Attic Fans

Not everyone can afford air conditioning. In terms of economy and whole house comfort, attic fans are the next best option. There’s no question the cost of running an attic fan is far less than central air. And if you combine an attic fan with central air the electric bills can improve quite a bit.

However, these items aren’t recommended for people with allergies, or anyone who wants a dust-free home because attic fans bring those items into the house with the air they’re circulating. Similarly, if it’s humid outside, turning on the attic fan brings that dampness inside.

Attic fans will reduce the load on your air conditioning

If you’re handy with wiring, you can probably install an attic fan yourself, but remember that you still might have to get it inspected. They use a fair mount of power. So it might be wise to simply get a certified technician from the get-go.
If your home has a fireplace, don’t burn a fire when the attic fan is running. This can actually bring carbon monoxide into the house.

The alternative is keeping windows open and having CO2 detectors in the home for safety but that undermines the whole reason for using the fireplace!
In terms of style, attic fans either mount on an outside wall or in the floor. The latter is preferred by do-it-yourselfers because it goes in easily, but these aren’t as effective as wall mounts. The former requires some carpentry ability. You also need to choose between direct drives and belt drives. From a consumer standpoint, the belt drive is quite, powerful and durable, and has lower on-going maintenance costs.
As with air conditioning getting the right sized fan is important. Experts recommend getting a fan that will completely change the air in the house in three minutes. So if you can figure out the volume of air in your home and divide it by three, you can check the fan system and compare that number to CFM ratings (cubic feet / minute). Or, if you’re like me you’ll leave that part to an expert.
It’s nice to get a fan that offers more than one speed. Lower speeds are quiet and nice for sleeping hours. Also, look for a fan that can be easily insulated for improved energy efficiency.

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