• Durable, powerful window fan?

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  • Our fleet of four Honeywell-brand window fans (similar to this) finally had to go to the curb this summer as they'd developed an uncleanable case of mold and mildew and the plastic was starting to degrade. They served us well for 15 years, though, and in almost constant nighttime use through the summer and fall.

    We're looking to replace them, and are having difficulty finding something as durable. I picked up a couple of Bionaire window fans last night and tried them overnight, but found them wanting: their air throughput was about 1/2 of what our old fans were capable of, and so our rooms were as warm in the morning as in the daytime, despite cool temperatures outside.

    At the same time, the fans we're replacing, in their modern incarnations -- two-fan or "Twindow" fan models, 7" blades, etc. -- seem to have plummeted in build quality and features.

    We're looking for something that will last, and that can pull lots of air into our warm bedrooms on cool summer nights.

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    Question by ruk
    06/29/2016

Not having used the Honeywell fans, I can’t make comparisons, but I picked up a couple of Holmes duak-blade, reversible window fans last summer, and have been happy with them.

http://www.holmesproducts.com/deals/fantastic-sale/holmes-dual-blade-window-fan-with-comfort-control-thermostat/HAWF2041-N.html#start=5

Answer by tomhopper
07/02/2016
Answer by nevin
07/02/2016

Have you considered a whole house fan?

I purchased one of these recently. They can actually mount on the outside (or inside) of your window’s frame. I learned that after jamming mine into a window that it didn’t fit and stuffing foam everywhere around it so it wouldn’t vibrate, though. Oh well, it still works wonderfully.

https://www.amazon.com/AirKing-9166-Whole-House-Window/dp/B0007Q3RQ6

Answer by tylo
07/04/2016

If price is not an issue, and you REALLY want to ventilate, consider a barn or greenhouse exhaust fan. Easy to find on FarmTek’s website, or any other industrial farm supply catalog.

You will notice that the majority of them are made of metal.

Answer by baitisj
07/05/2016

Check http://thesweethome.com/reviews/best-window-fans/ They’ve reviewed a bunch (wirecutter-style).

Answer by Wayne Ruffner
07/05/2016
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