How Does a Whole House Fan Work?

First, What is a Whole House Fan?

A whole house fan is large fan that’s installed directly into your attic and pulls in fresh air from the outside. We will never recommend replacing your central AC with a whole house fan; instead, making them work together. When used properly, a whole house fan works symbiotically with your HVAC system to keep your home cool and comfortable, while ensuring your energy bills stay low. This fan is made to bring fresh, outdoor air in your home so you can ensure you’re breathing the best air.

Just like other HVAC systems, there are a number of whole house fans on the market. At Service Champions, we recommend the inline house fan. If you’re asking what sets this one apart, the answer is twofold. First, the inline fan is a medium size, making it perfect for most SoCal homes. Second, the inline is better at cooling and blocking heat during the summer and preventing heat loss during the winter; ensuring your home never loses its treated air.

Second, How Does a Whole House Fan Work?

Simply put, a whole house fan pulls outdoor air and circulates it through your home. While this may seem counterintuitive to having an HVAC system, it’s not. When used with your HVAC system, a whole house fan can reduce your cooling costs by 50% to 90%. It’s actually very interesting how all this works. Your central AC system runs on what we call a closed loop. Meaning the air runs in one continuous loop, being recycled every time it runs through your system. A whole house fans opens this loop and allows for fresh air to be introduced to the home.

We can hear you asking, “but how does this save money?” And we’re here to answer that for you. Many southern California homeowners run their HVAC system 24/7; including at night when ambient temperatures drop to a manageable—or even pleasant—level. While that’s not a bad thing, it can be a huge drain to your wallet. Instead, by running the HVAC system during the day, or only at peak hours. And running the whole house fan during the night and early morning, you’re allowing your home to stay cool, and give your HVAC system a much needed break.

Third, Why do I Want Fresh Air Anyway?

If you’re wondering why you would want fresh air when you have clean, treated air in your home, this section is for you. The one issue with the closed loop system we mentioned above is stale air. Stale air can smell bad, and even worse, it can pick up indoor air pollutants. Your indoor air cold be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air, according to the EPA. Coming in contact with indoor air pollution is easier than you think, cleaning products, beauty products, and even scented candles can contaminate your indoor air. For optimum health, it’s best to incorporate fresh air into your home; something the whole house fan can easily do.

Want to Learn More About Whole House Fans? Service Champions is Here for You

If you’re interested in a whole house fan, give us a call. Our expertly trained technicians happily serve Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside counties. Additionally, our skilled staff is standing by, waiting for your call. Please feel free to reach out to our friendly call center representatives or click here to request an appointment online.