Jax Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I am going to have an opportunity to move into a different unit in my current apartment building. Basically, the management could not come up with a soltuion to the problem we are having with noisy pipes (see this thread), and he offered to let me move at no charge before my lease is up. The unit he has offered me has a nicer floor plan than where I currently live, and his idea of letting me move sounds fair. The only real downside is it's on the 4th floor which is the top floor of my building.I was wondering if anybody has any experience with apartments on the top floor. I am guessing my electricity bill will increase in the summer if I live there, but does anybody know by how much compared to the 3rd floor? Will the cost of air conditioning always cost substantially more on the top floor, or is it possible that if the building is well insulated it might not be so bad?I really don't want to end up paying a lot more than what I am currently paying for air conditioning in the summer, but I really like this new apartment, not to mention the fact that it would be quieter than where I currently live.Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lwood Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I am going to have an opportunity to move into a different unit in my current apartment building. Basically, the management could not come up with a soltuion to the problem we are having with noisy pipes (see this thread), and he offered to let me move at no charge before my lease is up. The unit he has offered me has a nicer floor plan than where I currently live, and his idea of letting me move sounds fair. The only real downside is it's on the 4th floor which is the top floor of my building.I was wondering if anybody has any experience with apartments on the top floor. I am guessing my electricity bill will increase in the summer if I live there, but does anybody know by how much compared to the 3rd floor? Will the cost of air conditioning always cost substantially more on the top floor, or is it possible that if the building is well insulated it might not be so bad?I really don't want to end up paying a lot more than what I am currently paying for air conditioning in the summer, but I really like this new apartment, not to mention the fact that it would be quieter than where I currently live.Any thoughts?If it's a flat roof building, there will definitely be a difference. Either way, you will be open to two unairconditioned spaces (roof and front) as opposed to one (front). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 how old is the place? if it is older, the insulation is probably lacking. sounds like the pipe noise doesn't bother you THAT much if you are having reservations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted November 28, 2007 Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 The building is relatively new. And the roof is not flat. Does that make a difference? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 The building is relatively new. And the roof is not flat. Does that make a difference?it could. if ceiling is insulated well, you'd probably luck out. do you know any of the current tenants up there? maybe they could tell you their approximate pwr bill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jax Posted November 28, 2007 Author Share Posted November 28, 2007 I don't know them but I might meet them tonight, and I could always knock on the door and ask sometime... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 I don't know them but I might meet them tonight, and I could always knock on the door and ask sometime...keep in mind that they may like it colder/hotter than you do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNiche Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 You might want to negotiate your next lease before you accept, so you know what the rent hike will be when your current lease rolls over. If its got a better view as well as the better floorplan, you might end up paying for it eventually. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedScare Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 The top floor will definitely use more energy, as the roof is the leading source of heat, and a ground floor unit is surrounded by conditioned space. That said, the amount of extra energy varies a lot. The only way to find out is to ask those that already live there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lowbrow Posted November 28, 2007 Share Posted November 28, 2007 You also have to figure in the vertical distance to the fan unit. If t is on the first floor as many are you are having to pump air further which requires more energy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jm1fd Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 You also have to figure in the vertical distance to the fan unit. If t is on the first floor as many are you are having to pump air further which requires more energy.WOW...that's the stupidest, most incorrect thing I've read all month, and I've read quite a lot of stupid, incorrect stuff this month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonDFW Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 WOW...that's the stupidest, most incorrect thing I've read all month, and I've read quite a lot of stupid, incorrect stuff this month.You're right that the energy required to pump the refrigerant the extra distance is negligible, however in the past I've found the extra heat loss due to poor insulation on that extra run length is significant. So much so that I'd recommended they drop 25 or 50cfm per ton off the blower to keep the dewpoint down in those upper apartments that suffer this.Jason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ricco67 Posted November 29, 2007 Share Posted November 29, 2007 Oh, I don't know, I've read a bunch of dumber stuff. Some of it *I* wrote, but there are plenty of runner ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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