I finally have my sewing room and equipment to a point where it is almost exactly where I want it.

I have one big problem though. The AC in my room doesnt cut it. I talked to my AC guy and he says I have enough airflow that it is the heat from the iron, the lights and the fact the room is on the second floor with a full southern exposure and the fourth wall is the garage attic. He suggested insulation which is going to cost as much as a long arm. My room can easily reach 100 with the main house AC set at 70.

Fans do not cut it. I have a ceiling fan and two others in the room. I have resorted to setting the whole house to 60 to get my room to about 80.

I tried to get a window air unit but the windows are side by side cranks. The only thing I could get was a portable unit but I really dont have a way to vent it.

How do you all deal with the heat and sun when you quilt in the summer? Can I use one of those portable AC's and "vent" it to the hallway without getting carbon monoxide poisoning?

Your utility bills will be very high if you keep that up. I don't think his answer makes much sense. More likely that the point where your thermostat reads the temperature is too far away from your sewing room. I would try a fan first. Let it circulate the hot air out into the hall or rest of the house.

There is a portable AC unit you can get and vent it outside. They have them at Lowes...Home Depot and even WalMart. I have one in my sewing room and love it.

For years our only AC was a roll around swamp cooler only about the size of a dehumidifer and it worked great sometimes to cool but just turned it off when comfy. Dont remember the brand name. then it was less than $100.No outside vent needed.

The portables that vent through the windows should work. They come with an insert that should fit in your crank windows too, or a thick piece of plexiglass cut to size would also work :D:D:D

Maybe try managing the heat that you can control in the room so your AC can do its job. For instance, put your iron on a surge protector. That way, you just use the on/off button on the protector to turn your iron off while not in use, then just hit the button to turn it on a few minutes before you will need it. Also, you can use the spiral type light bulbs in your lamps, they don't give off heat. Insulated curtains on your windows will help with afternoon sun (or you could replace those windows with some that have a Argon between the two panes. That way, light comes in naturally, but the Argon keeps it from heating up your room).

Just some thoughts for you. :-D :-D

This issue was addressed in the latest issue of our electric coop news letter. It suggested opening windows on upwind side of house wider than downwind side to create more air flow while ac is off. With ac on open slightly the attic access door or a window at the highest level of the house. They also said that the way you open the blinds makes a difference. In summer tilt the blind slats up toward the outside. this helps keep heat from the window from moving into the room. In winter reverse direction to help keep cold out of the room. I will try these ideas this summer and see if it helps.

Me, I use a small window unit. We have the side by side windows, too, but DH opened one of the windows, set the unit in the window, then places plywood over the rest of the opening and used insulation to block any cracks. The unit works really well. I turn it on about thirty minutes before I start and by the time I go in, the room is comfortably cool. Give it shot. Oh, and the small unit only raised our light bill by about twenty bucks, well worth it, if you ask me.

We have found that our upstairs rooms similar to what you describe stays more comfortable using the giant attic fan than the AC. I have no idea what it cost to put in, but if you close everything else up and just open windows in a couple of rooms it will create enough breeze to cool just about anyone down.

I use a fan when it get to hot. my sewing room is also southfacing.

Did you make the Bail star? I see it is your avatar. If you did was it very hard to make. I just love that pattern