Whole house fans draw cool outside air into your house while blowing the heated indoor air out through the attic. Whole house fans come in two different types: ceiling mounted and ducted.
Purchase Cost
The cost of purchasing a whole house fan is far less than that for an air conditioning unit. A whole house fan will run from $150 to 350, while an air conditioning unit costs from $2,000 to $4,000.
Running Costs
Whole house fans cost less to run on a daily basis than an air conditioner. A whole house fan will cost about 1 to 5 cents per hour to run, while an air conditioning unit will cost around 20 cents per hour to run.
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint
In using a whole house fan, you are reducing your carbon footprint. According to the Encyclopedia of Earth, running an air conditioner for one summer will yield around 6,600 lbs. of carbon.
Noise
Because of the speed of the blades and the volume of air moving through the blades, a whole house fan can be very noisy. The ducted whole house fan runs more quietly than the ceiling mounted version.
Dust and Pollen
Air conditioners filter out dust and pollen through the filter system in the unit. A whole house fan pulls in dust and pollen through open windows.
Humidity
A whole house fan will not dehumidify the air as an air conditioner can. A whole house fan can also only cool the house to the temperature of the outside air.
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