Local Knowledge About Whole House Fan

A whole house fan is a simple and inexpensive method of cooling a house as an alternative to air conditioning. The fan draws cool outdoor air inside through open windows and exhausts hot room air through the attic to the outside. The result is excellent ventilation, lower indoor temperatures, and improved cooling. A whole house fan can be used as the sole means of cooling or to reduce the need for air conditioning. Outside air temperature and humidity dictate times when the whole house fan would be favorable over air conditioning. If both methods of cooling are present, a seasonal use of the whole house fan (during spring and fall) may yield the optimum combination of comfort and cost. Whole-house fans can, however, cause large heat losses during the winter, so their openings should be well insulated during the heating season.