Installing Whole House Fans – An Air Conditioning Alternative

Whole house fans are ideal for small homes, or homes that do not have air ducts already installed in them. For example a small home heated off of forced hot water would be a great candidate for a whole house fan system.

Installing Whole House Fans in the Attic

Whole house fans are large fans that usually reside in the attic, and are installed and positioned over a main hallway.

A whole house fan operates by drawing in large volumes of cool air from the outside, via the home’s windows, and pulling the hot air from the living space out via attic vents.

Due to their size, and the high speed that homeowners typically run them at, whole house fans have been known to be notoriously loud.

Whole House Fan Technology Whole house fan technology has improved over the years thus eliminating much of the noise associated with older models. All metal, welded frames fans work best as they have fewer parts to rub together and create noise. Also if properly installed, motor vibration noise can be prevented by installing the whole house fan on rubber mountings.

Air Vent Inc. 24″ Whole House Fan 54301 Attic & Whole House Fans

In addition, there are many things a homeowner can do to reduce or prevent the fan noise. First, it is usually best to install the largest whole house fan possible.

A smaller fan has to turn much faster to draw the same amount of air as a large one – the higher the revolutions per minute (RPMs) the louder the fan noise. In addition, smaller fans with higher RPMs typically have higher failure rates.

Second, the higher number of fan blades the quieter the fan. So when looking for a whole house fan it is best to select the largest model possible with the highest number of fan blades.

Installing Whole House Fans Requires Adequate Venting Sufficient attic venting is required when installing a whole house fan. Typically 1 square foot of net free venting is required for every 700-800 cubic feet per minute (CPM) of air flow. Frequently, there is insufficient attic venting when installing whole house attic fans, so it is critical that additional attic venting be installed when installing the whole house fan. Inadequate attic venting can also cause noise and reduce the efficiency of the whole house fan. Typically homeowners have whole house fans on timers that turn the fan on-and-off in the early evening. This also helps to mitigate the impact of any noise associated with the fans.

Save time and money  with this Attic Conversion Bid Sheet when finishing your attic.

Whole house fans are not usually installed with thermostats, as whole house fans require some homeowner prep. Windows must be opened prior to the fan turning on for cooling to actually occur and to prevent the possibility of pilot lights from going out.

Hire a Professional for Installing Whole House Fan

It is recommended that a whole house fan be installed by professionals as they can ensure that the appropriate sized fan is installed properly and that adequate attic ventilation can be created. Typically installing a whole house fan can be completed within 1-2 days.