How to Decide Between an Attic Fan or a Whole House Fan?
Improving the air circulation in your home can greatly benefit you in a number of ways. The three biggest reasons to improve your home’s air circulation is
- to make your home cooler,
- to lower the cost of your energy bills,
- and to reduce air pollution.
If you’re thinking about adding an attic fan or whole house fan to supplement your current HVAC system, you may be wondering which one is the best for you. In this post, we’ll dive into some of the details and differences between attic fans and whole house fans to help you make the right decision.
Whole House Fan: What is it and what are the benefits?
Whole house fans are a cooling devices that is mounted between your living space and attic. It works by pulling cool outside air in through open doors and windows and pushing it out through vents in the attic. The whole house fan is ideally operated during cooler mornings and nights when the outdoor temperature drops. Also, it is great at ventilating a stuffy house and removing indoor air pollutants. Using a whole house fan in lieu of or as a supplement to air conditioning will significantly reduce electricity costs.
Attic Fan: What is it and what are the benefits?
As the name suggests, attic fans ventilate the attic space, whereas whole house fans ventilate the whole house. Attic fans can be run during the high temperatures of the day to reduce attic temperatures. If you are using air conditioning in your home, turning off the air conditioning for even an hour at night before bed and running an attic fan can significantly reduce the air conditioner's burden. This is because air conditioners have to fight against hot attic air to effectively cool down the home.
In addition, attic fans are great for getting rid of trapped humid air as well. A humid attic can lead to a number of problems including mold, pests, ice dams, and more.
Which option is best for you?
Deciding whether a whole house fan or attic fan is best for you depends on what you want to get out of the fan. For example, if you primarily want to cool down your home without air conditioning, a whole house fan is the best option. If you want to reduce attic temperatures and reduce humidity levels in the attic, then go for an attic fan.
Also, it’s important to note that both fans can work together so you can reap the benefits of both. If you’re still wondering which one you should choose, ask an HVAC professional. Or, feel free to give us a call at 1.888-229-5757 and we can help.