Echoezra
Established Member
Ok, since i was just reading about fans and open windows in another (drainage) thread, it got me thinking again and so I'd like to get some conversation/opinions flowing on these topics, as with the cages increasing around here, positioning is getting to have less options that don't involve being near windows or air conditioners. (window air conditioners, no central air vents here)
My situation and why the concern:
I know people think Canada = Cold, but in the summer here in southern Ontario, the weather can get crazy hot and especially stuffy upstairs, it's always either window open and fan on (my choice) or a/c blasting (hubby choice) so either way, to control maxing the cham's temps, they're likely going to be exposed to various sources of breezes. The other option is outdoors, in which case for the majority of the year my yard functions as a wind tunnel. Lol. The only place to position the cages outside is in the usual line of fire, since the yard runs along a very long lengthwise building.
(Unfortunately none of the windows in the house face the direction it's usually blowing from, so a/c is often a requirement even on a breezy day in the middle of the summer.)
Anyways, the windows that the a/c's fit in are only a couple in the whole house. Unfortunately, they are both facing the two best long walls in the house on which would be good places to place 3 cages in a row (to effectively share a MistKing. The upstairs one also puts them directly in front of a window. This window has blinds that are almost always closed, effectively blocking most of direct sunlight which basically only comes in in the mornings , and only the bottom two corners have small opening screens, so if those windows were opened, it would only blow breeze onto bottom section of cage (Chams at top half of cage would not be blown on directly) - that window location doesn't really concern me much, except possibly winter drafts, which I could prevent access of by covering backs of cages with flextrays.
The problem with that location that I'm worried about, is that in the summer, the upstairs a/c is positioned in another low window across the room that when blowing straight out, would be blowing at the cages. I planned on positioning some furniture part ways across room so that it would kind of block direct access, making cold air have to go around to the right or over the top of furniture, so Chams would be in coolest area of the upstairs but not blowing directly ON them.
But if the day was not too hot, and we had a/c off, we would HAVE to utilize those bottom windows to blow through Cham cage bottoms, to aerate upstairs. And probably also have a fan going in the room (could position to not oscillate to blow on them if necessary)
The other option is also putting them in the same positioning to an a/c, but not against a window. But more people traffic, and closer to a tv that might be on late at night (never a problem for my boys, but don't know if it would bother the new girlie)
Also that a/c is up higher, so harder to block direct blowing with furniture.
While I want to avoid drafts, I also want to avoid overheating that might occur in the other two bedrooms i could put them in if separated and extra mistking bought. I saw ambient room temps rising really high some days last year, when they were in my bedroom, to the point where even with the lowest wattage bulbs i often had to turn basking lights completley off for days at a time to keep temps down, and the probable placement in these other two rooms are putting them in even more of a 'stagnant corner' so to speak, as far as how well a/c would reach them on a really hot day. I figure that if low window drafts and ocscillating fans would be ok on non-a/c days, being close to but not directly in blast of the a/c unit would be ok as the lower area of their cages would be pretty cold like winter night temp cold, probably, but with higher wattage bulbs in basking spot the upper levels would stay in a reasonable range and i wouldn't have to worry so much about them not having any options to cool down.
I know it seems crazy to be from canada not arizona and be more worried about summer heat than winter cold, lol, but that's my situation here right now.
Your thoughts?
Opinions about the true dangers involved in being exposed to breezes? (I picture island breezes in Madagascar)
Advice for how I can deal with the varying temperature conditions in the house (basking bulb needs varying on a/c vs windows open days, for ex.)?
Any discussion involving this subject and my situation in particular is really welcomed and encouraged. Just please include explanations for your reasoning behind your opinions or suggestions, ie don't just say "windows bad" or "fans bad", please explain the specific risks so that maybe I can figure out an appropriate adjustment with say a partial covering or thermostat or something to still make that location positioning work.
Thanks everybody. Really appreciate the input.
My situation and why the concern:
I know people think Canada = Cold, but in the summer here in southern Ontario, the weather can get crazy hot and especially stuffy upstairs, it's always either window open and fan on (my choice) or a/c blasting (hubby choice) so either way, to control maxing the cham's temps, they're likely going to be exposed to various sources of breezes. The other option is outdoors, in which case for the majority of the year my yard functions as a wind tunnel. Lol. The only place to position the cages outside is in the usual line of fire, since the yard runs along a very long lengthwise building.
(Unfortunately none of the windows in the house face the direction it's usually blowing from, so a/c is often a requirement even on a breezy day in the middle of the summer.)
Anyways, the windows that the a/c's fit in are only a couple in the whole house. Unfortunately, they are both facing the two best long walls in the house on which would be good places to place 3 cages in a row (to effectively share a MistKing. The upstairs one also puts them directly in front of a window. This window has blinds that are almost always closed, effectively blocking most of direct sunlight which basically only comes in in the mornings , and only the bottom two corners have small opening screens, so if those windows were opened, it would only blow breeze onto bottom section of cage (Chams at top half of cage would not be blown on directly) - that window location doesn't really concern me much, except possibly winter drafts, which I could prevent access of by covering backs of cages with flextrays.
The problem with that location that I'm worried about, is that in the summer, the upstairs a/c is positioned in another low window across the room that when blowing straight out, would be blowing at the cages. I planned on positioning some furniture part ways across room so that it would kind of block direct access, making cold air have to go around to the right or over the top of furniture, so Chams would be in coolest area of the upstairs but not blowing directly ON them.
But if the day was not too hot, and we had a/c off, we would HAVE to utilize those bottom windows to blow through Cham cage bottoms, to aerate upstairs. And probably also have a fan going in the room (could position to not oscillate to blow on them if necessary)
The other option is also putting them in the same positioning to an a/c, but not against a window. But more people traffic, and closer to a tv that might be on late at night (never a problem for my boys, but don't know if it would bother the new girlie)
Also that a/c is up higher, so harder to block direct blowing with furniture.
While I want to avoid drafts, I also want to avoid overheating that might occur in the other two bedrooms i could put them in if separated and extra mistking bought. I saw ambient room temps rising really high some days last year, when they were in my bedroom, to the point where even with the lowest wattage bulbs i often had to turn basking lights completley off for days at a time to keep temps down, and the probable placement in these other two rooms are putting them in even more of a 'stagnant corner' so to speak, as far as how well a/c would reach them on a really hot day. I figure that if low window drafts and ocscillating fans would be ok on non-a/c days, being close to but not directly in blast of the a/c unit would be ok as the lower area of their cages would be pretty cold like winter night temp cold, probably, but with higher wattage bulbs in basking spot the upper levels would stay in a reasonable range and i wouldn't have to worry so much about them not having any options to cool down.
I know it seems crazy to be from canada not arizona and be more worried about summer heat than winter cold, lol, but that's my situation here right now.
Your thoughts?
Opinions about the true dangers involved in being exposed to breezes? (I picture island breezes in Madagascar)
Advice for how I can deal with the varying temperature conditions in the house (basking bulb needs varying on a/c vs windows open days, for ex.)?
Any discussion involving this subject and my situation in particular is really welcomed and encouraged. Just please include explanations for your reasoning behind your opinions or suggestions, ie don't just say "windows bad" or "fans bad", please explain the specific risks so that maybe I can figure out an appropriate adjustment with say a partial covering or thermostat or something to still make that location positioning work.
Thanks everybody. Really appreciate the input.