Help, I'm burning up...

[Hope]

I need some advice. I have been living with my oldest brother for the last few years, in a nice big house w/ cheap rent, and I haven't had any major complaints.....until recently. Because recently he got married, and I now have a new sister-in-law living in the house as well. Don't get me wrong---I like her just fine, we get along, etc.....however, she is Nicaraguan, and being from a tropical country, she is extremely cold-blooded.

Sooo, in order to please his new bride, my brother now rarely turns the AC on in the house, even when it is over 90 degrees outside. So basically I enter a sauna every day when I get home from work. It's usually around 85 degrees, or more, in the house. I've tried not to complain, I keep my ceiling fan in my room running constantly, I throw open windows and doors at night when it cools off a tad....but, still, I am usually sweating up a storm, and it's driving me crazy!

Is there a solution to this, other than my moving out? I'm trying to be understanding, and I don't want my sister-in-law to freeze on my account, but the heat is beginning to really get to me.

 

[cardero]

I would purchase one of those portable floor air conditioners and keep it on when confined in your room. For the times when your sister-in-law is not home, ask your brother if you can turn the main air conditioner on and turn it off 20 minutes before she comes home.

 

[Father Heathen]

Have you sat down with them and discussed your concerns? They might be understanding and willing to makes some compromises everyone will be satisfied with.

 

[3.14]

tell them that this in not nigeragua and ask them to turn up the airco, its great that she likes it warm, but dislike takes priority aboth like, and you dislike the heat

 

[+Xausted]

Can you not just talk to them both?
I am sure that you can come up with a temperature that will be a compromise for both of you.

 

[Engyo]

Ya do gotta admit it's going to help with the utility bills.................

 

[Gentoo]

Perhaps you could move the AC to your room?

 

[Phasmid]

Tell your brother's wife to put on a damn sweater...

 

[mrscardero]

Tell your brother's wife to put on a damn sweater...

That's what I tell cardero!

I came from a country where it was 140 degrees in the shade.
I come to this country, I am cranking that AC baby! When it
gets hot, I get cranky so I need to be cool. Our temp in the
house pretty much stays the same all year round. 69-72 degrees.

cardero pretty much works with me. If he is cold, he'll just put
on a shirt. If I feel bad for him, I will tell him to turn the
heat up.

I would purchase one of those portable floor air conditioners and keep it on when confined in your room. For the times when your sister-in-law is not home, ask your brother if you can turn the main air conditioner on and turn it off 20 minutes before she comes home.

Now I know what you do. But you sometimes forget to
turn it back to the original temp mister :slap:.

Have you sat down with them and discussed your concerns? They might be understanding and willing to makes some compromises everyone will be satisfied with.

Agreed. Discussing is a good idea. Compromise. Work something out.
Maybe your brother will get tired of the heat himself.

 

[tomspug]

Well, you are technically the guest, so it would be very rude to imply that they are obligated to do anything. However, if they don't know how miserable you are, nothing will ever be accomplished. Although, it seems like, with your opening the windows and ceiling fans, that it's probably obvious.

Do you drink lots of iced liquids? Bringing down your body temperature internally can make a big difference, at least for me. Since it's probably air-conditioned everywhere else, you might get into the habit of changing clothes whenever you get home for the warmer weather. Ooh! A spray bottle might be nice, the one with the fan! (maybe I'm taking the sauna description too far), but you might as well make light of it if it's not going to change.

 

[Kungfuzed]

Like mrscardero, my wife is from the Philippines and she grew up without AC. Now that she's living here she keeps it cranked up to the point where I have been catching colds in the summertime because it's freezing in here. I don't understand why your sister in law would enjoy the heat so much.

 

[Charity]

The best thing to do would talk to your brother......You were living with him before he got married right? Do you help pay part of the utility bills? There must be some way to reach a compromise that will be good for everyone. I can't imagine anyone no matter where they were born wanting to be miserable with out ac. Just having air in your room still is not fair to you, are you suppose to be confned to your room and not have access to the rest of the house? Really I think I would sit down for a good old fashioned family conference and present my need.......

 

[michel]

The best thing to do would talk to your brother......You were living with him before he got married right? Do you help pay part of the utility bills? There must be some way to reach a compromise that will be good for everyone. I can't imagine anyone no matter where they were born wanting to be miserable with out ac. Just having air in your room still is not fair to you, are you suppose to be confned to your room and not have access to the rest of the house? Really I think I would sit down for a good old fashioned family conference and present my need.......

I agree; bring this up before you get too wound up about it......it sounds as if you might be on the way to being so.......

 

[Hope]

Have you sat down with them and discussed your concerns? They might be understanding and willing to makes some compromises everyone will be satisfied with.

Can you not just talk to them both?
I am sure that you can come up with a temperature that will be a compromise for both of you.

Yeah, I've talked to my brother. Both he and my sister-in-law know I'm not too happy about the situation. For a few days they turned on the AC, but have since reverted to no AC.

 

[Hope]

I would purchase one of those portable floor air conditioners and keep it on when confined in your room. For the times when your sister-in-law is not home, ask your brother if you can turn the main air conditioner on and turn it off 20 minutes before she comes home.

How much do those portable AC units cost? Maybe I could suggest my brother buy one for me, since I pay him rent, and I'm the one suffering.

I definitely turn on the AC when the sister-in-law isn't home---problem is, she's almost always home. She doesn't work, and my brother works from home.

 

[robtex]

April can you buy a portable fan to use for yourself, put near yourself when in the home?

 

[Hope]

April can you buy a portable fan to use for yourself, put near yourself when in the home?

I'm seriously considering that.

 

[robtex]

I'm seriously considering that.

you should 25-30 bucks later problem solved!!! I need to send you email on myspace too. Miss our correspondence.

 

[Hope]

Ok. The time for action has come. It was close to 100 degrees today in central Virginia, and I came home to a house that was 89 degrees inside. By the time I arrived home, it was actually a little cooler outside, and I sat outside on the deck to eat my dinner, so as not to sweat quite as profusely.

I found an old fan that I have installed in my room, to at least keep the temperature down in there, but every time I exit my room, I break into a sweat. I'm having a serious discussion with my brother and sister-in-law as soon as I can. I ain't a happy camper at the moment.

 

[Valjean]

Has no-one noticed Phasmid's suggestion?

It's a lot easier to keep warm than keep cool.