How to Remove Hot Air from a Room: Home Air Cooling Tips (DIY)

Step 5

How to Remove Hot Air from a Room: Move the cool air with a ventilator fan

Move air up or down

A ventilator fan can move existing cool air from one level or room to another through the wall or floor.

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.

Main advantages

– No extra cooling costs. The level-to-level 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 the blower unit. There are also room-to-room ventilator fans to move the conditioned air. Check out these creative ways to cool a room without AC.

Main disadvantages

– 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 hot room.

Level-to-level ventilator fans (around $200) can also be used to move warm air through the living space during the winter. Search online for “level-to-level fan.”

Step 6

How to Remove Hot Air from a Room: Increase the flow with a duct or a vent booster fan

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Duct booster

In-line duct and vent booster fans increase the flow of cool air through ducts and registers.

Vent booster

Vent boosters fit over the existing register.

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.

Vent and register booster fans sit directly on top of or replace ceiling, floor or wall registers. Depending on the model, you can set it to operate automatically, control it with a switch or operate it by a remote control.

Main advantages

– Easy to install and use.

– Reasonably priced. In-line duct booster fans are available in both plug-in and hard-wired models and retail for $30 to $150. Vent and register booster units plug into a nearby electrical outlet or can be hard-wired. Register and vent duct booster fans cost $40 to $100.

Main disadvantages

– Less powerful (and cheaper) in-line units have a lighter-gauge housing that is more prone to rattling.

– Duct or vent booster fans may not make a significant cooling difference if your ductwork or overall cooling system is inefficient, sized improperly or faulty.

Search online for “in-line duct booster fan” or “register duct booster fan” to find dealers. (These fans can also be used to increase the flow of warm air through ducts during the winter months.)