The ‘You Don’t Need Air Conditioning in L.A.’ Myth

If you live or are planning to live near the coast in L.A., you might be told that you don’t need air conditioning in your apartment or house. Be skeptical.  Be very skeptical.

Maybe air conditioning wasn’t needed 10 years ago, but some scientists say that average temperatures are going up due to global warming. Sure seems that way, doesn’t it?

One of the main reasons we moved out of our nice, upgraded apartment in a fourplex near The Grove, which is about 10 miles from the ocean, was its lack of air conditioning.  When we moved in, we were told that it got hot “only a few days a year” and that air conditioning just wasn’t necessary.

If you were here the week before Labor Day in 2007, you might remember the monstrous heat wave that suffocated the area for a solid week.  It was in the low hundreds with high humidity outside, and in the low 90s in the apartment.  It was a pretty awful seven days, for me and the pets. 

Moving is a huge hassle, but the prospect of trying to suffer through a similar heat wave this summer was not an option.  The new place doesn’t have central air, but its windows will accommodate window units, unlike the old place, with its French door-style windows.

Right before we moved, a nasty heat wave came to town for about four days.  It wasn’t quite as bad as last Labor Day, but it was close. As I sat on the couch sweating the Saturday before the move, unable to do the packing that needed to be done, I was really, really happy about our decision.

Incidentally, the old place was completely plumbed for central air. When I asked the landlord about it, she said it was reluctant to do it because it would cost $2,000 per unit.  This while she drives a $60,000 BMW and collects about $11,000 per month from the four units.

I was in there last Saturday doing our move-out cleaning when she showed up with a potential tenant.  I heard the woman ask about air conditioning but I didn’t hear the response.  I think the lack of A/C is a big reason that she has not found a renter yet (and the rent price has dropped 10 percent). I always had fans going when people came over — otherwise, it would be uncomfortable.  The women in the rear unit are also leaving — for the same reason.

Anyone buying or renting should insist on air conditioning.  Unless you are extremely close to the beach, you will be glad you have it. And with the competition for buyers and renters these days, owners should be glad to accommodate you.

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