RetireJapan

So, the older I get, the more I find that the heat in Japan affects me. I’m guessing I’m not the only one.

Just the other morning I woke up dripping in sweat with a splitting headache (precursors to heat stroke) because I had failed to turn on the AC.

Here are some of the challenges I face:

1. My spouse is always cold and likes to sleep with two bear-skin-like thick fleece blankets, even in mid August (while I sleep under a thin sheet). So it’s always a compromise where neither person is comfortable.

2. The ubiquitous Ductless, Mini-Split AC: If you lower the temperature to where you actually want it, the room gets freezing cold but dry. If you try to turn it down to a milder temperature, however, it cycles on and off blowing out the accumulated water on the fan making the air very clammy/moldy. Both conditions are hell on my throat, especially when sleeping!

Also, with the small size of the Japanese rooms, the units are usually located in each room, or close enough, so the air is blowing right on you. This also tears up my throat at night.

3. Using a humidifier, while keeping the AC pumped up to where I want it, would seem to be self-defeating since the whole point of this kind of air conditioner is to suck the humidity out of the air. Any experiences to the contrary?

I realize this is a kind of a “first world problem”. So please don’t give me TOO much of a hard time.

We use a queen bed with 2 blankets - Get one of these for yourself!

https://www.nitori-net.jp/ec/feature/ncoolbedding/

Had the same exact problem as you.

My spouse keeps using enough thick blankets to keep you warm in the North Pole. Since I don't want to have a heat stroke, what I did was buying one of those nitori cool blankets like Kanto mentioned, as well as buying a fan and pointing it at the side of the bed where I sleep instead of using AC. Not a perfect solution, but has been working out for us.

I also do the fan for me, plus cool sheets. Don't like sleeping with AC unless it is really hot.

You can use a humidifier at the same time as an air conditioner. I used to do it when I lived in a very dry part of the US. For summer, I'd get one of the cold mist types which use ultrasonic rather than steam to raise the humidity.

Also, you can direct the air conditioner away from you and use a circulator fan to gently blow the air around the room so that you feel cool without having the cold air blowing on you directly. They're also supposed to make your air conditioner more efficient and save on your electric bills.

Has anyone tried one of those fancy humidity/air purifier control air conditioners Like the Panasonic Eolia AX?

https://panasonic.jp/aircon/products/21ax.html

Seems like what I need, but I’m skeptical to a fault. Dropping two grand on an AC would hurt, but it would be worth it if I could get a good nights sleep.

We got a fairly pricy Daikin AC a couple of years ago that has separate temperature and humidity settings. It's great, well worth the price even though we only use it sparingly. Much more efficient than our old one too so cheaper electric bills.

Get a cheap hygrometer (humidity meter) to keep an eye on the humidity in the room; there are also humidifiers with built-in meters or that will regulate to a set humidity level. Your humidity should be around 50%. It may seem weird to be running a humidifier and AC at the same time, but if the AC is bringing your humidity down to 40% or lower, your body will thank you.

Gulliver wrote: ↑Mon Jun 28, 2021 8:55 am Has anyone tried one of those fancy humidity/air purifier control air conditioners Like the Panasonic Eolia AX?

https://panasonic.jp/aircon/products/21ax.html

Seems like what I need, but I’m skeptical to a fault. Dropping two grand on an AC would hurt, but it would be worth it if I could get a good nights sleep.

I have two of these, they both turn into jet engines every couple hours or so during the self-cleaning routine.

Jansen wrote: ↑Tue Jun 29, 2021 10:45 am I have two of these, they both turn into jet engines every couple hours or so during the self-cleaning routine.

Thanks for the heads up.