I attended a meeting on Sunday, and despite the nearly record-setting temperatures, the house was pleasantly cool. I thanked our hostess for having the AC running, and she explained that it was only her attic fan.
Coincidentally, I had a recent email from Mr. Handyman on the subject:
That hole in the ceiling for the fan comes in handy in the summer when you want the hotter air in your home to rise into the attic and then vent to the outside. The purpose of the fan is to move the hotter air up into the attic (and bring the cooler air in from outside) faster. They are all great at doing this.
But.... Many whole house fan manufacturers don't mention that for some makes and models the hole in your ceiling stays open all winter, while you are spending money having your heating system heat your inside air. It's like having an open window in your ceiling all winter.
That is why when shopping for a whole house fan, you should be very concerned with how well they seal up when they're not turned on. If they don't seal up, move onto another make and model. If you need to add something to make them seal up (some makes and models have accessory insulating covers), he also suggests that you move on, because in the autumn, you might forget where you stashed the cover.
His favorite is the AirScape series from HVACquick.com, precisely because they seal up very well. If you prefer Tamarack Fans, stick to the HV-1000 or the HV-1600 lines.
Every little bit of energy conservation helps,
1 comment:
I totally agree with you that ever little bit counts. I really think whole house fans make a big difference, it really does almost feel like someone has the AC on, but what I really like about it, is that it feels like the natural flowing air, unlike an AC which doesn't quite feel right, you get what I mean? Almost like fake air, if there is a such thing.
Post a Comment