Dorm with no A/C - Recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DD is at a college in New England where freshman dorms have no A/C. She and her roomie have bought 6 fans and are still hot despite it only being 75 this week. Any suggestions for a great fan or portable A/C that doesn’t go in the window? Thanks!

It's 68 degrees in Boston right now. High of 72. They will be okay!

[Anonymous]

Tell them to shower before bed and go to sleep a little damp.

[Anonymous]

It'll be fine. It's just a manifestation of all of their other anxieties. Which is totally normal. In a few weeks, it will be cool and comfortable.

[Anonymous]

As others have said the best practice is to put them in the windows with one facing in and one facing out. Have a small fan that is close to the head of their bed - to move air while they sleep. No A/C in dorms, especially freshman dorms is a pretty common practice - not just in New England. It also shouldn't come as a surprise that they exist and once your student has a dorm assignment - it's pretty easy to determine what "amenities" your child will have. Usually the first few weeks of class are hot/humid - then the problem resurfaces again in the Spring - depending on locale of school. Its not fun, but the kids figure it out.

[Anonymous]

I could see the concern if they were in the South, but New England? Come on it's just not that bad. My dd is in school in CT and she and roomates have used regular old fans and been fine. Fall is basically here and temps will be cooling off significantly. Tell them to rub a little dirt in it and stop griping.

[Anonymous]

My older kid is in an ancient dorm for the second year and not only do they not have ac but the windows don't really open. Last year we broke down and bought a swamp cooler and she said it made a huge difference. It's not super cheap but since she's in the same building again this year I feel like I'm getting my money's worth.
https://www.amazon.com/Evaporative-BALKO-Windowless-Oscillation-Conditioner/dp/B0C2CK3BXY/ref=sr_1_8?crid=KB0XP81MTWN9&keywords=swamp+cooler&qid=1693320756&sprefix=swamp+%2Caps%2C208&sr=8-8

[Anonymous]

My daughter had the smallest dorm room in NYC. No AC. She never complained.

They should learn to tolerate not always being in 70 degree temperatures, especially if they want to travel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aren’t there ways to make homemade AC with fan blowing over ice?

The lows are in the 50s, just open a window at night. There is no reason for a student to be spending much time in their room this time of year. They can easily find somewhere with AC to spend their time

Get a box fan (if it isn't one of those 6 already) and put it in the window once temps "cool down" to bring in cooler air.

[Anonymous]

I don't care if it's freaking Harvard or Yale. No AC is a deal breaker for this family. So miserable! Who wants to live like that for years?!? It's like camp but it never ends!

[Anonymous]

That’s strange, DD in the same area also no AC, they are fine without a fan. The temperature has been cool so far

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't care if it's freaking Harvard or Yale. No AC is a deal breaker for this family. So miserable! Who wants to live like that for years?!? It's like camp but it never ends!

Ok….I guess go ahead and rule out most NE schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I could see the concern if they were in the South, but New England? Come on it's just not that bad. My dd is in school in CT and she and roomates have used regular old fans and been fine. Fall is basically here and temps will be cooling off significantly. Tell them to rub a little dirt in it and stop griping.

Ha! Might want to check weather.com

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DD is at a college in New England where freshman dorms have no A/C. She and her roomie have bought 6 fans and are still hot despite it only being 75 this week. Any suggestions for a great fan or portable A/C that doesn’t go in the window? Thanks!

Those fan motors are all giving off heat as are any other appliances that they have; six seems counter productive. One or two fans and opening the windows at night worked when I was in school. During the day, just avoid your room if it's too hot. The gym, cafeteria, library, and academic buildings will all have ac. It's a good time to poke around and find somewhere out of the way to study

The earth has gotten hotter since you were in college, Granny. What worked then isn't necessarily going to work now. That's why there are so many more wildfires now, so many more days with the temp over 100 now, etc. The earth is burning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I could see the concern if they were in the South, but New England? Come on it's just not that bad. My dd is in school in CT and she and roommates have used regular old fans and been fine. Fall is basically here and temps will be cooling off significantly. Tell them to rub a little dirt in it and stop griping.

Ha! Might want to check weather.com

I just did. 72 in Boston, 77 in Hartford CT. I think they can handle it.

[Anonymous]

They'll be fine. It'll cool off in a couple of weeks, especially at night. My DD was a freshman at William & Mary on the top floor of a dorm with no AC - it forced her to hang out in areas that did have AC and meet people.