Attic Fan Versus Air Conditioner

Doubters of attic fan efficiency claim that even solar powered attic fans which cost more initially but run off the grid can take 20 years to provide a return on the investment.

Attic fan versus air conditioner.

According to the article. When used in conjunction with an air conditioner ceiling fans may allow you to set your thermostat at a higher temperature and still be comfortable thereby reducing your overall energy consumption. A good window ac unit runs on 1 2 kilowatts and costs 14 cents an hour to run. When the conditions are right whole house fans are an energy efficient alternative to central air conditioning systems.

Attic ventilation fans help cool air your attic by pushing out the stifling hot air from inside the attic and bringing in cool air from outside. An air conditioner while serving many of the same purposes is different than a whole house fan. Rooftop fans are installed right on top of the roof and perform two tasks at once. Keep in mind that they re doing two separate things.

Just make sure you have the right climate to use one. How is an ac system different. Since gable attic fans remove the hottest air in the home your air conditioner will be more efficient and you may be able to run it less while still effectively cooling your home. This prevents hot air from seeping into your home and driving up the temperature in the living space which reduces the load on your air conditioner.

A three ton central air unit a common cooling system runs on about 3 kilowatts and costs about 36 cents an hour to run. Expelling the stagnant air and replacing it with cooler air. A good ceiling fan it draws only 30 watts to run costing about 1 cent per three hours of use. Running a fan is always a lot cheaper than running an air conditioner.

In others you ll need air. In some instances a fan will suffice. Gable fans operate as two separate units on opposite sides of the attic. When set at low speed fans use between 15 and 30 watts and at high speed they consume between 50 and 100 watts.

A whole house fan moves air throughout the entire home including the living space and attic while an attic fan merely circulates air inside the attic. In most parts of the country including colorado and during most parts of the year a whole house fan can adequately substitute for an a c system and provide a lovely living environment. Energy usage of about 40 watts at medium speed is typical. The cost of air conditioning vs.

One to blow in the other to blow out. The electricity consumption of a ceiling fan ranges widely depending on the design and the speed setting of the fan. Both types of attic fans are popular as solar powered equipment.