Ecm blower motor in my furnace?

Speaking of ecm - I'm not sure I've seen a post recently, you ok?

But I'm asking about a type of furnace fan. Ecm is a DC motor that has a greater efficiency than the standard capacitor controlled AC motors. The question is should I install one? I think I can find a good one for about $225.

I also have a basement that is finished. It gets damp in the summer, and stays quite cold. I currently have zero "cold" air return vents down there. Should I add one so I could use the fan alone instead of running the ac in the summer? I feel like circulating the air would help keep the main floor cooler AND keep the basement less humid.

If I add an intake downstairs should I also add the ability to block the upstairs cold air returns?

No advice on the fan, but I’d put a dehumidifier down there if I were you. 

In reply to mtn :

Yeah, we have one. It's currently running at like 2 gallons a day!

No one has thoughts on high efficiency furnace fans? Or improving the movement of air around a house?

Well, the air handler in my house (heat pump setup) has a high efficiency fan motor, that has gone out twice now, in 9 years. Warranty has covered it but ends this year. A/C guy says it is the circuit board controller that is the problem. Second time he had a hard time getting one, seems they are failing quite a bit and every supplier was sold out of them. So, while it works it is great, not so sure on durability.

In reply to 81cpcamaro :

Interesting... I actually read similar in a couple online reviews. 

So I guess if I'm doing this I'm keeping the old fan motor and getting a new one with a solid warranty!