Fresh air is a must for each one, no matter indoors or outdoors, and it brings great benefits to lung health. In order to keep air ventilation, you will need to get the best whole house attic fan.
Here in this article, there are top 5 best whole house attic fan reviews that worth buying. And you can get more useful knowledge on the attic fan through our guide.
Here we go!
What Is the Best Whole House Attic Fan on the Market?
Whole House Fan vs. Attic Fan
Whole house fan
It is the common substitute for the old air conditioning ways. It is a type of fan that vents the warm air to the attic. It draws hot air out of the building to the attic and forcing it out through the gable by causing a positive differential pressure in the attic, at the same time creating negative pressure difference in the room that allows in fresh air through building opening.
Attic fan
It is a fan used to regulate the heat in a building. It has a thermostat that is used automatically to switch it on and off. There are those with a manual switch. They are usually cable mounted or mounted on the roof. This fan draws in cold air through the roof, and the warm air is vented through attic spaces.
What Is The Difference Between The Attic Fan And The Whole House Fan?
The whole house fan pulls the warm air from the living rooms into the attic, and fresh air is drawn in through open doors and windows. The attic fan, on the other hand, blows warm air out through the roof or a gable vent and the fresh air is drawn in through the roof and vents.
Installation
The installation of the attic fan is simple and easier because they are mounted on the ceiling and are smaller in size. Whereas the installation of the whole house fan is complicated, one needs to access the ventilation needs, including installing additional vents. Though the attic installation is simple, the whole house fan is sophisticated all require a certified professional in the installation.
Price
The attic fan is less expensive as the cost of buying and installation may range from 300 dollars to 600 dollars. As for the whole house fan, the cost of buying and installing is high and ranges from 700 dollars to 1000 dollars.
Energy consuming
The average attic fan in energy consumption uses less than 300watts, making it energy efficient. The whole house fan, on the other hand, consumes around 500 watts making them expensive compare to the attic.
Noise
Attic fans are less noisy, and this makes them eco-friendly, but as for the whole house fan, they are super loud although the new models have this problem checked.
When you have the attic fans in your home, it does not increase the value of your house. But after installing the whole house fan will increase the value of your house.
Can a Whole House Fan Cause Mold?
If you smell a musty odor and you are not sure where it is from, it might be from your attic. If you have installed the whole house fan and you have your bathroom vents, kitchen vents and plumbing vents connected to your attic. The moist air from these places will accumulate in the attic and lead to the growth of molds that will damage your property to a greater extend or cause you some health problems.
How Often Should I Run My Whole House Fan?
The best time to run your whole house fan is the early morning and in the evening. This is when the air outside is cool and dry. This is for you to get the coolest air possible to be able to cool your home. You can also turn it on at night as long as the air is cool and it will work very well.
When it is running, you should have your doors and windows open to avoid much concentration in one spot also make sure your fire is off to avoid pulling soot to your room. You can also turn it on during the hot day, but it will not be effective as in the cool day.
How Much Does A Whole House Attic Fan Cost?
Attic fan purchasing and installation costs on average around 590 dollars, the price you pay depends on:
Quality of the fan
There are the manual fans that you switch on and off using a knob these kinds are usually less expensive compared to the automatic ones which have a thermostat that is used to switch it on and off.
Location
The attic fans which are mounted on the roof are pretty expensive because of the work that will be involved in installing and repairing the roof. Those mounted on the walls and ceiling are however less expensive.
Depending on the above factors, the attic fan can cost as little as 200 dollars or as much as 1,300 dollars.
Whole House Fans Evaluation
When you are thinking of installing a whole house fan there are things to be evaluated in the house to see if they will support its installation. A poor sign of ventilation in your house will cause problems during the installation of the fan.
Attic vents
You need to know where each vent is located and its size. They include the gable vents, roof louvers eave vents. You also have to know the attic’s square footage. This will enable you to know how the fan will be installed for it to work properly.
Other things to evaluate in a fan include:
Noise
You have to look for a whole house fan that is quiet. A more bladed fan is more silent.
Size
Have a fan that will run at a lower speed and use less energy, ideally bigger ones are the best. A large unit is also quieter compared to the light model as it is held down by its weight.
Installation
You also have to evaluate the ways of installing. Most whole-house fans are easy to install, direct-drive models are the most ones you can even install alone if you have a little expertise. They don’t have attic joists that need to be cut.
Shutters
You must look for a whole house fan with quality doors, this will ensure that less noise is emitted when the unit is working or shutting down. The modern fans that are energy-saving have quality shutters that lock themselves when the fan is not operating, avoiding the loss of heat when the fan is not working.
The 5 Best Whole House Attic Fan Reviews
#1. Air Vent Gable Ventilator 53315 Attic and Whole House Fans
This is a gable mounted fan that is mounted on the gable vent. It draws in 1050 CFM air, the power consumption of the fun is 180 watts which makes it energy saving. Above all, it has 14 blades to ensure it draws out enough hot air to keep the room cool. This fun is for a small room that is 1500 square feet.
#2. Cool Attic CX24BD2SPD Belt Drive 2-Speed Whole House Attic Fan with Shutter
The cooling attic fan is 24 inches in diameter. It is perfectly designed for a house that is 1800 square feet. With a drive belt of 2 high speed, it can offer an excellent cooling effect at a lower cost. The fan is powder-coated, and this is to protect it against harsh weather conditions.
It has a robust bracing system that makes it more stable after mounting that also eliminates vibration when the fan is working. They did not disappoint with the motor it is strong and works in a short time to ensure your room is left cool and refreshed.
#3. Cool Attic CX24DDWT Direct Drive 2-Speed Whole House Attic Fan with Shutter
The cool attic fan has a diameter of 24 inches. It is perfectly designed for a small house that is 1800 square feet, with its two high-speed belt drive that can offer a good cooling effect efficiently at a lower cost. The fan is powder-coated, and this is to protect it against harsh weather conditions.
It has a reliable bracing system that makes it more stable after mounting, which also eliminates vibration when the fan is working. They did not disappoint with the motor it is strong and works in a short time to ensure your room is left cool and refreshed.
#4. Air King 9166F 20″ Whole House Window Fan
It is a 3-speed belt drive fan. The fan consumes 120 volts of power when operating, besides it is permanently lubricated to ensure efficiency.
A reasonably good addition is the blades and grills which are coated with powder to ensure they don’t rust. The switch is mounted in the front to mean you can easily access it. The windows that are 27 inches to 38 inches can fit well with this fan.
#5. Cool Attic CX30BD2SPD Belt Drive 2-Speed Whole House Attic Fan with Shutter
This fan is a 30-inch whole house fan with a 2-speed belt drive. It is designed to perfectly serve a house that is 2,000 to 3,000 square feet. Also, it is intended to offer an efficient way of reducing cooling costs and ensure you have a very comfortable house. The powder coating is to protect it from the harsh weather.
It has a secure bracing system that makes it more stable after mounting, which also eliminates vibration when the fan is working. They did not disappoint with the motor it is strong and works in a short time to ensure your room is left cool and refreshed.
Sizing a Whole House Fan
In sizing the size of the whole house fan you need:
- Tape measure
- Calculator
Firstly you have to calculate the total air volume in your home.
A tape measure to measures the length and width of each floor of your home are used. The length and the width are multiplied for each room. After multiplication, you will add the figures if every room to find the square foot area of the house. You then multiply the figure arrived at with the height of rooms to find the total air volume.
Secondly, you multiply the total air volume by 30, this shows air change every 2 minutes.
The figure you get is divided by 60 minutes to get the cubic feet per minute (CFM) which the fan you are using must move for ventilation of the house.
Thirdly is to measure the size of the attic air vents.
You always need 1 square foot of attic getting out 750 CFM of airflow. If you need 9,000 CFM of air in your house then divide 9,000 by 750 to get 12 square feet of attic venting. This means you need one attic vent every 3.6 by 3.6 feet.
Lastly, you have to select a fan to go and install that will meet the ventilation needs.
They are sold and measured based on their diameter. A 54 inch will be able to move 9,600 CFM, but you can also buy a larger one that can move more CFM than needed.
When & How to Use a Whole House Fan?
To achieve optimal cool room use your fan early in the morning, late afternoon, and evening when the air inside is warmer considered to the cool air outside.
To use your fan you need to:
- Switch off the air conditioning system. If the system is left on, it may work to get out all that cooled air in your house.
- The windows and doors must be open. If there is no inflow of fresh air, it may, in turn, spread any bad odor in the room making your house uncomfortable.
- Put off your fire. This will ensure soot is not spread in your house
How Do Whole House Fans Work?
The whole house fan is installed in your ceiling close to the attic. It draws in cool air through open doors and windows which will circulate in the house. It then pulls out the warm air from the house to the attic where pressure increases, and it is pushed out through the various vents. They keep air moving, and the moving air is much cooler compared to the still air.
What to Consider When Buying Whole House Fans?
Size
Depending on your big or small your house is. You will have to consider the size of the whole house fam to install. They vary in size, which is measure with their diameter, after finding CFM of your house you can choose from the various sizes offered.
Installation
You have to consider what is needed in installation and where it is going to be installed. If you purchase a fan that you do not have facilities to support, then it will be a waste.
A timer control
With a timer you can set the times of the day when you want it functioning. Whenever you are not at home it can automatically turn on and make your house cool.
The Benefits of A Whole House Fan
- Fast functioning
- Energy efficiency
- Low cost of operation.
- Removal of bad odor
- Low need for air conditioning
How Do Fans Save on Cooling Expenses?
Using a fan can significantly reduce house cooling expenses. The average power consumption of a fan is at 200 watts compared to an air conditioning unit that can consume 2,000-3,000 watts at any time. This will significantly save you from spending so much more on cooling.
How Is A Whole House Fan Different from Air Conditioners?
The whole house fan will always cool the air in your house faster, whereas the air conditioning unit takes longer to bring the cooling effect. You do not need to leave your fan on the whole day, but the ac unit should be on for long to bring the cooling effect.
A fan consumes less energy. It uses 90% less energy compared to the air conditioning unit that consumes a lot of power.
Purchasing a whole house fan and installation will cost you around $ 700 to $ 1,500, but for the air conditioning unit, you will spend $ 5,000 to 7,000 dollars.
Maintenance of the whole house fan is simple, it involves wiping the blades after some time, as for the air conditioning unit it is more complicated as changing the filters, cleaning the condenser and the evaporator foil.
