I’m not quite sure what category this belongs to, so I’ll post it here in the lounge. With summer coming up I’m getting nervous about AC costs. We have an old AC system that struggles to keep the warmth from the sun out during the summer, and I worry it will not keep up with my grow soon. Not much money to speak of to upgrade it, not liking the idea of venting outside.
The solution I’ve come up with is downsize. I plan to use a 2x4x5 tent, with a fabric bed and soil. DIY LED panel for lighting (20 Bridgelux EB2, the 2ft guys).
I decided to maintain a perpetual harvest autos should be used. My only other idea was to use a 12/12 light cycle from seed. I mean, thinking about it, it means 6 hours the LEDs don’t run but I think that amount of heat is worth it for better veg growth. Ok, so we have some environmental factors down. I have that figured out ok. What I need help with is what to grow!
It’s a two part question- part one is how many plants should I throw in there? The conventional idea I’ve followed is 2ftx2ft of “light space” per plant. But what if I don’t care about the size? What’s the smallest space you can give a plant to flower that’s worth growing?
Part two; fast flowering autos! Who’s your favorite breeder? I have zero experience with fast flowering or autos. (Hell I hardly have experience lol)
You can pick up used window AC units for next to nothing.
If central AC, running it all damn summer is gonna be more expensive if it just needs some maintenance. If it needs new gas, it’ll run the compressor constantly trying to keep temperatures down, it just doesn’t go anywhere, which is gonna cost you more in energy bills for next 4-5 months and your house is gonna be uncomfortable. Overworking the system is also a good way to make it fail more spectacularly and expensively, sooner. Get it done now before HVAC companies get busy in the summer months.
if your ac needs more freon or whatever its using, it means its leaking,leaks can be expensive, like say the compressor seals leak. But @vernal is right if it needs freon then it will run more .
agree, some one had said maybe it just needs new gas, was just meaning if it leaks it could be expensive, but then it could just be a o-ring as well or even a shcrader valve
Actually; funny story. Summer of 2019 I did all the research, got certified, and bought all the shit to recharge the unit myself. I successfully did so, sort of. It didn’t make much difference in the cooling, but I wasn’t allowed near the damn thing again when I couldn’t get one of the connections closed for a few seconds. I was working with one welding glove, and one utility glove that was only meant to hold a hold part or something. Well as soon as I saw it leaking what did it do? Both hands in on the job. I got it closed but was left with a bad burn on my index finger. So I we have some qualified look at it. I over filled it because my gauges were calibrated wrong. Go figure.
Anyways- unit is fully charged, tiny leak, very old (2006 I think). Considering a whole home fan for the reason @Foreigner mentioned. I’ve gotten home when it’s 60* degrees out and the ac is still cooling the house down from the day.
If you work with it, maybe a mentor …its not that bad. But yeah it could be dangerous, if freon burns it can prouduce a deadly gas and will be at the least caustic to metal etc.
You can add a dehumidifier to make it not have to work so hard. I’m thinking of getting one this year.
My house is in the sun, no trees to shade it, and at night in the summer it is also often warmer in the house than outside, as well. Old house, not particularly well sealed, single pane windows, plaster walls that feel warm to the touch after a sunny afternoon.
Hell it can be 75-80 in the house long as it’s bone-dry…but it never is with the muggy midwest summers and the indoor garden.
You use the dehumidifier water for the plants? HVAC guy said not to lol and I wouldn’t for fish tanks but I’m wondering why not for plants. Can’t be that nasty is my thinking.
Me too, that’s why I gave up and decided to downsize for the summer.
I let the water go down the drain because I don’t want to empty it all summer. I don’t know why I would be harmful, IME a lot of people will tell you not to do things simply because they don’t know and don’t want to give you harmful advice. The line about RO water leeching nutrients from soil comes to mind. But as far as I know formula xyz of dehumidifier sealant leeches deathtanium into the waste water.
Clean the condenser on the a/c unit. If it still cools, and does not cycle, chances are the freon level is good. The fins on the coils/condensor get nasty over the years. A simple condensor cleaner, like black magic, and hose it off…you may be shocked how well it works after.
I have lost count of how many ac i have picked up out of the trash that literally just needed cleaned…lol
If you use air cooled hoods You can simply direct the hot air into another room or closet ETC. I have seen someone take a mini fridge cut a hole in it for the intake plus another small hole in the cold air will cool down in room
