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Though out the day heat from the sun accumulates in your home. For the most part, this solar energy comes in through the home's roof and windows. Many energy conscious homeowners have implemented simple yet efficient steps to reduce this daily heat buildup. A light colored or reflective roof, for example, will prevent much of the sun's heat from entering in the first place. Attic ventilation and insulation will also cut down on the accumulation of heat and its transfer into the home. Closing the drapes or other window treatments that block the sun can further reduce the build up of unwanted heat. Even with preventative measures in place, what do we do with the heat that still builds up? Ceiling fans do their part by keeping the air moving as they cool down rooms but a Whole House Fan System takes it a step farther. |
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Whole House Fans |
Whole house fans are a mechanical means of ventilation to cool the home by moving air. Moving air cools your home in two ways. First, because of the wind chill affect - moving air feels cooler to the skin. Second, moving air takes heat away.
In many climates whole house fans can even be used as a viable substitute for an air conditioner. Countless families find that, with the assistance of a table and ceiling fan, their whole house fan can keep them comfortable even in the heat of summer.
Attic fans shouldn't be confused with whole house fans. An attic fan is used to ventilate the attic, whereas a whole house fan circulates fresh cool air through the home and out the attic. |
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How They Work |
We all understand the basic principle of a fan - when the blades of the fan turn air is drawn in from the back and out through the front - we're moving air. For a Whole House Fan System we need to do more than just move air, we need to replace it. By pulling fresh, cool evening air through open windows and pushing hot air up and out through the attic to roof vents a whole house fan is quickly able to lower the temperature in a home's living space. These units work best during seasons that have hot sunny days and cool nights. The fan should be used in the evening and through the night, after the temperature drops, or in the early morning, before the temperature rises. When the outside temperature rises they should be shut off. |
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Whole House Fan |
- Air Flow
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Benefits of Whole House Fans |
Simple. Quiet. Efficient. Whole house fans efficiently and effectively cool a home, using less electricity than an air conditioner. This translates into lower utility bills. Such a fan could drastically reduce the need to use an air conditioner, and it some cases even replace it. |
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Factors to Consider with Whole House Fans |
If the whole house fan is not properly installed, or if it is a lower quality unit noise will be a factor. To reduce the amount of unnecessary noise, have your whole house fan professionally installed with felt or rubber gaskets which should absorb the sound. Buy a fan with sufficient ventilating power for the size of your home. Don't buy too small of a unit - a large fan running on low will generally be quieter than a small fan running on high. Look for a fan with a multi-speed option.
A second factor involves the "fresh" air that enters your home. Because it is not filtered you may be bringing in unwanted pollen and dust. This can be resolved by installing window filters. |
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How To Size a Whole House Fan |
The calculation for getting the right cfm (cubic feet per minute) of ventilating power in a whole house fan is: (the square footage of your floor area ____________ x ____________ the height to the ceiling) to get the volume of your house, x 30 or 60 (air changes per hour) and then divided by 60 minutes = ____________ the required cubic feet per minute. The middle step, multiplying by 30 or 60 determines how frequently the air will be replaced. Using 60 as a multiplier will mean the air is changed every minute. Using 30 as a multiplier means the air is changed every two minutes. |
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Whole House Fan Tips |
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Have your whole house Fan professionally installed.
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Increase your attic ventilation..
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Purchase a fan with a low noise level. 1.5 sones or lower is very quite.
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Buy a whole house fan that is the right size for your home.
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Have an air-tight cover built for the fan opening if the unit doesn't already come with one.
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Buy a high quality whole house fan
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Installation of a whole house fan can be quite complex because of the wiring and need for extra ventilation, so it is best to hire a skilled heating and ventilation contractor. Our contractors will be glad to help you with this project! |
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