Using Fans is good way for homeowners to have a cheap and environmentally friendly alternative when it comes to air conditioning within the home. The fans can be strategically placed in windows around the house in the way that achieves maximum efficiency and meets your air conditioning needs.
That said, it is usually considered good practice to have Window Fans mounted in windows located in the hotter rooms of the house. This way, the fan can suck out the hot air, while other windows and doors in the house allow the entry of cool air from the air vacuum created.
There are two main forms of Window Fans installation and operation: the ones that draw cool air in and those that blow warm air out. However, there are units that have a single have rotating fan blade that alternates between these two functions. As the blade spins in one direction it propels any hot stale air in the room outside and as it turns to rotate in the other direction, cool air is drawn inside the house.
A fan of this type can often double up as a room ventilator for rooms that are often engulfed in smoke such as the kitchen or a living room with a fireplace. A number of models that have the two modes allow you to change the function from one to the other without having to remove and reinstall the Window Fans.
There are also models that use two fans on a single unit where each fan can be operated independent of the other. These types of fans can be set to either work identically either to draw cool air in or blow hot air out, or they can work diametrically where one blows air out while the other pulls it in.
Whether you go for a single rotating blade unit or a multiple fan unit, such fans works best when they are fitted with a thermostat - something that has virtually become part of the standard when deploying Window Fans. The thermostat is what makes the Window Fans 'intelligent' and give you better control in normalizing the temperature of your rooms especially where there is a large variance between day time and night time temperatures.
Standard Window Fans utilize between 50 and 200 Watts of power, and in a 2,400 square foot area, change air at a rate of once every minute. Because they must be at the window, the fans are built to resist light water damage.
If you need to condition the air in a relatively large room or simply want Window Fans that have more capacity than the average fan, then you can opt for a power window fan. The concept used to create such fans is the same as the normal Window Fans except that the blade in this fan rotates at a much higher speed thus allowing it to function close to the level of a standard air conditioning unit.
Window Fans are often designed to fit in any standard sized windows. The fan unit is usually about 20 inches in diameter. Nevertheless, there are smaller size fan designs available that can be installed for smaller windows.
For you to carry out a standard window fan installation, you will require a mounting kit, brackets and side panels - all of which should come with the fan. The side panels and brackets are meant to provide greater stability and support to the fan. For smaller fans, which come with pre-fitted panels, all you have to do is place them in your window of choice then turn on the power.
If you are less inclined towards mounting the windows fans onto the frame, you have the option of purchasing one that's mounted on a stand. This fan can be moved around the house to cool a different room each time or as and when required. Note that if you do go for the mounted Window Fans, you must still make sure that the fan is as close as possible to the window if you are to realize best efficiency.
Where you place Window Fans in the house is important. If you plan to use intake and exhaust fans, you should place them on opposite ends of the house. Intake fans are best placed downwind, where air is cooler, while exhaust fans should be placed either upstairs or the side of the house that's the hottest.
