<p>My freshman son will be living on the top (third) floor of a miserably hot unairconditioned dorm. He will be moving in mid-August, and we're told the conditions are awful until early Oct. Normally I would tell him to tough it out like everyone else has for decades, but his first two months of college will be uniquely stressful because of other commitments.</p>
<p>Anyone have any tried and true best solutions for this situation? Window AC units are not permitted because of the dorm's electrical power restrictions unless the student has rigorous medical documentation (my son doesn't qualify). </p>
<p>I've searched the Internet for solutions. Even tower portable AC units use too much power and are not permitted. Other solutions such as battery powered portable "AC" unites with ice are a nonstarter when you consider battery limitations and dealing with rivers of melted ice!</p>
<p>Get him an electric fan, and get it now. By August move-in time the stores will be all sold out, and they will be clearing the aisles for Christmas. Really!</p>
<p>An old-fashioned tip is to put a bowl of ice cubes in front of the fan - at the same level - this is supposed to bring even colder air out to the room.</p>
<p>Two large box fans in the window…one pointing in, one out, to create circulation…is generally what students recommend. He’ll also want a smaller fan to place on his desk to direct air wherever he is in the room. </p>
<p>It is not the ideal situation but students learn to study in the library, and find lounges to hang out in that have a/c until the weather breaks.</p>
<p>I agree: large box fan at the window. He will have to determine if it feels cooler pulling air in or pushing air out. Then another fan directed at the desk or bed, maybe even oscillating fan. The new blade-less fans look intriguing. Stay hydrated. Lots of water. Bedding should be 100% cotton, no poly blends. If you bring a foam topper for the bed, cover it with a 100% cotton mattress cover to keep the bed cooler.</p>
<p>Find out in advance whether a box fan will fit in the window. A call to the housing office would not be inappropriate.</p>
<p>If it will, get a box fan and a smaller fan for use right by the bed or desk. Make sure to have power strips in case the electric outlets are not in the appropriate places to plug the fans in.</p>
<p>If your son has a roommate, they may want to coordinate on the purchase and transport of fans. Box fans are big. If one kid is flying and the other is coming by car, it would be better if the kid coming by car brought the box fan. </p>
<p>Interesting irony: This is the only situation I know of where people with health problems are extraordinarily popular. Kids would kill to room with a person who has medical documentation of the need for air conditioning.</p>
<p>Edited to add: He will survive. My son lived with this situation for two years in a row at the University of Maryland at College Park. He is not noticeably the worse for wear (although the fans are – lots of gunk collected in them).</p>
<p>Multiple fans. (Don’t make arguing about the fan an issue)…and they were used year/round…seemed like the dorm overcompensated for no a/c by having extra heat in the winter. At my kids’ school, the lounges in the dorms were a/c…for nights that were just intolerable, people drug their mattresses in and slept on the floor.</p>
<p>True, good to check the size of the window. You can call, or the housing website may give this dimension online. We have access to a wide variety of dimensions for the dorms, including windows.</p>
<p>When I stayed in an unairconditioned dorm, I got a fan. I like the ones that clip onto your bed because then you can just aim it right at your face while you’re sleeping or relaxing or whatever. I’d suggest a regular fan in addition (preferably one of those ones that spins) to cool the rest of the room a bit.</p>
<p>Where is the college? By mid-September there would be very little need for a fan in most northern states…in DC or southward, that would be hard. D managed on the 13th floor of a dorm without a/c last summer, by using two oscillating fans…temp was 100 degrees at times. There are laws about keeping kids in high temperatures and I was tempted to invoke them!</p>
<p>Tower fans. You can fit more then one of them into a room and they rotate. I’m on the second floor of a HOT non air conditioned building and thats what I use. Hang a damp cool sheet in the window. Sleep on the floor. He’ll be ok.</p>
<p>On topic, I’ll have to deal with this, too. You mentioned floors… Does what floor you’re on make a difference in temperature? I’ve always lived in a one-floor house, so I don’t know.</p>