Xynfo.com - HVAC Questions
Common Questions About Heating, Ventilation and Cooling
What is a whole house fan?
A whole house fan is a simple method of cooling a house. The fan works by drawing cool outdoor air inside through open windows and then exhausts the hot air inside the room through the attic to the outside. This results in improved evaporative cooling, excellent ventilation, lower indoor temperatures, and most importantly lower summer electric bills. A whole house fan can lower the temperature of a room by 3°C in just a few minutes
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A whole house fan can be used as the only means of cooling a home or combined with central air conditioner to help cool the house more quickly. The biggest advantage of a whole-house fan is the cost. It can reduce your cooling costs by 30 percent. Most of the times, the outside air temperature and humidity determine the time when the whole house fan is favorable over air conditioning. The best time to use the whole house fan is when outside temperatures are below 30°C. However, as moving air feels cooler than its actual temperature, running the fan at higher temperatures may nevertheless increase personal comfort levels.
A whole house fan is usually installed on the attic floor. A hole is cut into the ceiling. The size for a whole house fan is determined by multiplying the square footage of a home by three. For example, a 1600 square foot home would require a fan pushing over 4800 cubic feet per minute of air. The attic space must have proper venting in order for the fan to work properly. To add more attic vents means we need to cut holes in the roof or side of the home so the hot air being blown by the fan can properly escape the attic space. While using a whole-house fan, it is very important to allow for good airflow. A window or door should always be left open to keep the air moving and avoid damaging the system.
New generation whole house fans which are insulated are quiet and easy to install. These fans have automatic insulated doors and move less air than the traditional whole house fans. These fans are meant to be run continuously through the night.