I think higher than reasonable would be ok but since the HOs never use it, higher than normal wouldn’t be fair given the differences between the HO - who is used to the heat and humidity, and the sitter - who is not. AC use should be expected by HOs in hot areas and that should be part of their costs. Now, if she had it set to 15 in every room 24/7, that would be different.
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Hosts are allowed under THS terms to ask for utility costs ahead of a sit. These tightwads should’ve done that if they didn’t care about a sitter’s comfort. They can’t charge after the fact. They didn’t tell the sitter about no AC till they’d arrived, which means they weren’t able to make an informed choice.
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Your response was quite negative towards me, and it seemed to include several assumptions. However, there always seems to be one in every group, right? Let me clarify those assumptions.
I was fully aware of how hot and humid it would be in Darwin at this time of year. That’s why I specifically sought a house sit that included air conditioning in the amenities. If a host doesn’t want the air conditioning to be used, they probably shouldn’t list it among the amenities.
After reading my post about the cockroach situation, what would you consider to be a threshold for calling it an infestation? I mentioned that, due to Darwin’s hot and humid climate, I fully expect to see a cockroach or two come in from outside, and that is not an issue. However, seeing several roaches in every room of the house and a family of roaches making the inside of the dishwasher their home is my threshold—and that was after spending just one night in the house. This isn’t my first house sit in a hot and humid region of Australia, but it is the first issue I have encountered. Everyone’s level of cleanliness exists on a spectrum; perhaps being okay with living with an infestation is on the lower end of that spectrum.
I have been traveling the world for many years, mostly to hot and humid countries to escape the cold. While there, I try to seek out the comfort of air conditioning as much as possible. Sometimes, you can’t always get air conditioning where you want it, and that’s fine. You have to roll with the punches. However, if I am led to believe I will have access to that comfort and it is then taken away, that’s when I become unhappy.
Regarding energy use, I consider myself an energy-conscious person, both in my home and in others. I rarely use the longest cycle for the washer; I often opt for the quick wash setting unless a deeper clean is necessary. I turn off lights in rooms I’m not in, don’t let water run unnecessarily, and close the fridge doors when I’m not actively looking inside. I turn off the air conditioning in rooms I’m not using and make sure to close the door behind me during cold months, even if I’m coming back inside right away. I also don’t like being cold, so I don’t set the AC to near-freezing temperatures. I am only looking to be comfortable.
I never said I had a problem driving them to the airport; I was fine with it. However, I couldn’t accommodate two extra people in my vehicle, so I offered to drive theirs, but they refused.
All the examples I provided were meant to illustrate that they seemed to be a more frugal couple, which stressed me out because I wanted to use amenities they don’t normally utilize, and I didn’t want to receive a negative review for it. I also mentioned that I have been limiting the use of air conditioning to my discomfort, but not as much as they requested. I never said they were mean.
But you are right; I will have to add these questions to my list for future hosts:
- Do you clean your house regularly?
- Do you have a cockroach problem?
- Am I allowed to use the listed amenities?
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If air conditioning was listed among the amenities, make sure you grab a screen shot showing that. If you use the AC and the hosts complain later, you can prove that they listed an amenity and then tried to renege on it. That’s especially not kosher in a climate as described.
I’d suggest you review them factually, including their lack of transparency about the AC and the cockroach issues you posted about on a separate thread. Many sitters probably would want to avoid such a sit.
And I say the above as someone who grew up in the tropics and am not freaked about cockroaches — we used to have flying ones about an inch long.
My most recent sit was in a humid setting, with lots of trees around the house. I came across a dead cockroach even though the house was handed over to me otherwise spotless. It was in a guest room bathroom separate from another en-suite guest room. I was just flushing the unused toilets so they wouldn’t develop a toilet ring from stagnant water. I picked up and flushed the roach. No big deal. But I wouldn’t want to sit with nonstop cockroaches.
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I visit a city that is hot and humid all the time at least once a year for a month or more, while working remotely. I’m also a person who runs hot in colder places. It is always ROUGH the first week or so; I know I run the AC more than my host would and I feel a bit bad for the expense, but also I make sure to use it the least that I can function comfortably - something that changes as I acclimate.
I would find a balance between running the AC the entire time you’re home, and never using it - which it sounds like you’re doing. I would not just start running the AC all day without discussing it with them first.
And I do think anyone doing a sit where the climate is very different than what they are used to would be wise to ask about the temperature control (hot or cold) prior to committing. HOs may not put things in the listing because it doesn’t occur to them that it’s necessary.
There was a discussion on this topic a while ago @Peonie19 .
(ETA: was trying to add just the link of the thread, but apparently the system adds the pic of the op too. The ac-part is further down the thread.)
It depends on the type of ac, the type of house etc.
On the topic of @NMcPhee we don’t use much ac ourselves despite living in a hot, humid, tropical climate, but we do expect our sitters to use it! That does increase our electricity bill significantly, but that’s ok. We know to expect it.
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I’m sorry you’re going through that.
In regards to the post responses, I am learning to take what I can use and leave the rest. There’ll always be naysayers but I’m sure there are nuggets of wisdom in there somewhere haha
You’ll know what to do! Will be praying for you!
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Preach, girlfriend!
I"ve lived in Darwin during troppo season, it’s actually the atmospheric pressure building up before the wet season starts and it’s really uncomfortable. I lived without aircon for a while but switched properties to one with aircon as it was horrid without. This was in 1994. Cockroaches are a part of Australian life unfortunately but the amounts the OP mentions is over the top. I use roach baits but I’m not sure how affective they are, I still see some now and again. I’ve lived and camped in different parts of the tropics and something that brought me relief was what we called ‘The Bushman’s Aircon’. I’d completely wet a cotton sarong wring it out so its not dripping and place over my shoulders. The evaporation of the water create a natural cooling effect and it really works a treat. I use this during long meditation retreats in hot climates too. Personal mobile aircon. And I would use it at night on top of my body. Works wonderfully well and doesn’t cost a cent in electricity.
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Very easy option.
Leave some cash on the dining room table when you leave with a note stating it was impossible to live without AC so here’s your contribution to their next electric bill.
I too seek warmer climes in the northern hemisphere winter but I always bring up energy costs at the video meet. I am a woman of a certain age who cannot control her internal temperature regulator. I just find it less stressful to talk about AC useage upfront and let the hosts know I will use it (probably) excessively but will pay a contribution to the cost. Not one of them has taken me up on it.
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But this"Bushman’s Airco" and things like swamp coolers only work when the humidity is not too high.
It is like @Peonie19 wrote, for a comfortable working environment one wants a lower humidity in the room, not just a stream of cool air from some stand-alone device. Condensating all this water costs energy, and in a well-designed system one would not need to do that all the time.
Later this century, places like Darwin are likely to experience some day with wetbulb temperatures close to 35 C. Without airconditioning and a working power grid, that is lethal.
Luckily for Darwin, humanity has been thriving in said conditions for arguably 200 thousand years.
Humanity is currently changing temperature conditions to levels that earth has not experienced in two million years. Really, for humid places in the tropics, this will become physiologically intolerable, for humans, for many pets, for livestock and for wildlife, when there is no airconditioning.
I dont see this as factual information rather its a theory thats yet to be proven
We already know a lot and people die from heat every year, so it isn’t just a theory, unfortunately. As pietkulp says a wetbulb temp of 35 ° C (95° F) is around what the human body can tolerate. One might not die immediately but if you can’t cool down quickly enough brain and organ damage will start.
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Slightly off topic, but when they commented about not liking to take the pets to the vet, did you ask about their preferred protocol should you need to do this? Would be concerned about them disputing reimbursement if this is a situation where you as sitter are expected to make the upfront payment.
I agree with others that you should keep yourself comfortable with the AC.
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They said if I needed to take her to the vet I can and they would reimburse me. It is also stated in the welcome package they would reimburse. I would push for them to make arrangements for payment before I footed the bill though.
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There might not be time for that @NMcPhee if it’s an emergency - have you read these posts ?
https://forum.trustedhousesitters.com/t/lessons-from-sitting-an-old-dog-or-any-animal-i-think
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Thanks for referencing my post @Silversitters. I learnt fees can mount up quickly if a beloved pet needs scans or emergency treatment. Suggest you do as I do now and check what yo do in the event if an emergency vet visit.
@NMcPhee I’m sorry to hear you have landed in a sit where there appear to be several mismatches. Having just read the entire thread including your response to @ziggy’s (rather harsh) message to you, you do sound like a very reasonable and responsible person- as most of us are.
I would encourage you to use as much AC as you need to be comfortable to do your work and take care of your pet duties, whilst also using it responsibly. You should not have to suffer in service of a sit for which you applied and were CHOSEN by these hosts. If they feel so strongly about AC usage they should have discussed that with you ahead of time. You also should not feel the need to offer a contribution at this stage as they did not request it from you before confirming.
Regarding the VET bills- hopefully you will have no need to pay any bills- but I would strongly suggest, for the next sit, that you discuss alternative payment options with the HO in advance. I personally would never agree to upfront payments. IMHO Vet payments are entirely the responsibility of the HO, however they wish to manage it, and regardless of what THS dictates.
Please write an honest review.
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