Keeping your home cool in the summer seems like an unending struggle at times, especially in warmer climates.
Finding ways to keep cool without costing yourself a fortune can, at times, seem impossible, but no matter where you live or what your housing situation is, there are ways to improve your home’s cooling capability.
One of the best things you could do is to buy a whole house fan and mount it to one of your windows. Fans like this are commonly used to vent your home’s hot and stale air at the end of the day, which cools your home to the outside temperature and can take the strain off your AC unit.
Here are some of the best whole house fans on the market:
Best Whole House Window Fan
1. Air King 9166F 20″ Whole House Window Fan
If you’re looking for something that can move a lot of air in your home fast, then you might not need to look any further than this whole house fan by Air King. With its powerful 1/6 HP engine, this fan can rapidly exhaust a day’s hot and stale air from your home in minutes.
It’s well built and has a sturdy construction that makes use of both steel and plastic. Once set up and put on its highest setting, this fan can fill your home with outside air and cool it to the outside temperature in less than an hour.
The downside is that this fan can be quite loud. Given, that’s to be expected to a certain extent for a high-powered fan such as this one, but you’ll be better off using it to cool your home a little before bed rather than while you’re trying to sleep. It’s also possible you could set it up in a spare room and put it on low to run it overnight.
Pros:
- Powerful 1/6 HP, 120V engine
- Features three speeds for both intake and exhaust
- Rigid plastic and steel construction
- The front-mounted rotary switch is simple and easy to use
Cons:
- Very loud on the highest setting
2. Lasko 2155A 16″ Electrically Reversible Window Fan
Lasko brings another good option for you to use as your whole house fan with this unit. It’s an electronically reversible fan that can either take air in or blow it out at the flip of a switch. It’s light and installs easily to most window designs.
It’s also designed in a way that allows you to shut your window while the fan’s not in use, which is excellent in case of things like sudden storms. Because of its lightweight construction, it runs quite quietly while still maintaining enough power to push a noticeable amount of air through your home. This makes it an excellent option for someone needing something a little more discreet.
Of course, being made using mostly plastic materials isn’t for everyone. Lightweight plastic can tend to vibrate if your window installation isn’t perfect, which is why some owners will use weather stripping along the edge of where the unit’s mounted to balance it out. A very simple problem to solve, but some will prefer an item with more weight.
Pros:
- Can exhaust or intake air at 3 speeds in both directions
- Easy installation
- Window can be shut while the fan is still mounted
- Runs quietly
Cons:
- Mostly plastic construction
3. Nature’s Cooling Solutions Eco Breeze Smart Window Fan
The Ecobreeze is a brand new kind of product to act like your whole house fan, and it offers some very unique features. The Ecobreeze is a smart fan, which means it uses computerized functions to make it run much more efficiently.
Automatically, it will change speed, or use outside air based on the temperature and what it needs to cool the house. Because of this, it can work in conjunction with your AC unit to bring the heat down without using as much energy. This could potentially save you a lot of money, without needing to be managed as much as a standard fan.
Compared to other window-mounted fans, the Ecobreeze is not excessively loud. However, some have stated that they find the sound to be somewhat more irritating regardless, as it’s more of a rumbling sound than what a standard fan sounds like. Still, the sound itself is not unbearable, and it may not be appropriate for your bedroom.
Pros:
- Uses electronic control to ensure outside air is only brought in when it’s cooler than inside
- Reduces the strain and energy consumption of your AC
- Installs easily
- Automatically changes speed based on your cooling needs
Cons:
- Somewhat noisy
4. ECOBREEZE 2 + Smart Window Fan
The Ecobreeze 2 is the upgrade newer version of the standard Ecobreeze. It makes the automatic features more sophisticated, giving you more options for cooling and improves the quality of air. It uses a filter to clean the incoming air of pollen and other impurities, which keeps the air quality in your home good.
Besides this, the unit pays attention to the outside temperature compared to the inside temperature, which means that it can work in conjunction with an AC. It does this by only bringing in outside air once that is cooler than the inside temperature. Most of its settings are automated like this, so once it’s set up, it requires minimal effort for the user.
Some users have found the digital controls to be a little bit on the complicated end. Options like dimming the LED menu can require some tinkering to learn, so it may not be the best for buyers who prefer to keep things more on the simple and who dislike digital controls.
Pros:
- Filters incoming air for pollen, mold, and dirt to keep your home fresh and allergen-free
- Can be set to cool to a certain temperature, cycling and drawing air as needed
- Works with your AC by only drawing air once the outside temperature is cooler than inside
- Automatically changes speed based on cooling needs
- Easy to install
Cons:
- Digital control can be complicated
5. Genesis Twin Window Fan with 9 Inch Blades
This twin window fan by Genesis brings a lot in a small package. It features two independent motors, which does not only make the fan more powerful but also allows you more options towards intake or exhaust.
With this one unit, you can have a fan set to both intake or exhaust at the same time, which can greatly improve your home’s circulation. It features a built-in thermostat, which allows you to keep the unit running at a set temperature, and has 3-speed settings to suit your needs. Best of all, since it’s electronically reversible, you won’t need to touch this fan much at all once installed.
For all the good, this fan is generally found to be a tad noisy. This is likely caused by its dual motors, which provide more power and options, but is still like running two fans. If you aren’t too sensitive to fan sounds, there’s a lot to like, though it is worth considering that a single motor might be quieter.
Pros:
- 3-speed settings
- Both fans inside the unit can be used for intake or exhaust independently
- Built-in thermostat helps give added precision
- Dual motors provide extra power
Cons:
- Mild noise
6. BOVADO USA Twin Window Cooling Fan with Remote Control
This twin window fan from Bovado provides a lot of features for a very reasonable price. Included is a remote control to allow you to adjust your cooling settings at any time, from anywhere. It installs to most windows with ease and includes both a bug screen and fabric cover that are easy to attach.
Nicely, this fan also features options for electronically reversing the airflow, which includes an opportunity to circulate the air by using one fan for exhaust and one for intake at the same time. This sort of feature is excellent for housing situations where air circulation is not optimal.
While the fabric cover and bug screen could be seen as a nice bonus that doesn’t hurt the package overall, the material used for these parts is generally found to be somewhat cheap.
Users often report that both items are quite thin, and seem like they could wear out over time. Of course, you might not even need them, but as a bonus, they work.
Pros:
- Includes a remote, for added convenience
- Include a bug screen
- Easy installation
- Electronically reversible with additional circulation function
- 3 speed settings
Cons:
- Screen and cover are made of thin material
7. Bionaire BWF0910AR-WCU
Bionaire makes an entry onto the list with another quality option for your whole house fan. This unit features an electronic thermostat that allows you to control your cooling needs to a precise level in the room. It makes use of three-speed settings to give you just the right amount of air.
Additionally, this unit provides remote control with it, which gives you some convenience for not having to touch the unit to make setting adjustments manually. It provides strong levels of comfort and airflow while maintaining a well-balanced design that tends to run quietly.
The unit itself is very quiet and unobtrusive; however, users tend to find the LED lights in the thermostat and electronic beeps a tad annoying. The thermostat has bright LEDs that are easy to read, but some people find it too bright for their bedrooms.
Additionally, it beeps when you adjust its settings, loudly enough to bother some individuals. In most situations, it’s negligible, but it might cause a disturbance in a bedroom at night. However, it’s nothing that some tape or fabric can’t cover.
Pros:
- Electronically reversible for intake or exhaust
- Thermostat provides consistent and precise comfort levels
- Features a remote control
- Powerful, but quiet
- 3 speed settings
Cons:
- Bright and loud electronics
Conclusion
In general, you need to find a fan that can fit the needs of your home. A good fan should be durable, easy to use and install, and safe. Those three things are the big issues, and most of the fans on this list should fit the bill.
Be sure that the fans work in any part of the house too. As a whole house fan, you want a fan that you can put in any room or living space to ensure the most comfort can be gained. Fans that include feet or a way to mount in a window are among the best for this purpose as they will allow you to position and deploy the fan in any way that you need.
Finally, you want a fan that will be energy efficient. Your fan will probably be running almost always during the worst months of summer, so you need to make sure that not a single wattage is wasted on some sort of inefficient design choice, or even worse, an ill-suited fan for what you need.
Before you make your purchase, be sure to measure the different spaces that you plan to put the fan, and compare them to any dimensions listed on the product page. It’s always a good idea to plan in terms of where you want the fan to be in the rooms you plan on using.
You should also consider what airflow points will allow the fan to make the most difference in the room’s temperature. You may have to buy multiple units to do this, and you should make sure that you have a spare in the case of a defect as well.
With that, you know a lot more about some buying options for a whole house fan. While finding the perfect solution to your cooling needs might not be possible, you certainly will be able to see results with any of the fans above. So before your home turns into a hot oven this summer, consider trying one of these units to improve the air circulation and cooling needs of your home.