desertrose

I live in AZ and my sewing area faces S/SW and I have sun until after 5PM daily. If I don't get in to sew until the afternoon it's ten degrees hotter than the rest of the house. Besides the ceiling fan, I use CLF light bulbs and use 3" thick sheets of foam insulation. I cut it to fit the entire window opening and it works great to cut the heat gain from the sun.

I would try the portable AC unit, vent it through the window, cover the window with the foam insulation (making a cut out for the AC vent). I swap the sun light for reduced west afternoon sun anyday.. Good Luck

nightquilter

I would check the price of a attic fan!This would help cool the whole house down.All you do is open the windows downstairs turn the fan on, works like carolina magic! :thumbup: this draws all the hot air from house and attic.

Peg-TX

I do know that all you mentioned does make a big difference. I live in Houston and have my quilting room that is about 14X15 and have 7 lights over the quilting frame. It came with the pot light things in them and I bought the new twirly kind and it made a big difference. I try to use a little iron on the side of the sewing machine not my big one and may use a small fan and it is fine. This room is usually the coldest in the house. I usually have it on 70. Maybe they could add some more vents or another duct. We did that to our bedroom and that was great.

good luck,
Peg-TX
Innova 18"

seamstome

Well, my husband and I sat down again today to talk about it and all of your ideas.

I talked and talked to him about it for the last year when it was so hot. I told him today that I wasnt going through that again and if he didnt do something I was moving my sewing room into his Man Cave in the basement over the upcoming weekend. He would have to move the pool table and big screen TV.

No more talking needed! He was at Home Depot right after work.

We got a portable air conditioner AND we are going to line the window with the reflective stuff plus we are going to insulate over it--I dont need it for light. Plus he is going to double check if he can add anymore insulation along the garage attic wall, ceiling, etc without too much effort or expense.

I have changed out all the light bulbs I think. I have been doing that as they burn out. And I am going to set my ironing board up out in the hallway for the summer. I have cathedral ceilings so the hallway is open on one side.

We have crank windows so the AC unit really cant vent outside without making a plexiglass insert. And if we did that it would end up on the same outlet as my sewing machine. I did not like that idea.

This room has a walk in closet that abuts into the garage attic so he is going to cut a hole in an area in the wall and vent it into the garage attic. It would plug in across the room from my sewing machine and we think that is okay as far as overload. We are going to try it there before we cut the hole.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I really think once my big AC unit goes I am looking into those split units.

Cindy

olebat

Way to go! Sometimes, they'll come around. Sounds as though you used the right tactic. In the heat of August, tell us how it works.

Judie

I didn't read every answer that other sent, but we had the same problem.. What my husband did was bought an A/C unit that he installed permanently in the wall.. We had to cut a hole in the outside wall, wire it in permanently, finish and trim out around the unit, and support the unit with bracing.. I was a bit unsure, but it has worked out beautifully.. the area is cool whenever we want it, which is most to the summer.. But doesn't have to be cooled for those times when we aren't using the room. It wasn't expensive (less than $200) and this unit was very energy efficent.. We bought the unit at our local Lowe's or Home Depot, I can't remember which. Made a very uncomfortable room nice to work in anytime we want. Not only is it cool in there, but being a real A/C unit it also takes the humidity out of the room.. a huge plus in the midwest! On top of that he was able to install it high up on the wall (cold air falls down so that worked fine) and it doesn't take up any space at all.. Certainly worth looking into even if you can't do the work yourself. Much less expensive than the idea given by you A/C guy!

Pat75

I have a problem similar to yours and I just gave up and do all my sewing in the dining room and do my cutting there too but the iron stays in the warm room.I keep the mess down.It is my house and so what.The season is only about 3 months when I must do this.I find that I do better planing and can tolerate the ironing knowing it is a short time I am in the heat.

Rose Marie

I live in Phx AZ and do not understand why they build 2 story houses here.
I used to live in a 2 story comdo and the upstairs was way to hot and the downstairs to cool.
The only thing I have heard about is to put in two thermostats to regulate the upstairs separately. I dont know how this works but was told about it from an air conditioner person.
I now live in a one story and only need to turn on a fan in the hotter rooms.

MYWR

I get the heat about 4 PM every day (that it isn't raining). I have a ceiling fan which circulates in both directions and have verticles across 80% of my window that I draw when it gets tot hat point. The airflwo helps and I also tend t wear a great deal less cothes on those dasy as well

TexasGurl

I'm struck most by your saying that it is 100 degrees in the room. The only way you're going to get real improvement is to INSULATE at the garage /attic wall. The attic area can easily get to 140 degrees, and all that heat radiates right through to YOU. It is NOT that expensive to do, if this guy told you it is, then you need to get a 2nd opinion & DON'T use that guy ! Insulating is something homeowners can do, other than the new foam expanding insulation. Also, how much insulation is in the exterior wall and ceiling ? More cooling won't help much if the attic / exterior heat is coming through all the time.