Would an Attic Fan Circulate Air Conditioning?

Attic Fan Needs Air

• An attic fan requires a consistent source of cool air to circulate properly through your home. Attic fans continuously draw large amounts of cool air through an exterior window or door, circulate it and deposit warmer air out a vent in the attic ceiling. Air conditioning does not provide a large enough supply of cool air to facilitate the process. According to WholeHouseFans.com, attic fans and whole house fans work best when the outside temperature is below 82 degrees Fahrenheit.

Air Conditioning Leaves the House

• If you use an attic fan in conjunction with an air conditioner, the attic fan will quickly draw all of your cool air conditioning out the attic vent. There will not be enough cool air to replenish the air that has exited your home, making your attic fan less efficient. You will also encounter the unnecessary expense of running your air conditioner at the same time you are running your attic fan. An attic fan is not designed to circulate air conditioning through a home.

Additional Benefits

• There are additional benefits to using an attic fan to circulate air throughout your living space. WholeHouseFans.com notes that an attic fan can lower the temperature in upstairs rooms by 10 degrees. An attic fan can lengthen the life of your roof by keeping your shingles cooler during warm summer months. Install an optional humidistat with your attic fan to keep your attic dryer during the winter.

Energy Efficiency

• An attic fan is energy efficient because it pushes hot air outside and circulates cool air indoors. As the website for the federal Energy Star program notes, "At first it may seem odd to add insulation for warmth and then purposely allow cold air to enter the attic, but this combination is the key to a durable and energy-efficient home." According to WholeHouseFans.com, attic fans can save up to 30 percent of your air conditioning costs.