Do Window Exhaust Fans Cool the Air?

A cost-friendly cooling option

• The dog days of summer can conjure many refreshing thoughts, from downing an icy glass of lemonade on the front porch to working through an ice cream cone in the fading afternoon sun.

  But the soaring temperatures and sticky humidity can create uncomfortable circumstances inside a home. There are many options available to help cool your house in the heat, and an exhaust fan is an appealing and cost-friendly one.

  An exhaust fan will not necessarily reduce the temperature inside a home as quickly as an air conditioner; there is perhaps no comparable option to an air conditioner in that regard. However, air conditioning can be extremely expensive, making it a difficult choice for many.

  An exhaust fan is a suitable alternative because it can work in two ways: It can bring cool air into a home or push warm air out. According to a report prepared for for the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), exhaust fans can be especially effective in kitchens and bathrooms, pushing heat and humidity away after cooking or bathing.

  Exhaust fans can also provide an alternative cooling option when an open window is dangerous or creates a safety issue, according to the report mentioned above.

  While air conditioners can often cost several hundred dollars, exhaust fans are available for far less. Lowes.com lists many air conditioners in the $400 to $700 range, while the same website offers bathroom exhaust fans starting at $39.97.

  By removing hot or humid air, an exhaust fan is an effective and reliable way to help cool a home when the temperature rises to uncomfortable levels. There are certainly plenty of options available, but when air conditioning is not plausible in your home, an exhaust fan may be an attractive option to help reduce temperatures and leave enough money in your pocket for those lemonades and ice cream cones.