OT: whole house ventilation and filtered intake air

[zeroinverse]

So this question is probably directed at Grant mostly. ^_^

A whole house fan can help reduce your A/C use by helping draw in cooler night air into the house (cooling the house) and then push that nighttime air through your attic (to cool the accumulated attic heat & hot "ceramic tiles" on my house roof).

So that's a great benefit. The only drawback is when you "turn on" the whole house fan (WHF), you have to open windows so air can get sucked in and pushed out of attic (you're basically creating wind/airflow through your house).


Here is what I'd like to know.

1) Is there some type of "air filter" louvered intake/shutters that can be automated? So I don't have to remember to open windows? It simply opens whenever the WHF is on?

2) Is there some "smart" thermostat that measures inside and outside air temperature to decide when it should turn on the WHF instead of keeping the AC turned on?

3) Which whole house fan would you recommend? I think I need one of those "insulated" ones so that in the winter, warm house air/heat doesn't escape into attic through the WHF.

 

[Reef Bass]

I know I'm not Grant, and I think we're all happy about that.

When I was a homeowner, I looked at thermocoupled gable fans. They open louvers and turn on when the temp in the attic space reaches a variable set point and blow air out. Cool air enters the attic space through the usual roof vents.

 

[northbay-reefer]

Use an automated green house window opener that is temperature controlled?

 

[Grant W]

Yes Ken, One of me is more than adequate. What you are talking about is an attic ventilation system btw Kenneth.

To clarify the type of system Ron is talking about is like a power assisted version of what a lot of us do when we open up the windows in the morning to let out the heat and let the cool morning air in or the same at night after it has cooled down and then close up before it heats up again.

Ron, The better systems have an R-30/40 insulated set of doors or flaps that when the unit is powered up will open and then close when shut off.

The power supplies are either a standard switch or a timer of some sort including thermostatic types.

Regarding the opening of windows these units draw a large volume of air through the house but I dont think they will draw an actual vacuum per say. you would need quite a large opening cut in the house to allow for the proper air exchange to occur if you wanted the intake to be automated. So you will want to open windows Bud. Remember you will only be using it in the early morning and the late evening.

The most important thing to look into is the noise level or Sone level of the unit. Some can be quite loud and you have a new baby. I hope I answered you questions sufficently and I know you will do your research anyways Professor. Grant

 

[Grant W]

Use an automated green house window opener that is temperature controlled?

That sounds right Tom but they are usually an awning type glazed unit more akin to a skylight. Hmm maybe look into the very nice Velux brand skylights for the ventilation issue. They are already remote control when you buy them and have rain sensors too.

 

[zeroinverse]

@tom greenhouse windows, good idea.

@ken already have attic gable fans, and cleared the soffit vents and added radiant barrier in underside of roof to reflect Infrared radiation heat and guide soffit airflow.

 

[Grant W]

Based on youre response I guess I didnt answer the questions. Sorry Ron I must have misunderstood.

 

[zeroinverse]

Grant, no no, you answered the questions. I just responded to Tom & Ken in a "saved reply" that I didn't submit until after you responded.

As to your comments... thanks!

I was hoping there was a "filtered air intake" large window (or multiple large windows) that I can set on an automated/controlled manner to let in the fresh air at night/morning when the outside temperature is lower to cool the house.

I figured since you're in the housing industry, you'd have some ideas or a vendor you can suggest I go ask.

(if not, maybe there is a market to make these products). I did come across on called NightBreeze. But it is more of a "fresh air system" to integrate into HVAC. But since your home HVAC does not really PULL that much cool air, it is not as good as a whole house fan.

 

[Grant W]

There all sorts of home automation systems available today that can control virtually any item in your house. There are even smartphone apps galore. The air filter could be placed over the air intake of the fan like the Hepa filters you can get for a cold air return on your hvac system or at whatever opening you use for freshair intake if you want to filter the outside air as it enters.

 

[zeroinverse]

Thanks grant! Me being lazy, I love automation.

 

[zeroinverse]

There all sorts of home automation systems available today that can control virtually any item in your house. There are even smartphone apps galore. The air filter could be placed over the air intake of the fan like the Hepa filters you can get for a cold air return on your hvac system or at whatever opening you use for freshair intake if you want to filter the outside air as it enters.

Grant, do you know any companies that do window ventilation? And/or indoor/outdoor temperature thermostats to run "smart" whole house fans.

 

[Grant W]

No I dont Ron sorry.