What are whole house fans and why use them:
Installing a whole house fan is an energy efficient alternative that can complement your central air conditioning. A whole house fan is a large louvered fan, installed in the ceiling of the top floor of your house. These fans work on the principle that there is cooler air outside the house in the early mornings and evenings. By switching on the fan and keeping the windows open, cool air is sucked into the house dispersing the warm air out through the attic. Whole house fans are usually run whenever the outdoor temperatures are lower than indoor temperatures. Controls for a whole house fan may be a simple on / off pull or wall switch. Fans may have automatic timers that allow them to be automatically turned on or off at a preset time.
Why insulating a whole house fan is important:
Whole house fans need proper insulation to ensure that the opening can be weather proofed for winter. The louvers of a whole house fan need to be sealed properly to prevent any heat loss during winter. In order to ensure that the whole house fan does not become a liability in winter, it is advisable to install a proper cover over the fan. Some of these covers fit over the fan in the attic while others fit over the opening in the ceiling from inside the house. Today smaller fans are available that have spring loaded covers. These covers snap shut when the fan is unused.
How whole house fans conserve energy compared to an AC:
The average whole house fan consumes 120 to 600 watts and costs 1C to 5C per hour to use. On the other hand, a 2 ton air conditioner would cost 20C per hour to use. Some whole fans provide variable speed options. There is a high speed in order to ventilate the house quickly or a slower speed to cause gentle drafts in the house.
Things to remember when using a whole house fan:
Never run air conditioners run at the same time while using a whole house fan. Open all windows in the house when the whole house fan is in operation; this ensures effective operation. Attics become very hot during summer and some of this heat seeps through to the room below. Using a whole house fan will ensure that hot air is dispelled from the roof’s vents. In order to be effective, whole house fans need proper attic ventilation.
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