Request to limit AC use

Sitter Questions, Advice & Chat
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Hello THS gang,

I am doing a housesit in a very hot and humid area (summertime). I am on a month-long housesit, and the homeowners have asked me to limit my air conditioning use, especially during the day (when it is the hottest), because it is expensive. I am not from a hot country, and I need AC to cool down and function properly. I am also working remotely (I told them this prior to my arrival and mentioned that I would be spending the majority of my time at the house). It wasn’t stated in the post that the homeowners were an energy-conscious household and expected restrictions on AC use. I wouldn’t have applied if I had known this.

During the meet-and-greet (the same day they left for their holidays), they said they were acclimatized and never used the AC. However, I just got here, and I am not acclimatized to the heat. They also made several comments that make me think they are of the “cheaper” variety. Some comments included their views on the AC, how they don’t like taking the dog to the vet because it is too expensive, and which settings I was allowed to use on the washing machine because other cycles ran for too long. They also asked me to drive them to the airport instead of taking a taxi. They said the house cleaner came on the first day but wouldn’t be coming again while I was here unless I wanted to pay for it.

I have been trying to be as conservative as I can with the AC. I don’t use it while I am not in the rooms, and I cool off a room and then turn it off. I turn it back on once the temperature gets too high for comfort. I have also been using fans, but since the air is hot, they only work so well.

I am afraid I will get a negative review because the energy costs will be higher than normal since they never use the AC. In every other housesit I have done, the homeowners have told me to use the AC as much as I want. But again, the current homeowners didn’t make this known until the day I arrived.

In addition to this, there are other issues with this housesit (i.e., a cockroach infestation). Should I continue to use the AC as conservatively as I can and wait to see what the outcome is, or is there another route I can take?

Thanks a bunch! :slight_smile:

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Use the AC to make yourself comfortable. If they give you a bad review (odds are they won’t see the bill before review time is up) then respond to it with just emotionless facts. And please do mention in YOUR review the controlling aspect of the AC and the bugs (though bugs should be expected in tropical areas).

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They may be able to monitor electricity usage real time. This sounds like the kind of people that would do that.

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True. But if they are doing that then they’ll probably already plan to leave a bad review and are looking for reasons to do so, so there’s nothing you can do about it. Might as well not be miserable in that case and just plan your response for if it does happen.

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You are sitting in Darwin, Australia, in October and didn’t check the expected temperature and climate there??? Not even I as an Australian would go to Darwin at this time of year, it is THE worst heat and humidity that I have ever experienced, anywhere, it’s hot, it’s humid, it’s horrid.

You also mention the cockroach situation in another topic you have started. Cockroaches in Australia are a part of life in summer, almost impossible to get rid of. The intense heat and humidity brings them out and doesn’t have everything to do with cleanliness though that is a reason for a very big infestation. I have hosted international students who see a cockroach or two and think they are everywhere and they are going to die or catch some terrible disease and that a couple of cockroaches is an infestation - it isn’t. We have learnt to live with them as there is no option. We do fumigate of course using professionals but inevitably they do come back.

You will need to use A/C as it is hot, but you should have checked the weather and temperature conditions for this time of year before accepting the sit. You couldn’t have chosen a worse place to sit (Darwin or Northern Territory) if you are not from a country that doesn’t experience this, it is your responsibility to find these things out before travelling.

It isn’t going to improve, it is a HOT :hot_face::fire: hot city all year round, particularly now. You might have to bite the bullet and either pay a little to use it more or do as they ask and limit use. The cockroaches unfortunately are a part of Darwin life also, use spray cans.

Insofar as energy use, electrity is very expensive in most countries so whenever I sit, I do try very hard to conserve as much as possible, that’s normal life. The washing machine, again homeowners might mention that a particular cycle is best to use for conservation, that’s not unusual, I get that often and again conserve accordingly. The drive to the airport, Darwin airport is close to the city so I don’t see it an unreasonable request but you also had the option to say no, you don’t feel comfortable driving at that point, that was your choice. I am asked many times and it’s not the homeowners being cheap, it’s a simple request. Insofar as the housekeeper, again it is not unusual for them to be “put on hold” whilst the homeowners are away. I personally prefer they don’t come whilst I’m sitting or come just before the homeowners return. All of these things does not make a person mean, or cheap/tight, they live this way as do many, many people and it isn’t unusual at all. They are only requesting you to live as they do themselves.

I don’t mean for this to all sound so negative against you but a little bit of research would have told you what to expect from Darwin and also you need to respect the homeowners requirements insofar as power usage etc. It might not be what you are accustomed to in your home but as a sitter you need to adjust your normal mindset and lifestyle to that of the people you are sitting for. All of what you are concerned about is quite normal and acceptable to me personally, you can’t change the temperature and humidity so you need to either deal with it or use the air con and contribute a little or expect a review that you think you may get. We live this way in Oz, I’m sorry it’s been such a shock for you. Please do research, research, research before accepting a sit in a foreign country so these things don’t happen. Good luck :crossed_fingers:

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I would say that you continue to do what you are doing and keep yourself comfortable.

If they give you a bad review on this, give a factual answer that you weren’t told until you arrived that they were frugal on AC and vet-expenses, wouldn’t normally accept conditions like that for a sit had you known sooner but did take measures to keep consumption low as you didn’t want to abort at that point for the pets.

What’s the worst that can happen? That frugal owners don’t want you? I think more hospitable owners can see through it.

If they present you with a bill I would have screenshotted the listing, say that that was not in your confirmed agreement and you would not have taken the sit if you knew and refuse to pay.

That is what I would have done.

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Of course they are thight if you put all those things together. To save on something everybody can do. If you make a big point on saving on a lot of things and require other people to conttibute to you not spending you are thight. In my opinion.

They don’t want the sitter to use AC in a climate they know is very hot (well, probably why they dont’t want to hang around with their dog? :wink: ), don’t want them to choose laundry program, don’t want to use money for the cleaner or taxi, don’t want to use money for the vet. When energy is expensive all over one could also choose to assume that everyone know this and that their choices are reasonable. Without making a point of it. It was their choice to make a big point of it.

The OP doesn’t say they didn’t know it was hot? They didn’t know they weren’t allowed to use the AC. Very different. I would say that if one get guests one is hospitable and want them to be comfortable. But maybe that isn’t true for everybody. Maybe it is just me.

One can always say that you didn’t ask, it is on you etc. But that coin could easily be turned. If it was important to the host they should have made it clear pre-confirmation. As they haven’t then that is their choice to leave it to the sitter.

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With my experience from places like Texas, I almost expect indoor temperatures to be freezing low. The standard in such places seems to be to use the AC to make it really cold inside.

I can understand this to some extent (waiters and other staff need things a bit cooler because they are working) but I don’t really understand temperatures in restaurants where one almost needs to wear jacket and tie to be comfortable.

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I used to live in Arizona. I always carried a light jacket with me when I was going inside because it was usually way too cold otherwise. it’s bizarre to need to carry a jacket when it’s 105/40 out.

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Use the aircon as you need to in order to be comfortable. If the homeowner wanted to control utility spend they should have put their requirements in the listing. I suspect if they did it would reduce applicants. You don’t need to discuss this with them and you don’t need to contribute to the costs unless you want to.
Find the electricity meter and take a reading and a photo. Do this again at the end. You can look up the cost of the usage and have a record in case they get pushy about the cost after the sit. Just use the aircon as you would if it was your own home and the way most reasonable people would - don’t cool unoccupied rooms, don’t try and get it down to 18, don’t run it with the doors and windows open.
They definitely sound cheap though from what you said and I would put this info on the aircon requirement in the review so the next sitter is forewarned.

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@ziggy

Perhaps the OP did check the weather before traveling to Darwin, Australia. And even if the OP had or had not checked the temperature, would anyone expect such restrictions to be put on them in limiting AC use in such a hot climate?

In my opinion, the fact that the HO didn’t mention the limiting of AC use until the OP arrived for the sit is more unsettling.

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Agree. ESPECIALLY in such a hot area. No one would assume that they’re not supposed to use Aircon when it’s hot and the HO not mentioning it is deceiving and ridiculous. If you want to set a limit like that when it’s hot you have to mention it in advance so people can make an informed choice.

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Hi @NMcPhee

I am sorry to read that you are dealing with such conditions.

I arrived to a sit in Florida and the HO stated that she sets the AC at 76 degrees. She explained that I could set the AC at whatever temperature I wanted. I set it at 74. Within 2 hours of her leaving, the AC went out. Fortunately, her son lives near by and fixed the AC–it needed a new breaker.

I am on a 3-week sit, and if I had such restrictions of limited AC use, (even though I brought my floor fan), I would be quite miserable.

Just because the HO is acclimatized to the hot temperature and limited AC use, doesn’t mean that you should be.

Hope all works out for you. :hugs:

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Darwin’s humidity starts in October and goes through to April. You need to use the AC or you will be really uncomfortable. Not sure if you have heard the term “going troppo” but that’s what happens in Darwin, in the tropics, when you go temporarily nuts from being so hot. It’s not even the wet season yet, when it gets really hot & humid. Save yourself and use the AC otherwise you will be very miserable. Also drink lots of cold water.

And about your other post re cockroaches, they are a normal thing in the tropics, and they are big ones. Welcome to Australia where we call the big cockies “race horses”!

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@Crookie

Maybe you meant to respond to @NMcPhee

I am in Florida.

I do not have a post about cockroaches. :sweat_smile:

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Yes, sorry @sharondc. My post was meant for @NMcPhee

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Hi @NMcPhee

They do sound incredibly frugal and you sound incredibly conscientious and accommodating. However, their frugality is not your issue, your comfort is. You’re not going to abuse the system but really, if they were so set on people not using the AC, this is something that should have been specified upfront as it would dramatically alter the attractiveness of the sit in such conditions.

I agree with others who have encouraged you to use the system (within reason, though that goes without saying as you are already being conservative). There may be a possibility of a poor review (though it’s not a given), in which case, you can respond by saying the HO’s requirements were unrealistic in the conditions, and also not disclosed to you until after the sit started. I do find it ironic when home owners place such ridiculous expectations on sitters and seem content with a guest in their home being so uncomfortable, yet are off travelling for weeks at a time. I hope the rest of your sit is more comfortable.

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My answer is gonna be of a different variety, it’s about how an air conditioner works.

A air conditioner is meant to remove the humidity in the room because it is through the humidity that we perceive the heat even more intensely. If you turn it on and off, the humidity has a chance to form again, so the unit has to work even harder to bring it back to an optimal state once you switch it on again. It’s much better to turn it on in the early morning hours when it feels (hopefully) cooler, maybe at a slightly higher setting than you’re using now if you find that you’ll get too cold, and leave it on during the day.

  • Adjust the strength of the air flow throughout the day.
  • Use fans (if there are any) to move the air around.
  • It goes without saying that you have to keep all the windows and doors shut, and you should close the blinds (if any).
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Good idea to take a photo of the meter. :+1: will ensure that if there is a discussion it will be factual.

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We have offered to contribute money for higher than normal AC usage. You could tell them now or when they return. You must be comfortable. Good luck.

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