Whole House Fan Info Center > Whole House Fan Frequently Asked Questions

Check out whole house fan FAQ's section for common questions and answers about whole house fans:

Commonly Asked Questions:

1) What size fan do I need?

ANSWER: A whole house fan should be sized to provide 10 living space air volume changes per hour.

To figure out what flow rate this works out to, figure out the volume of your living space (home not including the attic) in cubic feet. Multiply your living space volume x 10 air changes per hour to get the total flow required per hour.

Since fans are sized in terms of their cfm (cubic feet/minute) output, divide your total flow per hour by 60 to get cubic feet per minute.

Required flow rate in cfm = (attic volume x 10) / 60

Now check the fan specifications to find the fan required to meet your ventilation needs.

It is also very important to make sure there is enough air outlet area in your attic to allow the hot air being exhausted to escape. A minimum of 1 square foot for every 360 cfm of exhaust is required. Typically soffit vents, gable vents, and ridge vents are used as outlets.

2) How long will a whole house fan last?

ANSWER: Whole house fans are designed to provide many years of trouble free operation.

3) How is a whole house fan controlled?

ANSWER: A switch or remote control is used to turn the fan on and off..

4) Where can I find more information and pricing on whole house fans?

ANSWER: Follow this link: Whole House Fan

5) Can my home have too much ventilation?

ANSWER: The amount of ventilation a homeneeds is determined by many factors, but in general the more the ventilation your home has, the better off you will be. As air turnover is increased and fresh make-up air is brought into the home, the home temperature will begin to approach that of the ambient outside air temperature.

6) What is a whole house fan and what does it do?

ANSWER: A whole house fan is located in the ceiling between the living space of a home and the attic, and it moves air from the living space into the attic. Typically used at night when the temperature and humidity of the air outdoors is more favorable than the conditions indoors, the fan pulls cool air into the living space through open windows and forces hot air into the attic and then out of the home through your attic’s soffit, gable, or ridge vents.

8) What are the cost benefits of installing a whole house fan?

ANSWER: How much money you will save is greatly dependent on the price of electricity in your area, the size of your fan, and the amount of ventilation your fan is able to provide. In our experience, a typical installation will usually pay for itself in savings within 1-2 summers of use.

10) Are these whole house fans very loud when operating?

ANSWER: Some are very load, others are very quiet. Keep this in mind along with your intended use then selecting a fan. If you intend to run the fan for a short time before bed to cool the house and then turn it off before you go to sleep, noise may not be a concern. If you intend to run the fan continuously at night, choose a quiet model.

11) Is any wiring required to install a whole house fan?

ANSWER: Whole house fans require 120 volt power and either plug into an electrical outlet or are hard wired into your home’s electrical system.