I gave up and turned mine on a couple days ago. I don't mind it getting warm during the day, but when it stays hot at night, I can't sleep.

Evap cooler's been going for several weeks. We don't hit the a/c until the dew point comes up to about 55 or so. I need to install a sun shade on the front living room window, that's a good idea newtoucan. What's a radiant barrier?

Ah you crazy warm zone people and your ac.

Hey, we're in triple digits already!

We had snow and freezing temperatures within the last week here. It is beautiful today though. I don't blame you for turning on the ac, I was just messin' with ya.

No worries, I was not offended. Where's zone 5a?

We have shade screens on all of our windows but we've turned the A/C on some nights if it doesn't cool off enough. I'm like Leslie, if it's too hot, I can't sleep.

MaryMcP Zone 8b - Phx AZ I'm in Ontario, Canada. The full 4 seasons here. I was almost over-heated today out gardening and it was only 19 c. I think that's about 66 F. LOL I seriously don't know how you do it.

No AC here yet.. Ceiling fan and open window with roller shade cracked at night is fine. We have roller shades on all our windows too. But these chicken wire and stucco homes heat up fast. Sure miss our Central Phoenix block home with massive attic insulation where we seldom turned on the AC before end of June.

Growing up all we had was evap cooling all summer. If we left it on at night with all doors and windows open, someone would get up sometime during the night and turn it off as it was too cold. I couldn't sleep now in today's environment if I knew all doors & windows were open.

I miss my evap cooler. Rusted out years ago, but we'd use it up until about the 4th of July, Cheap, and could have the house open, so we got fresh air, too. We have upducts, so we could lock it up tight if we wanted to.

We only had a swamp cooler when I was growing up, too. I was never cool enough. I remember going to a friend's house, with A/C, and being amazed at how quiet and cool it was!

My A/C has been on here and there. I need it cool at night as well. Don't tolerate the heat as well as when I was a whippersnapper. I just resigned myself to the fact that the electricity and water bills will be insane in the summer. I compensate a little by hanging laundry outside to dry.

I had to turn mine on today..I usually open the back door (with screen) and it cools off by 10 pm or so, but it was still 89 in my house.. I would probably sleep outside if my air conditioner ever went out. Mosquitoes would have a party that day.

5a around here would be parts of Flagstaff and just north and in parts of the Tonto Nat forest. Warm spot in Canada.

I turned mine on a month ago. Rarely kicks in however. Worth every penny. Evap cooling is great in Tucson and other similar places but in Phoenix it sucks way too long to be practical.

A properly dug basement should stay at 75F year round in Phoenix area with no need for supplemental heating or cooling.

I finally turned mine on Sunday evening when it got muggy. Loved the rain and hope it keeps on coming.