Aagghh! It's 92 degrees in my condo! At 2:30am!!

[tibbir]

My a/c died about a week and a half ago. The good news is that my seller bought a warranty program when I bought my condo so I'm saving over a thousand dollars. The bad news is dealing with the warranty company.

First after 2 days they sent a tech out who said it was unrepairable. Then it took 2 more days for them to get a 2nd opinion. Yep, unrepairable. Then the part had to be ordered, which took another 3 days. Then the next day 2 new techs came out and installed the new unit. Problem was it doesn't work. Today they sent another tech out who refused to climb onto my roof where the compressor is with his 6 foot ladder (all the other ones did). Speaking of which, why does he only have a 6 foot ladder anyway. He should have a decent ladder plus it's the 3rd time the company's been here for goodness sake. Now it's Sunday morning and the best I'm going to get is for this thing to be fixed sometime maybe Monday. Crap.

My condo's windows are all on 1 side so there's no cross ventilation. It gets up to over 95 during the day and only cools down to 92 or so at night. Factor in the humidity and the heat index is probably in the 100's. I take medicine that makes me more sensitive to the heat so this is getting serious.

I really have no problem with Houston's weather normally. I avoid the heat if I can't be out in a pool or something during the summer. We get some fabulous weather in the spring and autumn and I'm not a fan of cold weather so I love our winters. It's just that down here we need our air conditioners.

I'm writing this on the Texas forum because I knew I'd get some understanding. Thanks.

[TexasSissy]

1. I feel your pain. One and a half wks is way too long to be w/o a/c in

Texas. Time to get on the phone and speak your mind, and/or go to the place in person. It's a shame customers have to be that way, but sometimes that's what it takes.

Sounds like they're spending their time and efforts on the paying customers whose a/c units have gone out (they tend to go out this time of year). Time to make them want to get you off their back!

A warranty was paid for. DEMAND they do their job and honor the warranty or you'll be writing to the Attorney General and whoever else you can think of, incl. the Texas Commissioner of Insurance.

I've had friends who have had home warranties. They didn't have the kinds of problems you're describing. That's not normal. DEMAND they take care of the problem pronto. It could hardly make matters worse.

[juajen]

2. Well, since I live in Louisiana, I think I also understand

The last time we had a problem with airconditioning (it was out for a week), we did the following: set intake fans in the windows, and used high velocity fans on the floor, so with those and our ceiling fans, we kept right at about 78 to 80 degrees. Watch out for heat stroke, and if you are really hot, take a lot of cool baths. You could also get a unit airconditioner (for l room) for about 200 to 300 dollars. Maybe you could charge them for the cost. My brother went through a heat wave in Montana, of all places, and had to get an individual unit. Unfortunately, I believe he got it a little late, and did suffer a heat stroke. Drink lots and lots of water, and get some fans. 95 degrees is too hot, cool it down.

[dumpster_baby]

3. my houston condo also has windows only one side

luckily, the HOA takes care of the AC. They came in twice this year already--freon recharge and drain line plugged.

The humidity has been BRUTAL the last week or so. We have about another 3 weeks of this weather.

My wife and I have a little 2 bedroom 2 bath condo in Maplewood (near Chimney Rock and Braeswood).

I hope to been in law school next year, and after I graduate, I plan on moving somewhere with less humidity. I just don't like Houston, anyway. Or Texas, in general, even though I was born here and have lived here most of my life. It is really just a backwards state....

[tibbir]

4. Wow, I just read the note of appreciation from the rich.

Very true, unfortunately.

I was born in Houston and, even though I don't like the summer weather, I've got a pretty good support system here that's taken me years to build. I wouldn't like to start all over. Besides, the non-summer weather can be quite nice.

I know Texas is way too conservative as a state but Houston is way more liberal than that at least. In a poll of Harris county Bush and Kerry are running even. The bright spot here is that they polled the entire county, including the 'burbs.

Good luck in your law degree pursuit.

[tibbir]

5. It's finally cool again!

I called the warranty company and the repair company and let them have it. They sent their only smart tech out first thing - with the right ladder this time - and he found out that they had wired the unit so that the heater was running at the same time as the a/c (sigh).

Anyway, I saved $1,400 by using the warranty company, which is good, but I definitely paid for the monetary break.