The requested URL /sdmb/showthread.php?t=540490 was not found on this server.The requested page title contains invalid characters: "%C4". Return to Main Page.Window air conditioners or central air aren't the only way to cool down a hot house. Check out these alternative solutions for making your house more comfortable. Cool down with a whole-house fan Whole-house fans may seem old fashioned, but they're enjoying renewed popularity. The idea behind them is simple. A powerful fan draws cooler early morning and evening air through open doors and windows and forces it up through the attic and out the roof vents. This sends hot air up and out, cooling your house and your attic. These fans are commonly mounted in an upstairs stairwell or hallway ceiling where there's at least 3 ft. of clearance above the fan. percent less energy than an air conditioner, and in dry climates with cool mornings and evenings, they can actually replaceWith a helper and basic tools, you can install a whole-house
fan in a weekend. - They can't cool inside temps any lower than outside temps and they - They can make allergies worse. Whole-house fans draw in outdoor - Larger fans move air quickly, but they cost more to purchase andThey also require significant attic ventilation and make more noise than smaller attic fans. For the best results, match the fan size to your floor plan, cooling needs and available attic ventilation. your local utility and check energystar.gov to see which models qualify for local rebates and the federal tax credit in 2010. Fans cost $200 to $1,200. Portable air conditioners are similar to window units inThey sit on the floor (on casters) and use an adapter kit to vent the hot air through a hose running through a window, a wall or a sliding glass door. - They are easy to install and use. - You can move them from room to room. - They're almost twice as expensive and use more
energy than a similar-size window unit with the - At this time there are no Energy Star–qualified portable room air conditioners. Portables range in price from $300 to $1,500 depending on the size, features and efficiency. Mini-split system is cool and quiet Long popular in Europe and Japan, a mini-split system air conditioner (sometimes called ductless AC), is a hybrid of central air and a window unit. A small condenser sits outside and connects through a conduit to an inside evaporator mounted high on the wall or ceiling.The condenser sits outside, it doesn’t let in street noise and the indoor fan is The system can be mounted anywhere thanks to the small size of the indoor and outdoorThe conduit, which houses the power cable, refrigerant tubing, suction tubing and a condensate drain, runs through a 3-in. hole hidden behind the indoor evaporator. - Zoning flexibility lets you cool rooms
Professional installation costs $1,500 to $2,500 including parts and labor. install it yourself, but it's fairly complicated and you'll most likely void the manufacturer's warranty. with an efficiency rating of 16 or higher qualify for the federal tax credit in 2010. In-wall AC unit stays put all year An in-wall air conditioner is basically the same asThe primary difference is that it has vents on the back instead of along the sides and it sits flush or extends only slightly farther out from the exterior wall. - Permanent installation means you don’t have to lug it in and out twice a year, and it’s not an easy entry point for burglars. - It doesn’t block a window. - The chassis unit sits securely inside a metal sleeve that is installed into the wall. The chassis unit slides out for easy servicing. - The size of the unit isn’t limited to a standard window opening, so it can be bigger and more powerful than a window unit.
,p>- Installation is more involved. hole in the outside wall of your home may be difficult depending on the exterior sheathing - You may need to install a new electricalSome larger units require 240 volts (although most smaller units can be plugged into a standard 120-volt outlet). Energy Star-qualified models use 25 percent less energy than models made before late 2000. Check with your utility for energy both cooling and heating. Prices range from $400 for cooling a 400- to 700-sq.-ft. room to $700 or so for cooling/heating a 1,000- Move the cool air with a ventilator fan If you have a hot room in an otherwise comfortable house, you can pump existing cool air into that hot room using a special fan installed in the wall or floor. - No extra cooling costs. ventilator fan (shown) moves existing cool air from one level (from the basement or a mini-split system, for example) to another level of the house through an adjustable sleeve
installed through the floor/ceiling. - A ventilator fan can blow conditioned air up or down, depending on the position of theThere are also room-to-room ventilator fans to move the conditioned air. - To install the fan, you’ll have to cut a hole through the floor/ceiling and run an electrical line to the unit. - It’s only practical if you have an abundance of existing cool air that’s easily accessible to your (around $200) can also be used to move warm air through the living space during the winter. online for “level-to-level fan.” Increase the flow with a duct or a vent booster fan If you have forced-air cooling but there's still a room that's hotter than all the rest, a duct or vent booster fan can increase the flow of cool air into that room. Two types of booster fans are available. An in-line duct booster fan fits inside the duct of the room you're trying to cool. You mount the fan near the outlet and it automatically kicks on when your cooling system runs.