QA

Question: How Whole House Fan Works

A whole house fan works by creating negative pressure. The fan pulls air in through open windows, filling your home with fresh, cool, outdoor air. As the negative pressure in your house builds, it creates positive pressure in the attic.

Does a whole house fan really work?

Whole house fans can effectively cool down a house. Research conducted in California showed that homeowners who install whole-house fans reduced their dependency on their air conditioning systems by nearly 50%. The only time they were dependent on their air conditioning was on days of extreme heat.

Can you run a whole house fan all night?

Getting the most from your AirScape Only use your fan when the outdoor air is cooler than your indoor air. Make sure your A/C is off when you run the fan to avoid wasting energy. We recommend running the whole house fan all night. The goal is to cool your entire house down, not just the air.

How does a whole house fan system work?

Many whole house fan systems are installed in the attic. The fan removes hot air from the attic and brings in cooler air. The cool, outdoor air is then circulated through every living area in your home. The fans installed in the windows pull air in from the outside, which goes through the attic or the roof.

Does a whole house fan bring in outside air?

When whole house fans are turned on, the fans will pull the cooler outdoor air into your home, through your windows, across your living space, into the attic, and out the attic vents, replacing the hot, stale air. 3-6” and just a few windows will suffice to make your home a fresh-aired paradise.

How many windows should be open with a whole house fan?

A: Opening two or more windows half way or more is recommended. Basically you should make it easy for the home ventilation system to pull in air. As for which windows to open, for general cooling you want to open windows far away from the fan to provide airflow to the whole house.

Can you run a whole house fan with the windows closed?

Since the windows need to be open to properly and safely use this appliance, and windows need to be closed to effectively run an air conditioner, the two appliances should not be used simultaneously. Cover and seal your whole house fan when the weather turns cold.

How do I cool my house with a whole house fan?

Open the doors and windows to bring in that cool, summer breeze so it can circulate around the house. This pushes out the hot air. Then when the hottest parts of the day approach, turn off the fan and shut all the doors and windows to keep the cool air in.

Do whole house fans need to be cleaned?

Since whole house fans move a lot of air, they should be cleaned regularly. Whenever you are attempting to clean a whole house fan, safety is key. Before you begin cleaning it make sure you turn the power supply off.

Does a whole house fan use less electricity than AC?

When compared with the typical window AC unit or whole-home central air conditioning system, fans simply use less electricity. Whole-house fans and ceiling fans are among the most energy-efficient methods for cooling your home. They use between one-fourth to one-hundredth of the electrical power required for AC units.

Do whole house fans work in Utah?

Our Utah Whole House Fans can exchange all the air in a home every 3-4 minutes, or 15-20 times per hour, ensuring that every breath you take is a breath of fresh air. Let Whole House Fans of Utah help you live healthier, stay cooler, and save money.

How long should you run your whole house fan?

For best results, run your whole house fan for at least 10 minutes first thing in the morning to bring a cool breeze through the house and into the attic. This will expel any hot stale air buildup from the night before.

Can you use a whole house fan in the winter?

Using a whole house fan during the winter can actually prove to be largely effective in a myriad of ways. Running your whole house fan also gives you superior circulation of air. During the winter, most homes become stale as people do not open their windows to let new and fresh air in.

How do you suck hot air out of your house?

Window Fans Install a window fan on a cool side of the house. Use a window fan to push hot air out of a room. Use two window fans to move cool air through an entire house. Drape a wet, ice-cold towel over the fan.

Are whole-house fans loud?

Whole house fans can be noisy, especially if improperly installed. In general, a large-capacity fan running at low speed makes less noise than a small fan operating at high speed. All whole house fans should be installed with rubber or felt gaskets to dampen noise.

Can a whole house fan cause mold?

A properly set up whole house fan can cool an entire home in about an hour. It pulls air through any cracks and crevices that it can and can even pull up damp air from crawl spaces under your home up through living spaces and cause mold problems.

What’s the difference between an attic fan and a whole house fan?

Attic fans are quite different. They’re installed up on a roof or through an exterior wall up in an attic. Whole-house fans need windows and doors open and attic fans need lots of soffit vents to suck cooler outdoor air up into the hot attic. Without this open space, the fans will not move much air.

Do attic fans help with AC?

When they work the way they’re supposed to, attic fans improve your air conditioner’s performance by removing hot air from your attic. Attic fans aid this process by creating negative pressure and encouraging airflow through the attic. This brings in fresh air from outside and expels hot air out from the attic space.