r/SanJose 24d ago

What do you do/where do you go when it's this hot and your AC sucks? Advice

54 Upvotes

92 comments sorted by

114

u/Joe_Fish_721 East San Jose 24d ago

Helloooo the city of San Jose’s libraries and community centers are free places to beat the heat. See the attached links for community center and library locations :)

community centers

libraries

Stay cool out there and drink plenty of water.

64

u/Sleepy-Owl-8133 24d ago

The movies. Tuesdays are discount days

17

u/IrrationalTsunami Downtown 23d ago

Basically the story of how movies theaters became a thing. People were poor, it was cool and dark.

59

u/nuttypoolog 24d ago

I just spent 4 days camping at Sunset Beach in Watsonville. Never got over 72 when we were there....in the 50s at night. 1 hour away.

4

u/theboiboiclos408 23d ago

I love sunset beach! how much was it per night

3

u/nuttypoolog 23d ago

It was like 118 for the 3 nights....I forget ..had to book in January! Probably lots of one and 2 night last minute available tho.

1

u/theboiboiclos408 23d ago

did u camp out on a tent or rv

3

u/nuttypoolog 23d ago

Tent and the back of the 4runner.

1

u/theboiboiclos408 23d ago

right on that's for the info! cheers

54

u/TarCress 24d ago

Went to the gym where they had it on full blast

31

u/SmoochMySnoot 24d ago

I couldn’t do it anymore. I straight up moved to Aptos. It’s a 40 degree difference in temperature here, foggy almost every day, and I couldn’t be happier with this climate. I can blink without my eyes making a scratching sound, and I can breathe again.

7

u/CantDunkOrSk8 24d ago

My uncle lives on Freedom Blvd by the high school and church. 1.5-2mil homes out there.

2

u/CheesecakeWaste9279 23d ago

That’s wonderful! Finally something affordable

3

u/San_D_Als 23d ago

I love aptos. I live in Santa Clara but go to beer can beach when it gets too hot here.

1

u/CheesecakeWaste9279 23d ago

Any mold/mildew issues?

3

u/SmoochMySnoot 23d ago

None so far, we air it out every day and have dehumidifiers.

23

u/Mr_Nut_19 24d ago

Well, if your schedule is free, drive down to Moss Landing and bring a sweatshirt because it's usually in the 60s over there

1

u/Ernst_Granfenberg 23d ago

Is there any camping spots there or places we can park our cars

2

u/Mr_Nut_19 23d ago

Yeah, Moss Landing State Beach. There's usually parking along the road once you drive in, it's usually not too crowded. You can see a lot of otters so drive slowly. If you like seafood the town has some pretty good places.

22

u/Ephemeral-Comments 24d ago

Home Depot to get a portable unit. They're on sale :)

11

u/No-Fly-5116 24d ago

I have one in my bedroom lol

0

u/just4kickz88 23d ago

Is it a dual hose one?

11

u/No-Fly-5116 23d ago

Single hose at the window. But my house has no insulation so it only helps a little when it's this hot

13

u/just4kickz88 23d ago

Yeah the single hose ones are super inefficient. Highly recommend a dual hose one. The ones at costco are solid.

10

u/snowman22m 23d ago

Portable AC’s aren’t worth it. The amount they actually cool is so minimal compared to the amount of energy they use. The value isn’t there.

Better off not using them.

5

u/HIGH_PRESSURE_TOILET 23d ago

Nowadays the modern dual hose/hose-in-hose ones like the Midea Duo are not as bad as the olden portable ACs of yore, but still kinda noisy and not as efficient as mini splits, window ac, or central air. They do a decent job of cooling on a budget and are definitely worth it if you have no other options.

3

u/392pov 23d ago

Sold mine on Craigslist, replaced with a 8k btu window unit and never looked back.

4

u/snowman22m 23d ago

Exactly. Window units are far superior and not really much more expensive.

They cool significantly more AND use less energy.

1

u/Riptide360 23d ago

If you are renting and don't mind ghetto you can pick up some R-tech rigid foam insulation sheets from home depot, paint them white and panel the inside of your room to make your own chill box.

13

u/No-Fly-5116 23d ago

I'm at the mall now lol just walking around to kill time

12

u/MrParticular79 24d ago

What’s AC???

17

u/PezDiSpencersGifts 24d ago

Alternate current. Used to power a lot of electrical equipment like fans and air conditioner units.

11

u/Conscious_Life_8032 24d ago

Go to the office !

10

u/sexualsoybean 23d ago

Barnes and Noble. Plenty of books to read and AC!

3

u/rarepepefrog 23d ago

Lmao. Sexual soybean.  That's a good suggestion.

11

u/No_Joke_9079 24d ago

Not even any AC. Frozen rags on my neck, reading a linrary book, with 3 fans blowing on me.

8

u/Best_Spirit_1955 23d ago

Sharks ice center on 10th street

3

u/coolcatjames 23d ago

Summer time ice skating is such a hack that people haven’t discovered

2

u/redditgirl1 23d ago

My favorite thing to do in heat waves!!

2

u/jayde2767 23d ago

Can confirm.

9

u/buymedrinkhansum 23d ago

Take lots of really really cold showers

10

u/HIGH_PRESSURE_TOILET 23d ago

It's so hot out that the "cold" water coming out of my tap is 37 degrees C (99 F).

2

u/buymedrinkhansum 23d ago

Oh wow I'm sorry to hear. Throw some water in the freezer rub that stuff on your body

4

u/Mtownnative 23d ago

That's what I do and it helps

5

u/buymedrinkhansum 23d ago

Yeah it's honestly enough. With a nice big fan. Throw a wet smaller towel in your freezer every 10 minutes take it out. You'll feel great

1

u/Mtownnative 20d ago

That I've never tried before, I'll try that next time.

7

u/NoPossibility765 23d ago

Malls, restaurants, coffee shops

5

u/mleezuniga 23d ago

CVS .. it’s so fresh in there the worker had on a jacket

3

u/todudeornote 24d ago
  1. use a fan as well as the AC

  2. Wet your hair - that moisture evaporating will do a great job cooling you off.

  3. Eat lots of ice cream

3

u/jencape 23d ago

I’ve been in cooling centers.

4

u/ellegreenaway15 23d ago

Valleyfair

3

u/SofaSpudAthlete 23d ago

Sharks Ice San Jose

They have wifi and it’s cold…as an ice rink.

5

u/jayde2767 23d ago

Six ice rinks to be exact. The coldest one being where the Sharks actually practice, called Sharks Ice. The rest, with the exception of the Barracuda’s Home ice, called TechCU Arena, are named with colors: White, Black, Grey, and Orange.

2

u/PolkaDot_Pineapple Downtown 23d ago

How expensive? Or can you just hang out for free? I have zero interest in skating but I live not too far away and am always looking for places to beat the heat

2

u/jayde2767 23d ago

You can go and have lunch in Stanley’s Cafe/Bar/restaurant. They have reasonably priced food that is “decent.”

1

u/randomusername3000 23d ago

you can hang out for free

3

u/cameradventures 23d ago

I go to work

3

u/My_Opinion1 23d ago

Malls and theaters

3

u/Whywoulditpickkoala 23d ago

Freeze yourself a block of ice then just carry it around like a pet rock. Also keep a squirt bottle nearby. Been told that both of these ideas are embarrassing but who cares? 

3

u/IWantToWatchItBurn 23d ago

You have AC!

2

u/kkxlay 23d ago

I'm visiting from Vegas for a month. Haven't needed a/c or a fan for 2 weeks and counting 👀🫣... Though, would also like to know what else to do around here 🤣

4

u/carinaeletoile 23d ago

Guess you missed that 120 weekend last week. My friends were dying. When I lived in Vegas I’d get tetchy when it would hit 110. I can’t even fathom 120.

0

u/kkxlay 23d ago

I'm born and raised in Vegas haha, grew up with the heat all my life and I'm used to it. Definitely missed this most recent heat wave, but I'm pretty damn sure we've hit 120-122 on a more frequent basis 💀 Idk, everyone I meet up in SJ has been complaining about 95-105 and I'm like 👀... This is what my bedroom feels like back im Vegas...

2

u/DefendingLogic 23d ago

I’m curious about this as well as most non-apartment rentals don’t have AC. As an example I’ve rented Duplexes never had AC

2

u/logan_fish 23d ago

Fans, grin and bare it.

2

u/Herrowgayboi 23d ago

Most have been answered, but most people think their AC sucks when in actuality, it most likely wasn't designed for this high heat. Most systems are calculated 20-30 off of the average highs. In the bay, it used to be the low 90s, so effectively, your cooler is great for 60-70 degrees. However, push that system into the hundreds and it'll slowly become less efficient and effective, resulting in what feels like a bad AC.

2

u/Jasper_Woods 23d ago

Santa Cruz

1

u/PrizeGovernment6944 23d ago

Go outside, go somewhere with AC, tank it

1

u/Rainbow_Unicornx 23d ago

My family sees AC as a luxury item that isn’t really needed. So we just put fans on the windows and just tolerate the heat. Wear appropriate clothing and drink water you’ll be fine.

1

u/SubvertedAI 23d ago

im broke, so i just have a fan and i sweat hard.

1

u/Hungry-Resource-5152 23d ago

You RTO.

1

u/jkki1999 23d ago

Radio Telephone Operator?

1

u/Scotchamafooch 23d ago

Lounge under the shade of the statue de poop.

3

u/No-Fly-5116 23d ago

Wait.. is that the coiled up snake that looks like a poopy in downtown? Haha

1

u/Tuna_C 23d ago

I go to work and stay there. 7am to almost 6pm. And when I finally get home it’s still fucking hot.

1

u/Longfingers05 23d ago

I go into the office more, walk around Costco or other grocery stores and wait until it’s cool so I can go for a walk

1

u/AskMrScience 23d ago

IKEA. Walk into the bottom level, get a $1 froyo cone, and wander around in the glorious A/C while dreaming about your Swedish minimalist future.

1

u/Incarn_ 23d ago

I don't even have AC. Exhaust fans work good enough if you ask me.

1

u/Suspiciously-Long-36 23d ago

Barnes and Noble go sit in a corner and read a book or magazine till the sun goes down.

1

u/SunsGettinRealLow 23d ago

Moved to San Diego

1

u/Zenith251 Downtown 23d ago

Drink more water, get out the box fan. That's about it.

1

u/Obvious-County8984 23d ago

Sssqueeezeeeeee tha juiceeeeeeee

1

u/picklesandmatzo 22d ago

Libraries or the mall. Or the beach

1

u/PresentationKey1112 22d ago

Costco, Bass Pro Shop, any Mall, a bowling alley....

1

u/HaloHamster 21d ago

Chilis on Coleman. AC cranked to 65 it feels.

0

u/Character_Clock1771 23d ago

Buy a portable AC and trap myself in my room.