Over the long run, we need to plan and build a future better suited for heat, with cool places to go, abundant shade, comfortable homes, and lots and lots of water.

What can you do? ​Keep your home, neighborhoods & businesses cool.

Here we have cool tips for how to regulate indoor temperatures (see our shade page for a wider lens on both indoor & outdoor cooling).

We've put together a comparison of: 

  • Fans
  • Air Conditioning
  • Heat Pumps (aka mini splits)
  • Swamp Coolers

Fans, Heat Pumps, Swamp Coolers, and Air Conditioners

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Fans
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Heat pumps (aka mini splits)
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Swamp Cooler
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Air Conditioner
fans

Pros

  • Cost. A typical box fan that can be placed in a window costs $15-$20. Many ceiling fans are available for $30-$60.
  • No maintenance required! Unless you count cleaning off the dust every once in a while.
  • No installation necessary for portable fans. Ceiling fans do require installation.
  • Low energy use. Fans are by far the most energy-efficient cooling option. And since they're only effective at cooling people - not the ambient air temperature - they're only necessary when you're at home.
  • Keep warm in winter, too, by running ceiling fans clockwise to push warm air down. In summer, switch back to counter clockwise to cool.

Cons

Tips for Best Use
  • Cooling capacity. Fans are the least effective cooling appliance, since they only circulate air and do not cool it directly. They are most effective when people are present, since they directly cool the skin through evaporation or a "wind chill" effect.
  • Fans may be insufficient in homes with individuals who are at risk of heart attacks and heatstroke, including senior citizens, young children, pregnant women, and those with certain medical conditions.
  • ​Ceiling fans work best when they are 7 to 9 feet above the floor and 10 to 12 inches below the ceiling.
  • Larger ceiling fan blades ​provide more cooling than smaller ones.
  • Pitch ceiling fan blades at 12 degrees for greatest and most efficient airflow.
  • Turn off ceiling fans when no one is in the room. Although fans cool people, large ceiling fans especially generate heat just like any appliance, so it's best to use them sparingly.
evaporative coolers (aka swamp coolers)
Evaporative coolers use water to cool the air in your home. They work well in Missoula's dry summers and can add moisture to the air to increase comfort.
​Smaller models can be portable or window-installed. Roof-mounted swamp coolers are also available to cool entire homes.
​If you're a DIY person, you can even learn how to make your own swamp cooler for cheap on this cool YouTube video!

Pros

  • Cost. The price range of evaporative coolers and air conditioners is similar, but evaporative coolers cost much less to run.
  • Simple to no installation​, depending on type. Whole-house swamp cooler installation is cheaper than central air conditioning installation.
  • ​Low energy use. Swamp coolers use 15% to 35% of the electricity needed by an air conditioner of the same size. (That's 65% to 85% less energy used!)
  • Low CO2 emissions because they don't use chemical cooling methods.
  • Quieter than air conditioning units, and sometimes quieter than fans.
  • Add moisture​ to dry air.

Cons

Tips for Best Use
  • Lower cooling capacity. Swamp coolers cannot lower air temperatures as much as air conditioners can, though they have a much greater cooling effect than fans.
  • Lack of temperature control. Evaporative coolers can reduce the temperature in a room by 5-15 degrees, depending on humidity. (The lower the humidity, the greater their cooling capacity). They cannot be programmed to cool down to a set temperature.
  • Regular maintenance required, including keeping water reservoir filled and changing moisture pads.​
  • Use near partially open windows. Even portable swamp coolers must be used next to open windows, since they draw in warm air from outside and cool it.
  • Experiment with how much to open windows. If they're open too wide, hot air will enter. If they're not open enough, humidity can build up inside.
  • To better regulate temperature and humidity, open windows in areas you want to cool and close windows in unoccupied parts of the house.​
  • The DIY swamp cooler on this YouTube video doesn't even require open windows.
air conditioners
Air conditioners have the greatest cooling capacity of any cooling appliance. They use chemical refrigerants and can be set to a specific temperature. To save money and use them most efficiently, use A/C in conjunction with these Energy Smart tips, and run A/C only when necessary.

Pros

Cons

Tips for Best Use
  • Cooling capacity.​ Air conditioners have the greatest cooling capacity of any appliance. Unlike swamp coolers, they can be set to a specific temperature.
  • Minimal maintenance. In general, yearly cleaning or replacement of filters is all that is needed.
  • Easy installation for most window units.
  • Cost.​ The price range of air conditioners and evaporative coolers is similar, but A/C costs more to run and has higher maintenance costs.
  • High energy use. Air conditioners use 15% to 35% more energy than swamp coolers of the same size.
  • ​Uses chemicals that emit additional CO2.
  • May dry the air to an uncomfortable degree.
  • The noisiest of the cooling appliances.
  • Installation can be costly and more complicated for central air conditioners and some window units.
  • Proper sizing is key. An air conditioner that's too big for the area it's attempting to cool will perform inefficiently and ineffectively. It can also make your home feel clammy and uncomfortable.
  • Run sparingly. Set the temperature at 78 degrees or higher. At night, consider turning off the A/C and opening windows to let in cool breezes.
  • Keep it in the shade. Shading air conditioning units significantly improves efficiency and reduces energy use.
  • Clean or replace the filter regularly to keep your A/C running most efficiently.
  • Be Summer Smart. Cool your home by using fewer appliances, using shade, and keeping blinds closed during the day.
  • Remove window units in the winter. Otherwise, they can let cold air inside and increase heating costs.
Heat pumps (aka mini splits)

Pros

  • Efficiency. Heat pumps are extremely efficient at heating and cooling. They use energy to move cold air instead of create it. While the installation may be an investment, you should see minimal impacts to your electricity bill if you follow these Energy Smart tips.
  • Cooling capacity.​ Heat pumps can both cool and heat very efficiently. They work best keeping a room at a consistent temperature and are less good at cooling down an already hot room. It's best to set them to a specific temperature and let them turn on and off as needed.
  • Minimal maintenance. In general, yearly cleaning or replacement of filters is all that is needed.
  • Quiet mode. Mini splits come in a wide variety, but wall units offer a quiet mode, meaning you'll reap the benefits of cooling without the noise.
  • Lower CO2 footprint. Because heat pumps are extremely efficient and run off of electricity, they have a lower CO2 footprint than some other options.
  • Indoor air quality. Heat pumps cleanse the air as they work via a filtration system to help maintain good indoor air quality. Plus you can use them for heating during colder months and, unlike traditional methane gas boilers and furnaces, heat pumps don't leak, burn incompletely, or rely on potentially dangerous faulty gas lines as their energy source. 

Cons

  • Cost. Heat pumps come in many different varieties and sizes. Depending on the space(s) you're trying to cool, the initial investment can be steep. Luckily, there are federal incentives to help offset the costs! Visit our Electrify Missoula financing page to learn more.
  • May dry the air. Heat pumps, over time, can dry out indoor air. You might need to think about using a humidifier, depending on your space and preferences.
  • Installation can be costly and more complicate for a centrally ducted system verses of wall mounted unit.

Tips for Best Use

  • Proper sizing is key. A heat pump system that's too small or big for an area won't perform as efficiently or effectively as a properly sized system. 
  • Clean or replace the filters regularly to maintain efficiency and good indoor air quality.
  • Start using the heat pump early, to maintain your ideal temperature. Heat pumps run on a thermostat and will kick on to keep the room at the set temperature, which works better than trying to cool down an already hot room.
  • Be Summer Smart. Cool your home by using fewer appliances, using shade, and keeping blinds closed during the day. ​
Shopping for a cooling device? 
Here are some things to consider.
cost
Remember to consider not only the up-front cost of purchasing a cooling appliance, but also the costs of installation (if any) as well as the longer term costs of operating it. Fans are the cheapest option. The cost of purchasing a heat pump* (also known as a mini split), swamp cooler or air conditioner varies widely based on the type and the size of the space they can cool, but air conditioners are much more expensive to operate. Heat pumps can both heat and cool very efficiently - they'll likely give you the most cooling-bang for your buck! 

*For more info on heat pump heating and cooling, visit our Electrify Missoula webpage.
cooling capacity
Air conditioners, including air source heat pumps, have the greatest ability to significantly cool a room or home. They offer more precise temperature control than swamp coolers or fans.
installation
Will you choose a portable appliance, or one that requires installation?
effects on humidity
Swamp coolers add moisture to the air, while air conditioners and heat pumps dry out the air. Fans have no effect on humidity.
maintenance
Swamp coolers require regular upkeep, air-conditioning units and heat pumps require yearly maintenance, and fans require almost no maintenance.
energy use
Fans use the least energy, followed by heat pumps, then swamp coolers. Air conditioners use the most energy and also emit CO2 directly from the chemical cooling process used.
choose the energy star
​Created by the U.S. Department of Energy, this certification can be found on cooling appliances that operate more efficiently and use less energy.
personal needs
Most people can tolerate moderate levels of heat in their homes. However, some people - including senior citizens, very young children, pregnant women, and those with certain pre-existing health conditions - are at greater risk of heat-related illness. ​
complementary cooling
Different cooling appliances can be used together to increase effectiveness and save energy. For example, using fans helps reduce the amount of air conditioning needed. Using ​Shade and being ​Energy Smart can also reduce how often you need to use cooling appliances.