Whole House Fan vs Attic Fan: What's the Difference

Whole-house and attic fans may sound as if they serve the same purpose, but while there are some similarities, they are not the same. It is like the difference between a sports car and an SUV. Both have 4 wheels and a motor and carry you from one place to another. But the way they work is different; while an SUV will not handle like a sports car, the sports car cannot go off-road. The attic and whole-house fan comparison is the same.

The Whole-house Fan

A whole-house fan is designed to flush old stale air from all parts of the home and replace it with fresh clean air drawn in through open windows and doors. A whole-house fan will, as the name says, provide ventilation to the whole house. By replacing the old stale air, the home is cooled and kept fresh. This pre-cooling means that the interior temperatures are lower when power-hungry air conditioning is turned on to reduce the load and power consumption. Also, in milder climates, the fan may eliminate the need for air conditioning. When used in cold weather, the fan will not only keep the air fresh it will reduce moisture and mold that are harmful to both the structure and the people in the home. To summarize, a whole-house fan will:

• Improve your indoor air quality
• Remove indoor air contaminants
• Ensure fresh air circulates throughout the entire home in minutes
• Quickly cool in hot summer months
• Eliminate stale air in the winter months
• Improve air quality and removes odors
• Create a healthier home environment
• Run quietly to avoid household disruption
• Help reduce air conditioning costs

The Attic Fan

The attic fan is designed to remove the heat that has built up in the attic and the roof of the house, which adds significantly to the air conditioning load and the cooling efficiency of the unit. These are typically smaller units than whole-house fans and are roof-mounted to quickly blow out the warm air. When temperatures are lower, attic fans may be used to remove moisture build-up in the attic and the roof to reduce the risk of structural damage over time. Solar-powered attic fans consume no electricity,  have no running cost.

Knowing which fan is right for your home and your family’s needs is often not as easy as it seems. There could be an overlap in the specific ventilation requirements for your home. To be sure of getting the fan that will work best for your home, consult an expert on the subject. Ideally, this should be a dealer for the leading manufacturer of the whole house and attic fans, so that both options are available to you and quality is a given. Such a dealer should offer a free consultation to evaluate your home’s ventilation needs and then recommend the type of fan and the size that will be best. Do not cut corners on fan quality or installation – the fan will be an integral part of your home for a long time.