Home Utilities Hack Archives | The Cool Down

Side facade of a stone home

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Family's 240-year-old stone house gets so hot in summer, they have to stay in hotels

A technician working on an outdoor AC unit.

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California condo owner says $1,800 AC refill was pitched as a stopgap, but home stayed hot

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Homeowner gets $10,000 whole-system replacement quote after dead compressor, asks about cheaper fix

An orange heating boiler is positioned against a bare wall with visible pipes and a damp floor.

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Texas homeowner shares utility, gas bills for 1949 home with decades-old HVAC

A section of purple marked PVC piping on a wooden surface with exposed wires and surrounding materials.

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Homeowner hires plumber for AC install, gets told it's 'about as bad as it gets'

A disassembled device with wires and a small motor on a concrete floor.

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Homeowner returns to dead thermostat after trip, then discovers a mouse nest in outdoor AC unit

A heating unit with pipes is installed in a corner of a room with light-colored walls and wooden flooring.

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New Jersey condo owner comparing five HVAC quotes questions oversized AC recommendation

HVAC condenser outdoors with leaves

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HVAC techs say $6,000 coil repair quote looks like an upsell

A close-up of a gray water heater with rust and sediment buildup around its base.

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Homeowner returns to leaking water heater, gets urgent advice for next steps

An electric meter mounted on a wall beside brickwork.

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Hawai'i renter's $550 power bill shock traced to two homes sharing one meter

A woman adjusts a thermostat with her hand on her forehand while standing in a bright, indoor space with plants.

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Homeowner wary after new $10,000 HVAC still can't hold 72F through the hottest afternoon hours

An outdoor air conditioning unit beside a house, featuring a metal grille and a label.

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HVAC company tells homeowner that loud AC noise is the 'new normal'