From: Bill 
Newsgroups: misc.consumers.house
Subject: Re: Attic/ whole house fans
Date: Sun, 09 Nov 2003 14:37:11 GMT

Skeeter wrote:
> I have a friend who has one in his house.  Amazing how it is able to sweep
> in fresh air throughout the house so quickly.
> Anybody have an opinion on getting one of these installed in a new house?  I
> will (of course) have central air so am wondering if it is redundant.  Also,
> what is everyone's take on the rooftop vs. gable mounted versions? Do the
> more modern versions blend a little better with the interior of the house?
> My friends is great but it is butt ugly:  Big metal louvers on the ceiling
> at the top of the stairs.  The wife won't go for that...
> Thanks for your thoughts.
> skeeter
> 
> 
I have a whole house fan and use it in the spring 
and fall, between the heating and cooling seasons. 
  It works very well for that.  I can cool the 
house off over night and it will stay cool most of 
the day, or I can heat the house up all day and it 
will stay warm all night, depending on the 
relative outside temperature.

The biggest problem with mine is the lack of 
insulation.  It provides a big heat leak in the 
hall ceiling, during the heating and cooling 
seasons.  I have helped that by building a sliding 
shutter with 1 inch of foam insulation in it to 
cover the louvers when I'm not using it.

Another solution for the lack of insulation is to 
get one of the more expensive ones with the 
electrically powered insulating doors on the top. 
  They automatically open when you turn it on and 
close when you turn it off.

I'm not sure what to do about the look of the 
louvers.  If you paint them to match the ceiling 
they probably won't be too obtrusive.

Bill Gill