July 2, 2008
The ‘You Don’t Need Air Conditioning in L.A.’ Myth
If you live or are planning to live near the coast in L.A., you might be told that you don’t need air conditioning in your apartment or house. Be skeptical. Be very skeptical.
Maybe air conditioning wasn’t needed 10 years ago, but some scientists say that average temperatures are going up due to global warming. Sure seems that way, doesn’t it?
One of the main reasons we moved out of our nice, upgraded apartment in a fourplex near The Grove, which is about 10 miles from the ocean, was its lack of air conditioning. When we moved in, we were told that it got hot “only a few days a year” and that air conditioning just wasn’t necessary.
If you were here the week before Labor Day in 2007, you might remember the monstrous heat wave that suffocated the area for a solid week. It was in the low hundreds with high humidity outside, and in the low 90s in the apartment. It was a pretty awful seven days, for me and the pets. 
Moving is a huge hassle, but the prospect of trying to suffer through a similar heat wave this summer was not an option. The new place doesn’t have central air, but its windows will accommodate window units, unlike the old place, with its French door-style windows.
Right before we moved, a nasty heat wave came to town for about four days. It wasn’t quite as bad as last Labor Day, but it was close. As I sat on the couch sweating the Saturday before the move, unable to do the packing that needed to be done, I was really, really happy about our decision.
Incidentally, the old place was completely plumbed for central air. When I asked the landlord about it, she said it was reluctant to do it because it would cost $2,000 per unit. This while she drives a $60,000 BMW and collects about $11,000 per month from the four units.
I was in there last Saturday doing our move-out cleaning when she showed up with a potential tenant. I heard the woman ask about air conditioning but I didn’t hear the response. I think the lack of A/C is a big reason that she has not found a renter yet (and the rent price has dropped 10 percent). I always had fans going when people came over — otherwise, it would be uncomfortable. The women in the rear unit are also leaving — for the same reason.
Anyone buying or renting should insist on air conditioning. Unless you are extremely close to the beach, you will be glad you have it. And with the competition for buyers and renters these days, owners should be glad to accommodate you.
Recent Redfin posts:
Don’t Like Your Home? Swap It For Another!
Too Many (Nest) Eggs in the Housing Basket?
A Chevy Chase Tour through Glendale
Anita said:
Haha! We moved out of our old rental place for the exact same reason (but we live in the Bay area, mid-Peninsula, where it supposedly “doesn’t get that hot”). After suffering through last summer, I couldn’t bear the thought of living through another one in that house. We moved from a 1900 sq ft single family home to a 1250 sq ft townhouse for the sole reason that it was the only rental in the area that has air conditioning.
July 2, 2008 9:00 AM
Arash said:
You do need AC in LA unless you are maximum of 2 miles from the beach. Temperatures can dramatically change as you distance from the shoreline. YOu need AC specially because mild beautiful tempuratures of 77-78 degrees can feel hot indoors. The threshold for indoor temp to me is from 70 to 76, anything over the AC kicks in.
July 2, 2008 11:56 AM
Cindy Allen said:
Good to know, Anita and Arash. I bet even the beach homes can be hot when the Santa Ana conditions kick in around Labor Day and the air is from the desert, not off the ocean.
July 2, 2008 12:13 PM
Sammy R. said:
I’ve got a condo in the Miracle Mile area just a stone’s throw from The Grove. We do have central air, but in fact, only need to use it 10 days or less each year. There are some specific factors, of course, like that we face inside, away from direct sunlight in the afternoon, we also have shade from trees inside our courtyard, and our windows/screendoors are situation well to get airflow through the place. My avg DWP bill for a family of four in a 2 BD/2.5 BA comes in less than $100 for 2 months. On the other hand, I work at a home/office in Pasadena. It’s consistently 10 degrees hotter there than home. We have the A/C on a lot. Bills there can get to over $500/bi-monthly. Our family has been thinking about moving to the Eagle Rock area (next to Pasadena) so I’m closer to work and for their good schools, but the added A/C costs do play a factor when I’m pricing homes for affordability.
July 2, 2008 3:34 PM
Cindy Allen said:
Hi, Sammy: I guess I only need mine about 10 days per year, but I’ll bet your darned happy you have it on those days, am I right?
July 2, 2008 3:41 PM
Anthony said:
This could be even more true if this article becomes reality eventually!
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25501251/
July 2, 2008 9:47 PM
ra said:
Ongoing AC only increases the chance of global warming. Having a non-hot house for all but 3% of the year would save some green in two ways. What has happened to conservation and responsible building or landscaping (trees to help shade)? In the UK, the homes are rated for their “Green Index” which is how much the home uses in electricity and how well the home is insulated and so on. That’s by their new law and it’s smart to look into before you buy.
July 3, 2008 12:20 AM