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What is a Whole House Fan?

A whole house fan is an alternative to an air-conditioning unit. Learn more about whole house fans.
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Updated on October 14, 2014
By ProMatcher Staff, ProMatcher

What is a Whole House Fan?

Installing a Whole House Fan

Whole house fans can be a more affordable alternative to installing an air-conditioning unit. They are usually installed in the ceiling of the upper floor of the home and then vented into the attic.

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How It Works:

In order for a fan like this to work correctly, all or most of the windows in the home need to be opened. The fan will pull in cool air from the exterior and push the warmer air already inside into the attic. From there, the warmer air is able to escape through a vent in the roof.

Will a whole house fan work in my home?

Whole house fans are not practical in tropical climates with consistently high temperatures. Cool nights or mornings are central to the effectiveness of the fan because bringing more hot air into the home will not have any cooling effects.

Additionally, an air-conditioning unit should not be used at the same time as a whole house fan because it will immediately push out the air that has already been cooled. Shutting off the air-conditioning and only running the house fan will likely save money on your energy bills. However, in some neighborhoods, leaving all windows wide open may pose a potential security issue.

Related: Cost of Whole House Fan Installation

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