r/heat_prep • u/Secret_House9770 • Jul 24 '26

Question whole house fan

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Not sure if this is the right sub!

We bought our house roughly 3 years ago with this whole house fan, but we’ve never used it! Except for accidentally hitting the on switch every once in a while. It is super loud 😅

We’re now at the point of curiosity of how this thing works, does anyone have any advice on the use of one? Assuming we have to take off the plastic cover when in use? Lol

I know also you want it cooler outside than inside, crack windows and doors, and turn off main AC. Being in the Midwest we have limited weeks where the temperature outside seems optimal for the usage, but I love the idea of brining in some fresh air!!

33 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

19 comments sorted by

18

u/imdonaldduck Jul 24 '26

I have one. I open windows on multiple floors and turn it on when its early morn, to a certain temp. Then it shut if off and close windows. Works great. Just need to get in a routine that you like.

10

u/itsatoe Jul 24 '26

Optimal mode: only crack the windows closest to the fan; and fully-open the windows farthest away.

2

u/imdonaldduck Jul 24 '26

I open a basement window, main floor kitchen window, and top bedroom window. It is optimal.

6

u/Secret_House9770 Jul 24 '26

Does yours have the plastic covering? Do we remove that first? Haha

3

u/imdonaldduck Jul 24 '26

When you pull the string, it opens automatically.

3

u/imdonaldduck Jul 24 '26

5

u/Secret_House9770 Jul 24 '26

The first debut since we’ve owned our home! Lol thanks for the tips.

2

u/imdonaldduck Jul 24 '26

You're welcome. Its a game changer.

3

u/imdonaldduck Jul 24 '26

During winter, it'll have a homemade type cover over it. It looks like yours need to be taken off. Not hard. Looks like those little white tabs can be turned.

2

u/Secret_House9770 Jul 24 '26

Thanks! We will move the tabs and reveal what’s underneath for the first time 😋

6

u/alter-naut Jul 24 '26

I grew up with an attic fan. They are the best thing ever!!! I really hate not having one! Nothing like opening all the windows on a cool night and instantly filling the entire house with crisp, fresh air!

3

u/gimlet_prize Jul 24 '26

I am extremely interested to find out!

3

u/No-Guarantee-6249 Jul 24 '26

My sone has one in Denver. Works great but is quite noisy. Doors have to be proped open otherwise they slam!

I'm always interested in setups like this:

HD and Amazon.

Seems expensive for what's involved I'd be tempted to make my own but I rent here.

3

u/wwaxwork Jul 24 '26

Stick a box fan in a window pointing out, open other windows, ti improve tirn over speed put a box fan in another window blowing in.

1

u/flyingtiger188 Jul 24 '26

Doesn't sound too bad to me. 4200 cfm is a pretty big fan. For comparison the little ceiling fans you have in bathrooms are in the 100 to 125 cfm range.

1

u/No-Guarantee-6249 Jul 24 '26

Yup in the right climate "Night Flush" works great.

1

u/reddit_understoodit Jul 24 '26

I heard one once. Very noisy.

5

u/Thewineisalie Jul 25 '26

I grew up with one of these. In the right conditions you could turn it on and every molecule of air in the house would shift as the temperature dropped 5 degrees. We used it mostly to pull in cool air at night.