Whole House Fan Info Center > Whole House Fan Information

Things To Consider

• The cost savings due to reduced air conditioner load depends on the price of electricity in your area, temperature and humidity of the outdoor air, and the amount of ventilation your whole house fan is able to provide. A typical installation will usually pay for itself in savings within 1-2 summers of use.

• Some whole house fans are quiet, others are loud. 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.

• During winter, an uninsulated whole house fan will allow cold air form the attic to leak into the living space and will allow warm air from the living space to leak out. In areas with cold winters, it is recommended fans be sealed and insulated during winter months. Many fans are equipped with insulated motorized doors that automatically open when the fan turns on and close when it turns off, eliminating this problem.

• If outdoor air is contaminated or polluted (pollen or smoke/fumes), the whole house fan should not be used because it will suck these contaminants into the home.

• As many windows as possible must be opened to let fresh air in, and properly sized attic vents are required to allow air to exit the attic.

• Fireplace dampers and/or doors and furnace/water heater room doors must be closed when the whole house fan is on. The suction of the whole house fan is so great that it may draw air from the outside through a chimney. Since this air is likely to be contaminated with soot and ashes, possible airflow paths from chimneys to the home should be sealed.

Configurations

Whole house fans are available in three configurations:

1. Fan with no shutter: The most basic and least expensive, has no built-in means for sealing the living space off from the attic.

2. Fan with uninsulated gravity shutter: Fan airflow forces the damper open during operation, gravity pulls the damper closed when the fan turns off.

3. Fan with insulated, motorized doors: Insulated motorized doors automatically open when the fan turns on and close when the fan turns off.

Why Do You Need A Whole House Fan?

Whole house fans offer an environmentally friendly and economical solution to summer time cooling. Use a simple energy efficient fan to bring in air from outdoors that Mother Nature has cooled for you. No environmentally harmful refrigerants, no complicated controls, and no expensive maintenance.