Overly heated attics can also ruin shingles.
Is an Attic Fan Worth It?
You don’t need to choose between a whole-house or attic fan; they are not mutually exclusive.
The Spruce / Matt Collins
Meanwhile, the whole-house fan only deposits air from the house into the attic.
A whole-house fan draws air from the entire home and deposits it in the attic.
An attic fan draws out air from the attic and sends it outside.
The fan draws out air from the attic, with fresh air from the intake replenishing the attic air.
The ceiling vents louvers open and close in response to the fans operation.
you’ve got the option to also add larger gable vents.
Cooling and Venting Ability
Effectiveattic insulationreduces the need for an attic fan to cool the house.
An attic fan can help cool down the living space if the attic is not insulated.
Attic fans can keep an attic well-ventilated, preventing thegrowth of moldand mildew.
Whole-house fans can be used to offset the usage of energy-hungry centralair conditioning units.
Thats based on a 2-1/2 ton air conditioner and a $0.06 kWh cost.
A whole-house fan is not as pronounced as a room fan but can be felt.
It disperses hot air that has collected in the upper regions of your home and creates gentle air movement.
Powered roof vents are more challenging to install.
Whole-house fans are the width of your ceilings joists and are around 36- to 40-inches long.
Additionally, the ceiling may be insulated, which provides significant soundproofing.
The whole-house fan is located in the ceiling of the living space.
This means an installed attic fan will be quieter than a whole-house fan.
Ease of Operation
Attic fans turn on and off automatically.
A whole-house fan is turned on and off by the user.
Windows and screened doors must first be opened; then, the fan is turned on.
The fan may have a pull cord that drops from the ceiling or is operated with a wall switch.
Best for Ease of Operation: Attic Fan
An attic fan operates seamlessly and in the background.
It doesnt need to be adjusted unless the user wants to change the temperature setting.
Windows and doors do not need to be opened or closed.
Both gable-mount and roof-mount attic fans cost from $75 to $225.
Shutter-style attic fans that replace existing gable vents cost $200 to $400.
Most whole-house fans are rated between 1,500 and 7,000 CFM.
Higher velocity fans with connecting vents cost from $800 to $1,600.
Top Brands
Below are some of the most popular and well-respected brands to look out for.
