How do you argue with logic like this?

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Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Mother-out-law: "Your basement is nice and cool! You should leave the basement door open so the cool air comes upstairs!"

Me: "Err....but..."

Mother-out-law: "We did this all the time at our house. It saved a lot of money on our air conditioning bills. We never but our AC above 78! Right hon?"

Father-out-law: ::grumbles something from behind the newspaper::

Me: "But, cold air goes down, and heat rises. If I leave the door open, all the cold air up here will go down stairs, making the AC work harder to keep it cool up here."

Mother-out-law: "I'M 59 YEARS OLD, AND WE'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR DECADES. I THINK I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!"


So, if you're older and been doing something that goes against the laws of thermodynamics for a long time, it becomes right. Got it!
 
R

RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
0
Hmm..

maybe if her basement was upstairs when she was a kid that would work..

Wait..your explnation doesn't work either...

If it is already cold, downstairs, the air would be colder in the basement. So the cold air above stairs would still be warmer, so it would remain where it was.


In the end having the door open would make no difference temperature wise/air conditioner wise...

I think :confused:
 
Shawn

Shawn

Lifer
Apr 20, 2003
32,236
53
91
Originally posted by: RichardE



In the end having the door open would make no difference temperature wise/air conditioner wise...
Click to expand...

yeah, pretty much. they are both wrong.
 
N

nageov3t

Lifer
Feb 18, 2004
42,808
83
91
if I've learned anything in life, it's not to argue with old people.

do what they say and go back to doing things your way as soon as their back is turned.
 
Ika

Ika

Lifer
Mar 22, 2006
14,264
3
81
If you learn anything, it's never to argue with in-laws, and get the fvck away from out-laws.

what the heck is an out-law, anyway? ex-in-laws?
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
I almost punched an old woman on the bus today for being a racist and asshole.
 
Fritzo

Fritzo

Lifer
Jan 3, 2001
41,920
2,161
126
Originally posted by: Aflac
If you learn anything, it's never to argue with in-laws, and get the fvck away from out-laws.

what the heck is an out-law, anyway? ex-in-laws?
Click to expand...

They're my inlaws, but my MIL can be such a pain I thought out-law was a more fitting title.
 
S

Suspicious-Teach8788

Lifer
Feb 19, 2001
20,155
23
81
um, cold air might not rise, but there's AIR CIRCULATION.

if a room gest stuffy even if it's the same temperature, circulation is good.

thus you should open your windows a bit always unless it's a lot hotter outside.

so it might not make a huge difference, but a small crack might be ok...
 
R

RichardE

Banned
Dec 31, 2005
10,246
2
0
Originally posted by: DLeRium
um, cold air might not rise, but there's AIR CIRCULATION.

if a room gest stuffy even if it's the same temperature, circulation is good.

thus you should open your windows a bit always unless it's a lot hotter outside.

so it might not make a huge difference, but a small crack might be ok...
Click to expand...

It's in the basement, I doubt the pressure would be that much different to cause circulation between the two floors.

Now if the OP set a fan on his ceiling, pointing down towards the basement, and perhaps another in the basement pointing towards the room, that would be good.


Or he could turn the air conditioner up a bit. :)
 
C

Chryso

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2004
4,039
13
81
You can't argue with the MIL and win. And if you DO win then you will be in even more trouble.
 
C

Chryso

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2004
4,039
13
81
Originally posted by: Baked
I almost punched an old woman on the bus today for being a racist and asshole.
Click to expand...

That would have put two assholes on the bus.
 
DrPizza

DrPizza

Administrator Elite Member Goat Whisperer
Mar 5, 2001
49,601
167
111
www.slatebrookfarm.com
Simply find proof that you're right. Piles and piles of proof. Come up with a simple experiment to show you're right. Then remark to her, "so, you've been stupid for 59 years. It's a good thing your daughter married me to improve your family's gene pool."
 
her209

her209

No Lifer
Oct 11, 2000
56,336
11
0
She forgot to tell you that you need to leave your attic door open also.
 
Kelemvor

Kelemvor

Lifer
May 23, 2002
16,928
8
81
Originally posted by: RichardE
maybe if her basement was upstairs when she was a kid that would work..
Click to expand...

THat one got me chuckling...

We ave the door off that goes to the basement. Only difference is that it's directly opposite the door that goes outside to our backyard. So if that door is opened, the hot air rushes in and goes right down the stairs. That makes it not as coo in the absement righ by the stairs.

But it doesn't much affect the rest of the house.

But that's what ceiling fans and such are for... to circulate the air so the cold air doesn't settle and the hot air doesn't sit by the ceiling. Makes it much more comfortable when there's air moving.
 
S

SlitheryDee

They never turn their AC below 78 degrees. What does that have to do with anything? The only benefit there would be if the airflow from tha basement actually cooled the house BELOW 78 degrees. Otherwise the house would just be 78 degrees regardless of whether the cellar door was open or not.

Maybe she was implying that they could turn the AC to 78 and it would rarely have to come on to maintain the temperature. It sounds like they were claiming that the house was somehow more comfortable with the cellar door open and the AC set to 78. WTF it's still going to be 78 degrees right?
 
X

xSauronx

Lifer
Jul 14, 2000
19,582
4
81
Originally posted by: loki8481
if I've learned anything in life, it's not to argue with old people.

do what they say and go back to doing things your way as soon as their back is turned.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
 
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