On hot summer days, you can run your attic fan throughout the day and night. If temperatures cool significantly overnight, you can choose to turn off your attic fan until the morning.
As long as it is properly installed (electrical and support), there is no reason it cannot be left on any more than you might leave certain lights on continuously. If you are unsure of how well the base is connected to the ceiling, then I strongly suggest you find out, even if you run the fan intermittently.
And if sized properly for your home, running your fan at night is really not necessary. The majority of all heat gain into your attic occurs between the hours of 11AM and 3PM, so the real key to proper attic ventilation is removing the heat as it is received.
However, running them constantly may have a negative impact on your electricity bill. Installing an attic fan can help keep your home cooler and energy efficient. If your home is naturally cooler, you may not need to use your air conditioner as frequently, potentially lowering your energy costs.
If the evenings are cooler, you can try turning the attic cooling fan off until the morning, but if you notice your HVAC system begins to struggle to keep your home comfortable, you may want to keep running the attic fan overnight.
Attic Power Ventilators' Energy Consumption
In fact, the Home Power article states that a “typical 250-watt fan would use 180 kWh per month if run continuously.” The entire home, however, only uses about 950 kWh per month, so the ventilation system can encompass a significant amount of energy consumption.
Other than opening the windows first, there is no "right" or "wrong" way to use the attic fan. Just experiment until you are comfortable and getting the relief you want.
While energy usage will vary depending on how much you use it and what type of unit you have, in most cases it's pretty much accepted that whole house systems are less expensive and use less energy. Whole house fans can also be faster for cooling a hot home than most air conditioners.
Why are attic fans not used anymore? Due to inefficiencies in relying on existing attic vents for air intake, attic fans have lost popularity. These vents often aren't designed for this purpose, resulting in inadequate replacement air supply.
Typical attics will reach 120-150 degrees during the summer. An attic fan can help lower that temperature by up to 50 degrees, which translates into up to a 5 degree lower temperature inside your home below the attic. Not only will it feel cooler inside, your AC will last longer as it will not need to cycle as much.
You don't need to have your attic fun running all of the time. Having it running only when it's needed maximizes its benefits for your home's AC and overall energy efficiency.
A fan's housing will get warm after prolonged use due to the fan's motor generating heat when converting electricity into movement. This heat is why many people think it is unsafe to leave fans running; however, it is normal and will dissipate from the fan's housing and not exceed a safe limit.
Don't: Use a whole house fan with the windows closed
If you're going to draw air out of the house, you will need a steady supply of cooler air to replace it. Open a few windows before you turn it on to avoid creating a type of vacuum, which could cause your ears to pop, among other potential discomforts.
Attic fans ventilate and exhaust your attic only and are used primarily during the day, but they work well in the evening and night as well. Attic fans pull air from the outside through existing vents in the attic.
When it comes to an attic fan's temperature setting, it's best to adjust it to anywhere from 90 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It's impossible to state a single number because your attic can effortlessly soar above 95 degrees (on average).
By removing hot air from your attic, attic fans can help reduce the workload on your air conditioner, which can lead to lower energy bills. They can also prevent ice damming during the winter months, which can cause damage to your roof and home.
On hot summer days, you can run your attic fan throughout the day and night. If temperatures cool significantly overnight, you can choose to turn off your attic fan until the morning.
How To Choose the Right Fan for Your Home. First, consider the main difference between a whole house fan and an attic fan: purpose. A whole house fan will be the better choice for cooling your home, whereas an attic fan is the better option to ventilate warm air gathered in the attic and to lower humidity levels.
During hot weather, the sun will heat the roof, which will transfer to the attic. Attic fans remove warm air from the attic, and that can help keep the rest of your home cooler, too. Air from a hot attic can seep into your house and make your air conditioner work harder and more often.
On average, an attic fan uses an impressive 90 percent less power than an A/C system to cool a home, meaning that your utility bills are likely to be significantly lower. Talk to a local HVAC pro about optimizing attic fan use in your area.
Winter Air Leakage: Whole house fans can hurt you more in the winter than they help you in the summer. Older models especially can be a big source of air leakage in the attic, causing your heating bills to skyrocket as warm air escapes and cold air seeps in.
Part 2 On average you should run the fan for 4-5 hours to ensure the attic is cooled. The attic is what keeps the home hot. We always recommend the use of a timer. Keep in mind that our systems will provide you with a whole house ventilation fan that can be used to exhaust cooking odor, stale indoor air, etc.
The power fan should be installed a few feet below the peak of the roof centered on the roof as best as possible. If multiple power fans are being installed because of the roof's large attic square footage, position the fans equal distance from each other; both a few feet below the peak of the roof.
They pull air from wherever they can get it, including conditioned air from the house. Consequently, some of that cooling they provide to the attic is from your air conditioner.