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If you live in a place with mild weather, these fans can be a cheaper and more energy-efficient way to cool your home than a traditional air conditioner. A whole-house fan is a type of ventilation cooling system for homes in low-humidity climates. Unlike a traditional central air conditioning system, a whole-house fan requires you to open your windows. The fan, usually installed in the attic, will pull cool air into the home through the open windows and force warmer air outside through attic vents. The whole house fan is typically installed in the ceiling on the top floor of the house, preferably in a central location like the hallway or a large open space.
Whole House Fans vs. Attic Fans
When selecting a whole house ventilation fan system, an important factor to consider is what size it should be. Whole house fans are rated according to the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air they can move. So, the bigger your house, the bigger the fan it will need to move the air effectively. The better the quality of the shutters or doors, the less thumping noises will occur when the unit shuts off. As mentioned above, energy-saving fans have self-sealing insulated shutters that close when the fan is not operating, which prevent heat from escaping when the unit is not in use. Look for models with sound-dampening features or lower decibel ratings for a quieter cooling experience.
Whole House Fan Climate Zone Map
These models don’t move as much air as standard fans, but they tend to run quieter, so they can be run all night. They can’t cool inside temps lower than outside temps, nor can they dehumidify. If you live in a humid region, you’ll still need to lean on your air conditioner in the dog days of summer.
Considerations for Choosing and Installing a High-Velocity HVAC System
In this article, we will explore what a whole house fan is, how it works, its comparison to attic fans, the pros and cons of using it, and things to consider when installing one. It draws in the fresh air and ejects the warm, stale air through a vent in the attic. The result is fresher air and more comfortable temperatures indoors while potentially lowering the electric bill (due to running the air conditioner less). Keep reading to learn more about which of the best whole-house fans is a good fit for your home.
How To Choose a Whole House Fan:
Additionally, if you choose the correct size whole home fan and live in a moderate and relatively dry climate, You can avoid using an air conditioning system entirely. Warm attic air is exhausted upward from the home, into the attic, and finally dispersed outside through the roof vents, cooling it with a house fan. Whole-house fans are sometimes referred to as an “Attic Fan” – which cools your attic, by exhausting attic heat, whereas, a whole-house fan cools by removing the heat from your entire home. Ideally, look for a large fan that will run well at a lower speed, thereby using less energy. A heavy unit may also be quieter than a lightweight model because it rests on foam weatherstripping, held down only by its own weight. The noise level of a whole house fan can vary significantly between models.
California Title 24 Building Code and Whole House Fans and Ventilation
We ensure that our products use the most energy-efficient and revolutionary motors possible so we can save you money and together we can reduce our carbon footprint. Alex Rennie is a freelance writer who specializes in the Home Improvement, DIY, and Tool space. As a former residential and commercial carpenter, Alex uses his hands-on experience to write practical buying guides, how-to articles, and product reviews.
Most manufacturers recommend sizing a Advanced Whole House Fan at 2 to 3 CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) per square foot of living space. A properly sized whole house fan completely exchanges the air volume inside the home every 3 to 4 minutes while improving the indoor air quality . As inexpensive as it is, the Gable Mount attic ventilator still offers some desirable features.
This can provide much needed ventilation and cool your home using far less energy than that consumed by an air conditioner. Yes, whole house fans are generally more energy-efficient than air conditioning systems. They consume significantly less electricity, which can lead to lower energy bills. They work best during the cooler parts of the day, such as early mornings or evenings, when outdoor temperatures are lower than indoors.
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This is an easily installed and energy-efficient large-diameter fan that closes and seals when not in use. Whole house fans and attic fans are both ventilation systems, but they serve different purposes and operate in distinct ways. Our Smart Attic Fan Series offers your home a healthier attic, a cooler place to live, and a reduced A/C bill. Using our Smart Control App you can set presets, turn on and off whenever you need, and see the exact temperature and humidity of your attic space. QuietCool has been one of the fastest growing companies in the United States for the past 7 years thanks to our extensive expertise in the residential ventilation world.
This mechanism keeps that precious cold air trapped inside your home instead seeping out into the attic. Its barometric pressurized dampers help to create a tight seal and reduce the chances of cooling loss between the attic and the rest of the house. Keep in mind that since this fan is on the larger side, it's likely going to be more of a challenge to install.
We did our best when assembling this list to make sure it included a good mix of different sizes and styles, including ducted and non-ducted options. The QuietCool Advanced Whole House Fan system works best in the early morning and evening time. You want to run your system whenever the outside temperature is cooler than the inside your home. You can also use your QuietCool Advanced Whole House Fan system in the winter during the warmest time of the day for several minutes to remove any odors, pet dander, smoke or any foul smells. This climate zone allows Advanced Whole House Fan usage almost year around!
These whole fans are also very efficient and can save you 50-80% in A/C costs. Whole-house fans aren’t right for every environment, but if you live in a low-humidity climate, you could save money by going with a whole-house fan over central AC. Here’s how the typical whole-house fan cost stacks up against other cooling methods. The square footage of your home will impact the size of the fan you need—and bigger whole-house fans cost more. The table below shows how your house size can impact cubic feet per minute (CFM), a common rating for fans.
If the whole house fan can be installed within the ceiling joists, it is called a “joist in” installation, and it is much easier to install. Take the square footage of your home, and multiply that by the ceiling height. Then select a fan with a CFM rating that is 2/3 of your home’s volume. Ducted whole house fans aren't installed in the ceiling, they are hung by straps from the attic rafters or trusses.
The air-change rate you choose depends on your climate and how much you will depend on the whole house fan for cooling. Direct-drive models are the most do-it-yourself friendly because, for most, no attic joists need to be cut. Belt-drive whole house fans that use an integrated pulley system take longer to install, but a belt-drive unit provides for a smoother and quieter operation. If you live in an area with frequent cold snaps, you’ll want a fan that holds in the heat when it’s not in use.
However, remember that whole-house fans use a natural cooling method and can't do as much to keep you cool. Cooling using a whole house fan can substitute for an air conditioner in some climates. Whole house fans combined with ceiling fans and other circulating fans provide acceptable summer comfort for many families.
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