Did I just dodge an expensive bullet?

[mzteris]

6. I grew up in Georgia & Alabama

before AC.

We lived by the attic fan. That - and an elaborate ritual by my Mother.

When she got up in the morning, the windows and drapes on the east side of the house were shut. At midday-ish - all of the windows and drapes were shut. Around mid to late afternoon, the windows on the east side of the house were opened. At bedtime, all of the windows were opened.

The attic fan was used as people have stated above. We turned it on to move the air and to pull the hot air up and out of the house. It could also be used "in reverse" to pull air down INTO the house - but I'll be damned if I remember the formula for that scenario. That was a long time ago.

The only benefit I see to having a thermostat would be to having it run - when necessary - when you weren't home.