Whole House Fan vs Attic Fan - What Suits You Best?

The subject of a whole house fan vs attic fan has created a lot of confusion because many people think that they are the same thing, which is not correct. Yes, both are fans that blow air, but their functions and applications are different. Knowing what the 2 types of fans are and what they do, will allow you to make the right choice of which one is right for your home and to get the right Solatube installation done.

Whole House Fans

Whole house fans work best when the outside temperature is lower than the indoor temperature. This is common because the air that is trapped in a building becomes warm and causes the whole house to get hot. Not only is the old air stale and humid, but it is also full of pathogens and pollutants making the indoors unhealthy, even if the occupants of the house do not realize it. Whole house fans are large powerful fans that suck the old air out of your house. Since nature abhors vacuum, fresh clean air from the outside is drawn in to replace the old air as it is pushed out of the building. The flow of cool air will draw latent heat out of the structure, making the building itself cooler. If the interior does not become cool enough with the use of the fan, it can, in very hot conditions, be supplemented by running the air conditioning. Since the temperature at which the air conditioning starts is already low and the building is also cool, the air conditioning load will be reduced which will result in lower utility bills and less wear on the system.

Attic Fans

Attic fans are simpler to understand. They are mounted in the attic or on the roof. Because warm air always rises, the top of the house – the attic – is the warmest place in the building. Attic fans blow the warm air out leaving the top of the house cooler and allowing more warm air to rise up from the living areas. This keeps the air circulating in the house. Attic fans also reduce moisture and mold build-up, improving the health and lifespan of your roofing.

Both the whole house and attic fans can be used in winter as well to flush out the old air from the interiors and to make the home a more comfortable place.

Now that you have a basic understanding of what the 2 types of fans are, you may think that the decision on which one to install is easy. It is still not that simple. To be sure that you get the fan that is right for your home, you should consult an expert. The right way to do this is to consult the dealer of a brand leader in the field of whole house and attic fans. The best manufacturers and dealers offer a free consultation to evaluate your fan needs, advise you on what is right for your home and answer all your questions. Once you know what you need, buying and installing it is a smooth hassle-free process that takes very little time – usually a matter of a few hours.