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.
Are whole house fans worth the investment?
The cost of running a Whole House Fan is extremely low… like pennies per hour. And because it is so effective at cooling your home and attic quickly, it can be used more intermittently than air conditioning. This means up to a 50-90% savings on electricity costs related to air conditioning.
Do whole house fans use a lot of electricity?
A whole house fan will draw 200 to 700 watts, about 10 percent of a central unit, which will draw 2,000 to 5,000 watts. This means running the whole house fan will cost approximately 90 percent less than running a central air conditioning unit for the same amount of time.
What are the negatives of a whole house fan?
What are the disadvantages of a whole house fan? While a whole house fan is known for saving money on the cooling bill, it can possibly lead to a higher heating bill in the winter, especially for older whole house fans. An older house fan is a perfect escape for the air you are paying to heat in the wintertime.
Are whole house fans expensive to run?
The cost of operating a whole-house fan is also less expensive compared to an air conditioning unit. While energy usage will vary depending on how much you use it and what type of unit you have, in most cases it's pretty much accepted that whole house systems are less expensive and use less energy.
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.
Should 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 long should you leave a whole house fan on?
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.
When should I run my whole house fan?
The whole house fan should be turned on in the evening hours when temperatures outdoors are cooler, and when the air is dry and cool. Avoid turning on the fan during the day when temperatures are high, or when the air is humid, as it provides you with limited or no benefits in your home.Sep 1, 2014
Can I run whole house fan all night?
Do not run your whole house fan during the day unless the temperature outside is cooler than the house is inside, though you may want to run the fan during the day to push air out of the attic. To do so, direct airflow from either the basement or the shady side of the home.