Attic Fan or save for A/C?

[SideShow Bob]

There seems to be a lot of confusion here on what a attic fan and a whole house fan is.

An attic fan draws cooler air in from the soffit vent and exhausts hot air either though a roof vent or gabble vent, and only ventilates the hot air build up in the attic.

A whole house fan is mounted in the ceiling of the upper most level and draws cooler air from the house's windows, exhausts it into the attic and out a gabble vent or roof vents that needs to be sized to the CFM of the whole house fan.


http://www.airscapefans.com/learn-ab...attic-fans.php

[fly boy]

added a poll

[Ramsker]

We have both. We use the A/C to keep the house reasonably comfortable (to take the edge off) during the day and then at night when it cools down, we open the windows and cool the house down with the whole house fan. If it's really hot out, we can crank the A/C as needed. I also have my office on the 2nd floor in a southern-facing room. In there I rigged up one of those portable A/C unites and built a vent to the outside. So in my office I can crank that up and I don't have to keep the rest of the house as cool.

I don't know that I can recommend one over the other, necessarily. The A/C is really nice and convenient and gives comfort during the day. The whole house fan is inexpensive to run, cools the house really fast, and can drop the temp a ton more (and faster) than the A/C. You can also run it first thing in the morning and cool the house down a bunch to start the day. But on a really hot day, the house fan won't do much during the daytime. Just kind of depends on where you are, what you prefer, etc. If you can afford both . . . I say both.

[fly boy]

We have both. We use the A/C to keep the house reasonably comfortable (to take the edge off) during the day and then at night when it cools down, we open the windows and cool the house down with the whole house fan. If it's really hot out, we can crank the A/C as needed. I also have my office on the 2nd floor in a southern-facing room. In there I rigged up one of those portable A/C unites and built a vent to the outside. So in my office I can crank that up and I don't have to keep the rest of the house as cool.

I don't know that I can recommend one over the other, necessarily. The A/C is really nice and convenient and gives comfort during the day. The whole house fan is inexpensive to run, cools the house really fast, and can drop the temp a ton more (and faster) than the A/C. You can also run it first thing in the morning and cool the house down a bunch to start the day. But on a really hot day, the house fan won't do much during the daytime. Just kind of depends on where you are, what you prefer, etc. If you can afford both . . . I say both.

That is the problem. We plan on being in the house maybe 2 years MAX and have no budget what so ever until the house in Texas sells. What hoping to do one and be done, but it sounds like the house fan wont be enough.

Thanks for the advice all.

[Buff]

Not to be offensive but have you been to Cheyenne in the summer? The temps rarely exceed 90* and cools down to the mid 50's at night, factor in lower humidity and the breeze.
Since you're talking a 2yr stay why have the expense of AC?

http://www.climate-zone.com/climate/...ming/cheyenne/

[SideShow Bob]

That is the problem. We plan on being in the house maybe 2 years MAX and have no budget what so ever until the house in Texas sells. What hoping to do one and be done, but it sounds like the house fan wont be enough.

Thanks for the advice all.

Get a large window unit swamp cooler, put it in a ground floor window near the outside water faucet, or run a cheap flexible plastic line like for a refrigerator, and open the upstairs bedroom window. Initial cost around $450,Cools just as good as A/C and quicker, electric bill stays low and you can take it with you when you move.

I did this for about 10 years and three rentals, then donated it to Habitat for Humanity when we bought a home with central air.

[newracer]

Get a large window unit swamp cooler, put it in a ground floor window near the outside water faucet, or run a cheap flexible plastic line like for a refrigerator, and open the upstairs bedroom window. Initial cost around $450,Cools just as good as A/C and quicker, electric bill stays low and you can take it with you when you move.

I did this for about 10 years and three rentals, then donated it to Habitat for Humanity when we bought a home which central air.

^^^^^ I agree, a window mounted swamp cooler is the best option for short term. I did them same for two different houses.

[fly boy]

Get a large window unit swamp cooler, put it in a ground floor window near the outside water faucet, or run a cheap flexible plastic line like for a refrigerator, and open the upstairs bedroom window. Initial cost around $450,Cools just as good as A/C and quicker, electric bill stays low and you can take it with you when you move.

I did this for about 10 years and three rentals, then donated it to Habitat for Humanity when we bought a home with central air.

!!!! Good call!

Hell, I bet I could get one of those window fans to assist in pushing air out. Thanks!