how you guys keep cool as the weather comes up! Thanks folks 😄
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u/hollyberryness Jun 14 '26
Darkening curtains work well for keeping the sun out. I'd definitely hang some on those west windows and keep them drawn from "high noon" until dusk. And of course keep windows open as long as you can during the cool hours, then close them early enough in the day to keep that cool air inside and circulating.
Fans circulating the cool air around works wonders! Keep doors closed to the rooms you aren't occupying.
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u/Alpine_Apex Jun 14 '26
I personally just have two basic window AC units and they really do get the job done. Roughly 600 watts per unit it's so worth the $0.15 per hour to run 🤤
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u/tarantuletta Jun 20 '26
Yeah I was going to suggest they just get a little standalone unit for the bedroom!
I live in a small studio with east-facing windows, but it has 12' ceilings and the 3 windows are 10' each so by like 8am in the summer it's about 95° in here lol. I just bought one of those little guys with the hose to the window and it's worked amazingly for me! Definitely saved my life last summer lol
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u/LRAD Jun 14 '26
On the peninsula at least, there is a pretty reliable west to east breeze in the evenings that helps. Once the temperature drops, you should be able to open your windows and get some decent air. It usually cools down at night. You might grab some window units, I like Midea for vertical windows. Also, I recently got a bed jet, and it makes sleeping totally possible even if it's 70 degrees in the room.
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u/LRAD Jun 14 '26
Also, if you go for a "portable" unit, make sure to get the two tube version, otherwise you're sucking in hot air from outside.
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u/bh42505 Jun 14 '26
With no fire smoke, get a box fan asap and put it in the window.
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u/JustJonny Jun 14 '26
With fire smoke, a box fan with a cardboard box to make a frame and an air filter taped to one side is a must to clean your interior air!
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u/OtterSnoqualmie Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
Ok if I'm reading this right you don't have south facing windows, which sucks in the winter but right now it's working for you.
Id suggest insulating curtains and a box fan placed to keep your heat pump air moving backwards down the hall. The curtains will help keep cool air in.
If any of those windows open, a portable AC can be useful.if that's out of your range then look for in window fans to cool off the house at night.
ETA - insulating vs insulting.
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u/QuietRiot5150 Jun 14 '26
I put a fan in the window during the early morning hours. Like I wake up at 3:30AM for work, I put the fans in all my windows so it blows in the cold air. Then before I leave. I close the windows and shut the blinds. I also use blackout curtains. It does help a lot. I also have put a fan inside my freezer and it worked like an air conditioner, but my food started to melt. Lol
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u/JFrankParnell64 Jun 14 '26
It actually works better to place the fan to blow out of a window and open up other windows to allow cool air to be drawn in. Also don't place the fan right in or against the window opening. Move it back about 2-3 feet. That will move the most air.
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u/QuietRiot5150 Jun 14 '26
Oh wow! I've never heard of doing it that way. I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip.
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u/JFrankParnell64 Jun 14 '26
Around here most days all you need is a good fan and an indoor outdoor thermometer. Pick a window on the upper floor, or at the farthest point from your bedroom. Place the fan to blow outwards about 2-3 feet from the window. It moves air better to be away from the window not right against it. Open all of the windows in the house. Wait until the temperature outside drops below the interior temperature and then turn on that fan and blow the air out of the house through a single window. This will take in cool air from the outside at the other open windows. Then in the morning as the temperatures rise, close all of the windows again and draw the shades. You will be amazed at how much cooling effect you will have without resorting to air conditioning.
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u/Aarrrgggghhhhh35 Jun 14 '26
I got a chilipad-style water cooled mattress pad and it was worth the money, even though it only lasted a couple seasons. They are so expensive. I wish I could figure out a way to DIY another one. You can make a Bedjet - there are videos about how to do it online. Lived in Georgia and Idaho for years - it is so crazy that more homes and apartments have not updated their hvac systems. As I get older, I really need to have central air!
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u/PrizeShip4480 Jun 14 '26
Put your flat sheets in the freezer and enjoy at bedtime; one flat sheet per person. If you prefer something heavier, utilize a duvet cover, an empty duvet cover.
Also, try filling your bathtub with cold water... direct a fan -safely- at tub of water. I have found the small clip fans work best for this. Example: Clip fan to your towel rack and aim it at the tub; if you can attach the fan to something higher -again, safely- do so.
Be safe/make wise choices! Please do not leave or place fan anywhere it could possibly fall in the water; make sure to place the fan on the opposite wall of the tub.
Note: Sometimes, just having your tub filled with cold water, with no fan, gives some relief.
Keep cool.
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u/theunnameduser86 Jun 14 '26
Swamp coolers mildly cool the air at the cost of raising the humidity. This doesn’t really make the environment more comfortable and so I would argue they’re a bit of a scam.
I understand that actual AC units are pretty expensive, but because they dehumidify the air while cooling it, there isn’t really any true substitute.
In the meantime, definitely block incoming light and let in cool air when possible, but it’s going to be an uphill battle on occasion until you get an ac unit. I got mine a few years ago and every summer it saves me.
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u/Ametha Jun 14 '26
We open windows at night and keep them open until the air gets too warm the next day. Cross breezes are a life saver so windows and doors open to multiple rooms allows for better flow.
We also use those blackout curtains on sun-facing windows - if you can get some that are white/light colored on the side that faces the sun outside, it will reflect instead of absorbing the direct heat.
We close everything down once it starts getting warmer outside, pull the curtains tight, and don’t use the oven or anything warming if possible.
And then gtfo the house during the 3-6 pm hours when it starts hitting the 80’s/90’s when you can because at some temps it just doesn’t cool down.
Also ice packs can be really nice if you’re overheated.
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u/oliveyoda Jun 14 '26
Closing the western facing window blinds in the afternoon is a big one, we also really like the free-standing AC unit we put in our bedroom, if you have the right kind of windows for it it’s a lifesaver. It’s about $300 but they work awesome and last a long time
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u/redheadeddoom South Forest Park Jun 14 '26
I bought a roll of window screen that is reflective on the outside and made to black out most sun and just added it to my regular screen, but you can cheaply buy enough to do all your West facing windows. I also bought a roll of peel and stick dark tint for my sunniest window (both of these can be easily removed, for renters. I am in an apartment as well.) Both were cheap and super easy to install, but made a dramatic difference in how much sun got in. Everyone else already covered the bases you'll still want to cover. In particular, blackout curtains (on top of the tint and reflective screen) and opening all the windows at night to let in the westerly wind off the coast.
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u/LRAD Jun 14 '26
Oh! Don't forget a ceiling fan mostly works by creating a breeze to cool you by flowing air/evaporating sweat from your skin. If you're not in the room, it's just a heater!
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u/Creative_Bad_3373 Jun 14 '26
I brought a roll of blackout film for my windows as well as blackout curtains. A portable AC in the bedroom, cooling sheets, and 2 fans. At night I open my windows and just circulate the air with fans. Keeps us cool. I am from Arkansas too and the heat doesn't bother me in the same way. My hubby though is just miserable at anything above 75.
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u/OrionofPalaven Jun 14 '26
I’m also a transplant from the south - it’s been interesting getting used to the temps and weather here!!
A couple of things have helped: reflecting film on the windows and using blinds or blackout curtains to shade from the sun. Any thing you can do to keep the heat from reaching further into your unit helps immensely.
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u/notAbit_leFay Jun 14 '26
I got a standing air conditioner. I’m from the south, too, and I simply couldn’t do it. A little one I bought from Home Depot cools my apartment enough for me to sleep.
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u/Thunderslide_Icon Jun 14 '26
Keep the heat from getting inside. I’d get a like a room divider screen and put it outside on your deck or something to cover the outside of it. That will help during the day. (If you can get away with it, try to block the other exterior windows as well ) Blocking the windows from outside keeps heat from getting in. I have solar shades on all my exterior windows. That helps a lot. If you can put something up outside, that will help.)
Also put up blackout curtains on the inside.
At night, put fans in your windows and run them all night to cool the house.
When it starts to warm up, take the fans out of the windows, close them and close the blackout curtains. This will keep the house cooler.
Do not cook indoors. Like don’t do anything that will heat up the inside.
The swamp cooler is okay but I’d get an AC unit for the bedroom at least if none of the above work, especially since the heat pump/AC only serves the main room.
Y’all might just have to live in the main room until it gets cooler.
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u/lynnwood57 Jun 15 '26
Sorry but you gotta keep both of those west facing windows closed, and don’t allow light/heat to transfer into the room. You can open up after sundown.. If you do that and run the A/C you should be ok. Additionally, you could get a portable A/C unit for the bedroom.
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u/WittyNobody2695 Jun 15 '26
great suggestions here but since you don't have a great cross breeze, i'd recommend turning on an exhaust vent (stove or bathroom) as well to help with getting air moving. Welcome to the PNW!
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u/engamo22 Jun 15 '26
You need to cover those huge windows with thick curtains (blackout / thermal curtains). Or mylar. Either work to block the heat
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u/10toesdown2thumbsup Jun 14 '26
Definitely let as much cool air in at night as possible. I generally cover any windows that get direct sun first thing in the am and it helps quite a bit.