I’m building a house with a SIP roof–no attic. I want to install a whole-house fan on an outside wall. I haven’t been able to find any through-the-wall fans that have the high CFM ratings of whole house fans. (I’m looking for around 3500 CFM.) Is this just not done? What am I missing? Thanks!
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

There are some instances where multiple minisplits make sense.
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
Where's the makeup air going to come from? That flow rate would expel all the air in my house in 4 minutes.
>Where's the makeup air going to come from? That flow
>rate would expel all the air in my house in 4 minutes.
The idea is to use the fan as a whole house fan, to bring cool air in through the open windows on summer nights. Just like the fans that are normally installed in the ceiling.
I have one in my house (a moble home with walls around, truss roof over, small attic). I made it myself and it WORKS GREAT!
It consists of a Patton or (similar) Windmere (50$) approx 15 inch high speed fan. I cut a circle in a 3/4 plywood which sets in a flashed window-like jamb. Outside are louvers which open with a choke cable inside.
In the winter we install a piece of foamboard.
Except for those few scorchers I think it is far better than sleeping in air condx.
If you want a big cfm fan go to a company that sells grain drying equipment for grain bins. You may have to add some supports to the wall but it will exchange the air for you.
FWIW, I sometimes see a jury rigged furnace blower used that way
_______________________
"I may have said the same thing before... But my explanation, I am sure, will always be different." Oscar Wilde
HI, Consider a greenhouse fan. Search for commercial GH suppliers, Griffin, Winandy Rough Bros. as a source. Lots of size and power options, also louvers to close when not in service. 3500 is alot of cfm, have you figured close for your heat drop needs. I used to be in the greenhouse biz and two 3500cfm fans took care of a 30X96 greenhouse with full solar gain, hard to see your needs that high, but heck, I'm in Maine.
Good Luck, Will