25 replies to this topic

[Darthvader]

I wasn't assuming anything, I was identifying other possiblities rather than the window unit is in lieu of a broken central air system, which I think is a more unlikely reason to put a window unit in.

I think most houses are built with an a/c unit that barely meets the req for the sq footage of the house. Then toss in vaulted ceilings, poor insulation, crappy windows, and blistering sun and it would seem likely that a ghetto window unit is needed to cool an upstairs bedroom.

[Revolutionist]

We have a room that needs a window unit.
I haven't put one in yet, but I am seriously considering it.

And of course, it is upstairs, very front of the house. It is the farthest away from the central unit, and the system is just not powerful enough to reach the front room.

I had the HVAC guys out to fix it. They said a "booster" fan, but I've had other HVAC guys tell me they don't work at all.

So, its a window unit, or a replace my entire system.

I actually found another option which is basically a large tower-case sized portable unit. Then I can just cut a 4" hole in the wall and cover it with a dryer vent style exit. That's probably the ticket.

[folsombound]

I think reasonable CC & R's and HOA's are a good thing. The ARC rules and dues are reasonable and are geared toward keeping the development looking good for the benefit of all homeowners. That said, the dues of $120 per YEAR are a steal.

[Bill Z]

I think most houses are built with an a/c unit that barely meets the req for the sq footage of the house. Then toss in vaulted ceilings, poor insulation, crappy windows, and blistering sun and it would seem likely that a ghetto window unit is needed to cool an upstairs bedroom.

Actually the vaulted ceilings help out the AC, the hot air rises so the cold AC air is down where you are. The drawback is in the winter the vaulted ceilings decrease the efficiency of the heater as your heated air floats above where you are. that's where ceiling fans can help in reverse rotation mode by forcing cooler air up into the vault driving down the warmer air along the walls with out creating a breeze cooling effect.

[MikeinFolsom]

The portable AC unit you are mentioning is pretty decent, but you still have to vent it to the outside. Unless you want to go through sheetrock and stucco, most people put a vent in their window and then seal off the rest of the open portion. But they do work pretty good.

I guess when I say "ghetto" about window AC units, I remember in my childhood seeing window units.....rusty and dropping all sorts of condensation underneath. Then algae grows, etc. Probably not the newer units of today, but in my opinion.....ghetto.

[tessieca]

Your neighborhood must have some eye sores in it or these people wouldn't have thought to put this little "posse" together to "enforce" their CCR wishes.))

Nice guys always finish last. Folsom500 went cuckoo over CCR's that existed before he purchased, and he would have been required to sign off on receiving a copy.

The NS CC&R's exist and apply to all properties, whether one guy likes them or not. There is no posse, nor anyone wandering around checking out home colors. These are the sort of regulations that are only enforceable neighbor against neighbor, so if you paint your house purple make sure your neighbors don't mind or they can successfully sue you.

The "posse" includes volunteers who have tried to hold together a neighborhood organization in some form or another for over ten years. Barbara is trying to get a handle on where people want the organization to go, and is having a meeting next Wed. (volunteer, not paid, at her house). She is the one who gets all of the complaints and answers questions about what the violations are and what, if anything, can be done about it. More often than not people are directed to the city, which does have certain blight ordinances.

I say, get your panties out of a bunch and join them instead of fighting them.

[folsom500]

I still say that the CCR's are unenforceable in Natoma Station... and yet- we have very few houses that would warrant a valid claim of any blight... Yes there are odd colors of some houses- even when they are earth tone. or green or yellow - and while I do not like them , they are OK as that is up to the homeowner. and if you have seen past attempts at lawsuits over color even in location that have HOA, they rarely have any effect.

Again- as I said originally - City CODE issues are valid and I have even called code a number of times- mostly for boats, trailers on the street, but having them in a driveway is fine even if the CCR's say they are not- We have even called in Blight issues - on abandoned homes in foreclosure and have had some success getting things resolved through the code department... and if you drove the entire Natoma Station proper, you would find it to be quite nice...

But , since we bought knowing that there was no HOA or enforceable CCR's - If want to eliminate my front yard lawn, or use artificial turf or make it all a rock garden- I will do it ... If needed to put an outdoor TV antennae in - ( ours is in the attic but our next door neighbor put one on the side of his house ) - then that is OK -
If , as in a couple of houses on turnpike , the owner chooses to let their lawn die, as long as it is not over run with weeds - that is fine as well - certainly wont hurt the property values.

If it is not a city code or safety issue it is none of my business what the property owner does with their color, landscape ETC ... and I would hardly think that there would be any NON CODE issues that will devalue ours or others property...

While NSCO is a good organization for things like Neighborhood Watch - and such issues as the Chinese Diggings ( which I have posted without much response here ) they do not need to send out letters telling residents that they MUST consult the CCR's before making changes...

Just my honest opinion ...

Cheers
F500

[Bill Z]

Nice guys always finish last. Folsom500 went cuckoo over CCR's that existed before he purchased, and he would have been required to sign off on receiving a copy.

The NS CC&R's exist and apply to all properties, whether one guy likes them or not. There is no posse, nor anyone wandering around checking out home colors. These are the sort of regulations that are only enforceable neighbor against neighbor, so if you paint your house purple make sure your neighbors don't mind or they can successfully sue you.

The "posse" includes volunteers who have tried to hold together a neighborhood organization in some form or another for over ten years. Barbara is trying to get a handle on where people want the organization to go, and is having a meeting next Wed. (volunteer, not paid, at her house). She is the one who gets all of the complaints and answers questions about what the violations are and what, if anything, can be done about it. More often than not people are directed to the city, which does have certain blight ordinances.

I say, get your panties out of a bunch and join them instead of fighting them.

I would prefer the "posse" or should we say "friendly neighbor" approach to trying to get a homeowner to pay attention to the CC&Rs over having an HOA issue fines , charge dues, etc.

My approach in the past has been to photocopy the page and highlight the section of the applicable CC&R's and leave it on the porch of an offending neighbor. e.g. the neighbor who has visitors living in an RV Trailer or Motorhome parked in front of the house for a week or two with an A/C electrical cord running across the sidewalk into the neighbors garage.

[Bill Z]

I still say that the CCR's are unenforceable in Natoma Station...

Just my honest opinion ...

Cheers
F500

Depends upon what you mean by unenforceable.

Currently, in order to enforce CC&R's, it takes a court order and I can guarantee you that a court can enforce them.

But it does require one or preferable several homeowner's to go to the trouble of actually filing a lawsuit against the violating neighbor and then winning the lawsuit.

And as most of the time, the other homeowner's don't go through the time and expense required to file a lawsuit, that is what really tends to make them unenforceable

[tessieca]

My approach in the past has been to photocopy the page and highlight the section of the applicable CC&R's and leave it on the porch of an offending neighbor.

I know several people who handle it this way. That's not helping for the Boxcar fence down and dumpy backyard issue. Even city contact hasn't helped there.

Typically NS doesn't have serious problems, but there's a house or two every now and then that does something that threatens to devalue a neighbor's property. And you're absolutely correct that they are enforceable CC&R's, just more difficult than with a HOA and I've never heard of anyone in NS attempting one.

The NSCO is a long running organization. It used to charge a small amount of voluntary dues to those who chose to be members. Members elected officers, and believe me the volunteers have always been few and far between. Barbara should get credit for trying to help and maintain a structure for the organization, not be given crap about what she chooses to put in the newsletter.

[Revolutionist]

Sure, it starts with a neighborly warning, then a stern warning letter. Pretty soon we're facing the Übermenscher.

(lol, just watched the XFiles episode "Arcadia" tonight....)