Whole House Fan for New Construction
If your home has recently had construction or construction is still ongoing, you may be wondering how to ventilate the space.
When sawdust, dust, and fumes from construction buildup it can leave a lingering smell for new construction and leak into other parts of the home if proper ventilation isn’t carried out. In this way, ventilating new construction benefits workers and homeowners — neither of them has to endure poor air pollution, bad smells, or high temperatures.
How Does a Whole House Fan Work?
Whole house fans are much more effective and powerful than your everyday house fan. They exhaust trapped indoor air and replace it with fresh outdoor air through open doors and windows.
Benefits of Whole House Fans for New Construction
Whole house fans offer an effective ventilation solution, eliminating the following problems:
- Air pollution: Air pollution is an often inevitable result of construction. Sawdust, concrete dust, and other particulate matter can hang in the air and cover the surfaces of the new construction, even if the construction team sweeps the floor and cleans up afterward.
Furthermore, if there’s little ventilation inside the construction site, then fumes created from gas-powered equipment and generators can create indoor air pollution which can hang in the air and create a bad smell.
- Heat: New construction doesn’t have to be unpleasant. If the new space is fully sealed, it’s sure to heat up in the summer sun. Using a whole house fan or garage exhaust fan is a good way to cool the space down and increase comfort without using as much energy as an air conditioner.
- Damage: The last thing you want for your new construction is any damage to happen to it. Unventilated new construction spaces are particularly prone to moisture damage. Mold, mildew, and rot can set in if moisture and humidity are allowed to accumulate over time.
How to Install a Whole House Fan in New Construction
Another benefit of whole house fans is that they are relatively easy to install. While we recommend you leave the wiring to an electrician, the installation of the fan itself can be done with some basic tools, like a power drill and screws.
Follow these steps to install a whole house fan in new construction:
- Find the right location (near the ceiling attached to one or more joists)
- Mount the damper box
- Frame the damper box
- Hang the fan
- Attach the duct to damper box
- Hang the duct
Here are some other resources on installing a whole house fan:
https://www.wholehousefan.com/blogs/wholehousefans/how-to-install-a-quiet-whole-house-fan
If you don’t plan on installing a whole house fan yourself, be sure to get more than one quote from professionals.