Cooling down loft conversion

[kingeri]

Hi everyone. This year I converted the loft into a bedroom. This was done when the weather was cooooool. Now, over the last few days I have found the temperature up there to be unbearably hot, even well after the sun has gone down. The skylights have been open the whole time. Anyone any bright ideas to cool things down? I have looked at stand alone air con units, but how effective are they, and also how quiet?

 

[kingeri]

Murdoch, unfortunately the designer would be me. And no I didn't. I'm a total plantpot.

 

[kingeri]

you should of maybe used breathable felt on roof, i bet you left the older stuff in..

You mean on the outside? It's a slate roof.

 

[ringer]

Fit some photovoltaics. First off they will shade the roof they are on, second, you can use the power they generate to run an air con unit in the loft. May be a tad expensive though!

 

[SirKit Breaker]

I also have a loft conversion, and it gets stinking hot up there. No easy fix really, leave the velux windows open, and keep doors upstairs open along with windows, this lets the air circulate and does help a bit. if anyone sleeps in there then i have a tower fan, bit at night it is comfortable with the windows open, just hope it dont rain!

Cheers...........Howard

 

[plugsandsparks]

When i moved into our house we decided to make the top floor which is in the eaves our bedroom where it was a childrens play room before. The heat was unbearable so all we did was removed the 4 velux windows, replaced with tiles and modified the roof to make a 3M dormer window, also installed a ceiling mounted fan. It has made a huge difference and in the recent heat as soon as the sun goes down , i open the windows fully and put the fan on full blast. By the time its time to go to bed its nearly the same temp as rest of house.
Dormer cost 3K though

 

[needasparks]

Think this tends to be a problem for everyone. all the building inspectors are interested in is the heat conservation and never about heat loss when you want it.
In saying that, for the three weeks a year we get sunshine i guess its the best way round.
Be in the papers now that york has sun, only thought you guys just cleared the snow up there

 

[Engineer54]

If after all other methods have been tried and failed to cool your loft converted bedroom, then it's time for a split air-con, but of the inverter type. I would say a small 9000 BHU will be adequate for an average sized bedroom. Unit's like Daikin produce, will not cost anything like a normal A/C unit (Wall Banger or Split System) in operation.

I changed all 6 of my split air-con's to Daikin's inverter units and the electric bills dropped dramatically. They are a bit more expensive to to buy, but more than make up in the running costs. As they are heat and cooling units, you'll probably be using the heating side more than the cooling side in the UK!! lol!!

 

[kingeri]

Thanks everyone. Yep, I suppose it's only gonna be a problem for a tiny proportion of the year. Am considering installing a ceiling fan though, don't know why but I thought they were of little use..

 

[telectrix]

Am considering installing a ceiling fan though, don't know why but I thought they were of little use..

try telling that to my significant other when she wants to cool down in the bedroom.

 

[plugsandsparks]

Thanks everyone. Yep, I suppose it's only gonna be a problem for a tiny proportion of the year. Am considering installing a ceiling fan though, don't know why but I thought they were of little use..

I followed advice from a friend who lived in the states, he told me to do everything i can with fans before going air con as fans are good until your eye balls dry out and you have a stiff neck but do work very well.

 

[Engineer54]

Unless a fan is pulling colder air into a warmer area, they will do absolutely nothing to cool a room down, it'll just be circulating the warm air in the room.

An air-con on the other hand can take a room down to 16C, ...If your foolish enough to want a room at that sort of temperature...lol!! All my home A/C's as well as the 2 i have here, are set at 23C, and will cycle, to keep that temperature pretty much constant!!

 

[telectrix]

23deg.C. that's a sweat box. 15 - 18 is ideal.

 

[Engineer54]

23deg.C. that's a sweat box. 15 - 18 is ideal.

Haha!!! Even the best A/C's only go down to 16C, ...Leave an A/C on, set at 16C and you'll be literary shivering!! Set at 21/23C and you'll be not be too cold or too warm... but just right!! lol!!

Ask anyone here that lives/works in hotter climbs and they will basically tell you the same.... Even set my car's A/C to this setting!! lol!!

The idea of air conditioning is NOT to make a room/area cool or cold, or warm/hot but to give a comfortable living/working environment. If sized/ positioned and set correctly, you shouldn't really be that aware of an air conditioner... You only really notice the difference when either leaving or entering an air conditioned room/area

Far too many come to hot countries on holiday, and turn the A/C unit on, set at it's lowest temp' and leave it there!! Then wonder why they have stiff necks and dry/sore throats etc, by the time they get home .... lol!!!

 

[telectrix]

16, that's about 61 F in english. just about right if sitting at a computer, but no working on the tools. anything above 55 F is purgatory.

 

[Engineer54]

16, that's about 61 F in english. just about right if sitting at a computer, but no working on the tools. anything above 55 F is purgatory.

LOL!! If you think your going to a hotter country to work on the tools in an all air conditioned environment, ...your going to be very sadly disappointed!! lol!!

And on that note, ...i'm off to bed now in my air conditioned bedroom set at that sweat box temp' of 23C.... BOOTIFUL!!!