Do you have a whole house fan in your home? If so, you may not realize that you can use it in a variety of ways to get the most out of it in any season. To make sure you’re taking full advantage of your fan, here are some great tips.
What is a whole house fan, and how do they work?
The whole house fan is an efficient air conditioner that can cool your home for much less money than air conditioning units. Whole house fans move the hot air from the upper level of your home to the outside through a vent in the roof.
The fan pulls hot air from the top floor of your home and pushes it out through an attic vent or roof exhaust fan. The result is that you use less energy for cooling because you are bringing in cooler outside air.
You can use your whole house fan anytime of the year, but it works best during the summer months when your home is under a high heat load. You can even use a timer to turn it on and off at night or in the early morning.
Beat the Heat Summer Heat with a Whole House Fan
Whole house fans are an essential cooling tool for many homes. They create a natural flow of air that cools your entire home and reduces energy bills.
Cool Your Home Naturally and Reduce Energy Cost
Whole house fans are a great option to help reduce your energy bills. These fans work by pulling cool air from the ceiling and pushing it through the rest of your home. This method is effective because it allows you to reduce the amount of air conditioning (and electricity) needed for your home.
Whole house fans are often used during the hottest time of day, but they can also be effective at night.
Whole house fans are not a replacement for air conditioning. However, they do provide some relief from high temperatures and humidity.
Using a Whole House Fan in the Winter
Use your whole house fan year-round to improve the air quality in your home.
Eliminate Stale Air
Whole house fans increase comfort and improve indoor air quality. They’re also good for your health. A whole house fan can bring in fresh air from the outside while pulling stale air out of your home. It helps reduce humidity levels, making your home cooler without having to use the air conditioner.
Reduces Moisture Buildup
Whole house fans prevent moisture from collecting inside your walls and attic. The warm air that enters your home through open doors and windows collects water vapor from the air inside your home, condensing on cold surfaces like window sills and walls.
Condensation leads to mildew and mold growth, which can cause health problems for you and your family. Whole house fans are designed to move air through your home, which helps prevent moisture from collecting.
Vent Cooking Smells
As the name suggests, whole house fans are a type of fan that vents air from the entire house instead of just one room. They work by pulling air through the exterior wall and exhausting it outside.
Whole house fans are primarily used in warm weather to circulate cooler air throughout your home. However, they can also be used to eliminate cooking smells.
To use your whole house fan as an odor absorber, simply turn it on while cooking to push out any odors lingering in your home.
Important Operating Tips
If you plan to use your whole house fan, take the following precautions to avoid potential problems or injuries.
Close the Fireplace Flue when Using a Whole House Fan
It’s important to remember to close the fireplace flue when using a whole house fan.
If you leave the fireplace flue open your fan will pull air in through your fireplace and draw in all kinds of dust and soot into your home.
Your whole house fan will be unable to flow out air through the ducts because they are blocked by all the dust inside them. This can cause hazardous levels of carbon monoxide to build up in your home.
Avoid Using a Whole House Fan When the Humidity is High
Before you use your whole house fan, you’ll want to be sure that the humidity isn’t too high. This is because the fan can bring in humid air from outside, making it even more uncomfortable inside your home.
If the air outside is humid, consider using an air conditioning unit instead of a whole house fan. This will help keep your home cool without making it feel more humid.
Want to find out more about whole house fans? Contact the HVAC experts at SWAN today.
