Quality ventilation exhaust fans serve as more than just outlets for bad air; they also take the hot air out and save on cooling costs. The fans work the same way—and just as well—as windows, ensuring stable airflow from the outside to inside then outside again. Even with adequate insulation in place and the windows shut, heat can still make its way into the home. Understanding how exhaust fans help cool the home won't require a degree in rocket science. The objective is to let cool air into the home to carry the warm air outside, resulting in a significant drop in the temperature. This is basically thermodynamics at work; the Second Law states that heat tends to move to a cool surface (in this case, warm air moves to cool air). You won't run out of cool air even in hot days because cool air is heavier than warm air; thus, closer to the ground. A whole-house fan can change the air inside the house at a rate of 30 to 60 per hour; the problem is that it's noisy. This problem can easily be resolved by adjusting the fan to operate at a lower setting or put rubber or felt around the fan. In addition, you'll need a bigger attic to house this type of fan; around two to four times the size of normal attics. Proper installation can greatly reduce the noise whole-house fans produce since they will hardly rattle while working. Any exhaust fan operating below 1 sone is considered quiet; there are good bathroom ventilation fans that operate as quiet as 0.15 sones. The quieter variants even go as low as 0.05 sones. For the cooling effect to be noticeable, make sure the exhaust fan can take the volume of air it needs to move. A small exhaust fan for a big house may cost you more in energy costs, while a big exhaust fan for a small home may draw in noxious gases from heating systems to the living room. Get help from an expert to calculate how much power you'll need from an exhaust fan to ventilate the home most efficiently. While you're at it, have him install the fan. Overall, ventilation fans should be part of any indoor air quality management plan. To know more, visit the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's website at NREL.gov.
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