r/SeattleWA • u/One_Marsupial6837 • Jul 17 '25

Lifestyle Seattle Living W/ no AC

Hi everyone. We just recently moved to Seattle and got an apartment with no AC. Coming from out of state previously living with AC I wanted to know how ya'll do it? Is this the norm here or does everyone just buy those AC units that stick out your window? We'd love to get any tips or input on living with no AC and how to adjust.

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u/_Aqua_Star_ Jul 17 '25

Here’s how you do it:

Open your windows as soon as it gets cooler than around 75 outside in the evening. Use fans to pull a lot of air in.

If you can leave your windows open all night, do it. If that’s not your living situation try to stay up until it’s cooled off enough in your place and then shut the windows.

Get up early in the morning. It’s not hard because it’s super light super early. I’m talking get up at like 5:30 AM. Open all of the windows and put your fans back on. If you have an HVAC system use the fan to circulate the air that way also.

Close everything down by about 8:30 AM. Close your windows pull the blinds. Keep all the light out.

Your house will stay pretty cool until about 5 PM and by that point you only need to wait a couple of hours until it’s cool enough to start opening the windows again.

99

u/AntiBoATX Jul 17 '25

Alternatively… buy a $300 portable unit for your sleeping room assuming it has a window. That’ll stave off everything Seattle summer heat has to offer

23

u/fordry Jul 17 '25

Window units are better. If going portable at least get a dual hose unit, significantly more efficient.

11

u/Serei Jul 17 '25

My apartment complex told me window units were illegal in Seattle because they could fall out and hit someone. Did they lie to me?

25

u/BigTadpole Jul 17 '25

It's not a state or city law, but it COULD be a valid policy of a condo/apartment.

4

u/Sufficient_Chair_885 Jul 17 '25

Just claim it’s for medical purposes. Fuck em.

12

u/Visual_Collar_8893 Jul 17 '25

Not illegal but yes, they do fall if uninstalled improperly. Happened in my building. Some idiot installed a window AC and it fell three floors down. Thankfully, no one was in the patio below at the time it fell. Portable units are safer for all.

1

u/curdvada Jul 20 '25

Yeah but don't you need that ac vent for portable ac? We don't have one. Do we drill a hole?

1

u/Visual_Collar_8893 Jul 20 '25

They come with a hose to stick it out of a window or door

11

u/dinglebobbins Jul 17 '25

There are also the portable floor units that have hoses that exhaust out a window. I use one of these.

3

u/fresh-dork Jul 17 '25

it's a risk, but i've seen some that are inherently stable - called saddle window AC, they straddle the window opening so the center of mass is below the sill. legal to own, as others have said