I've been toying with the idea of getting one, but have one concern. I have no problem sealing it up with an insulated box during the winter like the one I made for my attic stairs. My question is what happens during the summer when it is off? It's going to be incredibly warm inside the attic during the day and now I'll have a large opening in my second floor ceiling. Isn't this going to make the second floor warmer than usual? I know Tamarack makes one that automatically closes, but it's way too expensive and doesn't move much air. Nobody ever mentions it causing issues in the summer. Any thoughts besides that they are crap?
Anyone have a whole house fan? One concern...
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Every one that have installed had a set of louvered doors that kept the opening sealed when the fan was not operating.
I have not installed any for the last few years---local code has forbidden them--fire hazard---they will suck flames into the attic if the house is on fire--and fan the flames.
Just one more thing to think about.
I have not installed any for the last few years---local code has forbidden them--fire hazard---they will suck flames into the attic if the house is on fire--and fan the flames.
Just one more thing to think about.
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We have one and love it.
It's in a central location so it can pull air from any room that you open a window.
Burn something on the stove or oven, flip the switch and the smoke is gone in seconds.
It's in a central location so it can pull air from any room that you open a window.
Burn something on the stove or oven, flip the switch and the smoke is gone in seconds.
Hadn't thought about the fire issue, definitely going to think about that. Thanks. Do the louvered doors really do anything? I was figuring since they're not air tight and not insulated, that it was pretty much the same as just a big ol' hole in the ceiling.
So what about when it's off in the summer time? Any noticeable issues with heat radiating down? I know heat rises so maybe a hole in the ceiling is a good thing, but if it's 120 degrees in there I keep thinking it will be a problem. Thanks. :smile:
Natural air flow in a house is up and out in the winter but down in the summer. With an air conditioned house, it is filled with heavy cold air that escapes through low leaks. That air must be replaced and some of it may come from the attic. Now, summer air flow, referred to as reverse stack effect is not very strong. A more likely path would come from any winds which may force the warm air down through a poorly closed attic fan.
I have used whole house fans and encountered many during home energy audits and everyone loves them. They make short work of all that heat in an attic preventing to usual overshoot where the sun goes down but the house gets hotter.
Get one with the louvers as oh'mike said and I doubt it will pose a heat problem from the attic.
Bud
I have used whole house fans and encountered many during home energy audits and everyone loves them. They make short work of all that heat in an attic preventing to usual overshoot where the sun goes down but the house gets hotter.
Get one with the louvers as oh'mike said and I doubt it will pose a heat problem from the attic.
Bud
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Been there done that and it's been covered and off for at least 10 years.
Heat, cold radiation not to mention opening /closing windows 2 or more times / day and then there is the dust. If you're thinking you live in a dust free environment put on your LED head lamp and step outdoors at night. Focus on an area about where your ball cap bill would end and watch the dust particles float by.
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I had one in another house and loved it and want one in our house now. It is really nice in the summer and will freeze you in the summer nights. I love them. Mine had self closing, spring-loaded, louvers that shut when not in use and I never noticed any heat coming from it.
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I've had one and I liked it.
The wife however wasn't so thrilled due to the large amount of dust it brought in.
At the beach house, I've made my own custom set up by using a squirrel cage from an old air handler.
I put in a 20x20 air return grill, with a 20x20 plenum in the overhead, connected to some 12" soft duct that attaches to the squirrel cage. Wired in a timer switch and off to the races. It actually works better since I don't have the noise that the old monster did.
When not in use I drop the air return grill, put in a solid foam board and close the grill.
Seems to work perfectly. But, the wife still doesn't like the idea....:vs_no_no_no:
The wife however wasn't so thrilled due to the large amount of dust it brought in.
At the beach house, I've made my own custom set up by using a squirrel cage from an old air handler.
I put in a 20x20 air return grill, with a 20x20 plenum in the overhead, connected to some 12" soft duct that attaches to the squirrel cage. Wired in a timer switch and off to the races. It actually works better since I don't have the noise that the old monster did.
When not in use I drop the air return grill, put in a solid foam board and close the grill.
Seems to work perfectly. But, the wife still doesn't like the idea....:vs_no_no_no:
They come standard with aluminum louvers that go in the ceiling below the fan, but they leak air horribly, and aluminum conducts heat/cold really well. There are more avanced models that have a kind of second door system above the fan that are heavily insulated.
My home came with one, so I use it occasionally. I would never pay for one because where I live it is only useable for a few weeks a year:
Summer: It cools off at night but remains humid outside, so using it will suck in humidity that your AC has to work hard the next day to get rid of.
Winter: No point.
Spring & Fall: Sweet spots are those days when it cools off at night but humidity is low, and you actually need cooling.
When it runs, they can be loud. You have to open lots of doors and windows for a source of intake air, and you need good screens to keep from sucking in bugs. Still, tiny aphid-sized bugs and dust and pollen will come in. The fan also effectively pressurizes your attic, so if you are not all sealed up you will have dusty attic air coming in backwards through your bathroom fans, and any wiring holes, or other attic penetrations.
Energy-wise, they are not free. It will use maybe a quarter of the power your AC uses, but if you have to run it four hours when one hour of AC run time would bring you to the same comfort level, then it's a wash.
Overall, depends where you live. In the desert like AZ or NM, they would be more effective. In humid zones, not so much.
My home came with one, so I use it occasionally. I would never pay for one because where I live it is only useable for a few weeks a year:
Summer: It cools off at night but remains humid outside, so using it will suck in humidity that your AC has to work hard the next day to get rid of.
Winter: No point.
Spring & Fall: Sweet spots are those days when it cools off at night but humidity is low, and you actually need cooling.
When it runs, they can be loud. You have to open lots of doors and windows for a source of intake air, and you need good screens to keep from sucking in bugs. Still, tiny aphid-sized bugs and dust and pollen will come in. The fan also effectively pressurizes your attic, so if you are not all sealed up you will have dusty attic air coming in backwards through your bathroom fans, and any wiring holes, or other attic penetrations.
Energy-wise, they are not free. It will use maybe a quarter of the power your AC uses, but if you have to run it four hours when one hour of AC run time would bring you to the same comfort level, then it's a wash.
Overall, depends where you live. In the desert like AZ or NM, they would be more effective. In humid zones, not so much.
Everyone has given some great info, opinions, concerns. Thanks.
I normally open the windows all night during the summer unless it's very humid. So the effort of opening windows doesn't bother me at all. This will just make the house cool off quicker than waiting hours when it's not breezy.
As far as attic pressurization, I have soffit vents, a ridge vent, and gable vent. Hopefully there's enough free area to get everything out and cool off the attic while it's running. I plan to seal up every ceiling ac register, recessed light, and bathroom vent in the next few months anyway, so there shouldn't be issues with air coming back down(I hope).
As far as dust and pollen, the windows are open anyway for a good 12 hours each night when it's not too hot or humid, so I wonder if this will make a big difference. I was hoping most of it would just get sucked out anyway.
Now I just have to figure out which one I want. I don't mind a little noise, actually prefer it sometimes. Both of my kids have sound machines and I have their monitors in my room, so when I try to sleep without them it can be difficult.
This will actually cost me more in energy because I don't really run the ac at night, but it will improve comfort.
Thanks again. Any more info is welcome.
I normally open the windows all night during the summer unless it's very humid. So the effort of opening windows doesn't bother me at all. This will just make the house cool off quicker than waiting hours when it's not breezy.
As far as attic pressurization, I have soffit vents, a ridge vent, and gable vent. Hopefully there's enough free area to get everything out and cool off the attic while it's running. I plan to seal up every ceiling ac register, recessed light, and bathroom vent in the next few months anyway, so there shouldn't be issues with air coming back down(I hope).
As far as dust and pollen, the windows are open anyway for a good 12 hours each night when it's not too hot or humid, so I wonder if this will make a big difference. I was hoping most of it would just get sucked out anyway.
Now I just have to figure out which one I want. I don't mind a little noise, actually prefer it sometimes. Both of my kids have sound machines and I have their monitors in my room, so when I try to sleep without them it can be difficult.
This will actually cost me more in energy because I don't really run the ac at night, but it will improve comfort.
Thanks again. Any more info is welcome.
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All of this back and forth, brings to mind times from my youth (a LONG time ago.).
We didn't have air conditioning, but my dad installed this huge fan in the Master Bedroom window, opened the one Living Room window and fired up the fan.
All those hot and steamy summer nights were just fine what with the cool night air being pulled through the entire house. Days? We were outside playing.
In the early days before that fan, we kids would sleep on the front porch if the house was just too much, and we loved doing that. It was like camping out to us.
Life certainly changed for a lot of years. But, here I am again, AC turned off, enjoying what the weather and a fan gives me.
We didn't have air conditioning, but my dad installed this huge fan in the Master Bedroom window, opened the one Living Room window and fired up the fan.
All those hot and steamy summer nights were just fine what with the cool night air being pulled through the entire house. Days? We were outside playing.
In the early days before that fan, we kids would sleep on the front porch if the house was just too much, and we loved doing that. It was like camping out to us.
Life certainly changed for a lot of years. But, here I am again, AC turned off, enjoying what the weather and a fan gives me.
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