Are powerwalls a necessity for SoCal residents?

[Uncle Paul]

jjrandorin.
We have similar situation. Used to have BMW, use Quiet Cool, have high end AV system and no pool. Live just up the road from you in Canyon Lake. Tesla will be installing my Solar system in a couple weeks.
Hoping that annual production will sort itself out over the year. These super hot days are screwing with my calculations

Using Quiet Cool had allowed me to get away with a much smaller Solar package.

 

[kardiff_kris]

I keep hearing about Quiet Cool and it's temping. But my concern is the humidity. It's pretty much always 60% humidity here so not sure I want to suck all that humid air into my attic space.

 

[Carbonfiber]

I keep hearing about Quiet Cool and it's temping. But my concern is the humidity. It's pretty much always 60% humidity here so not sure I want to suck all that humid air into my attic space.

same! I just did a quick google search. Sounds very interesting and affordable.

 

[mnsweeps]

I have Quietcool whole house fan installed 6 years back and love it. Hardly use AC for a few days in summer. Thats why I am okay with leaving AC out of the partial backset scenario for my PW.

 

[kardiff_kris]

I have Quietcool whole house fan installed 6 years back and love it. Hardly use AC for a few days in summer. Thats why I am okay with leaving AC out of the partial backset scenario for my PW.

How coastal are you? You have much humidity? I'm about 13-15 miles from the coast, so get about 60% humidity year round.

 

[Uncle Paul]

60% is not all that humid. +90% is humid.

Works best when your days are hot and evenings cool.

I also use mine in the Winter to bring in warm air in the afternoon. Saves on heating as well.

 

[kardiff_kris]

60% is not all that humid. +90% is humid.

Works best when your days are hot and evenings cool.

I also use mine in the Winter to bring in warm air in the afternoon. Saves on heating as well.

True, thankfully we don't get anything like Qatar. Stupid hot and stupid humid (more humid that should be possible thanks to it being a narrow peninsula), think over 110 and 90%+ humidity. I guess I was thinking just more humid than I wanted to be blasting condensed forms of into my attic, but seems like they are still popular in the coastal regions.

 

[Uncle Paul]

Big benefit of the Quiet Cool is that it is mounted inside your attic. It takes hot air from your ceiling and blows it through your attic. This blows out your superheated attic at the same time.

All that hot air trapped in your attic tends to sit there and bake your ceiling and rooms. Good to get it vented each night.

These things tend to only cost around $1,400 installed. Pay for themselves pretty quickly. Cost 1/20th as much to run as AC.

 

[kardiff_kris]

Big benefit of the Quiet Cool is that it is mounted inside your attic. It takes hot air from your ceiling and blows it through your attic. This blows out your superheated attic at the same time.

All that hot air trapped in your attic tends to sit there and bake your ceiling and rooms. Good to get it vented each night.

These things tend to only cost around $1,400 installed. Pay for themselves pretty quickly. Cost 1/20th as much to run as AC.

Hmm might pull the trigger on one. Had a quote for an installed Stealth Pro 5.5 w/remote for $1100 tax included.

 

[mnsweeps]

How coastal are you? You have much humidity? I'm about 13-15 miles from the coast, so get about 60% humidity year round.

I am inland in Santa Clarita valley in L.A county.

 

[hurjio]

Hmm might pull the trigger on one. Had a quote for an installed Stealth Pro 5.5 w/remote for $1100 tax included.

What the... are you sure? That's crazy cheap. I got the same model installed last year for $1500 and thought I got a good deal. The equivalent consumer version of Quiet Cool sold at Home Depot are $1050-$1250 just for the unit itself (before tax and no labor).

 

[kardiff_kris]

What the... are you sure? That's crazy cheap. I got the same model installed last year for $1500 and thought I got a good deal. The equivalent consumer version of Quiet Cool sold at Home Depot are $1050-$1250 just for the unit itself (before tax and no labor).

Yeah, they said Quiet Cool has some promotion, then gave me a military (retired) discount. So should probably take them up on it huh lol?

 

[Carbonfiber]

So Quiet Cool takes out all the heat from the rooms and sucks it in to the attic. Is there anything else that will push the hot heat out of the attic?

 

[Patrick66]

I hate how PG&E shows the average temperature during a period instead of the peak/high temperature during that period.

Yeah... you would think they would be aware of the concept of cooling degree days...

 

[SoCal Dave]

So Quiet Cool takes out all the heat from the rooms and sucks it in to the attic. Is there anything else that will push the hot heat out of the attic?

A whole house fan such as a Quiet cool pulls the warm air from the house into the attic. This will force the super heated that is in the attic out the attic vents and other openings. So it will not only cool the house but cool the attic as well.

You can also get an attic fan which only pushes the hot attic air out and it draws in cooler air from the outside.

 

[jjrandorin]

So Quiet Cool takes out all the heat from the rooms and sucks it in to the attic. Is there anything else that will push the hot heat out of the attic?

Air pressure, basically. probably easiest to think of it like a vacuum as far as how a vacuum generates negative air pressure to suck things into it. The attic can only hold so much air, so the rest is forced out through the vents in your roof. Its important to size it correctly for your home, but they work great in the right environment.

 

[jboy210]

How much power do these whole house fan use?

 

[kardiff_kris]

How much power do these whole house fan use?

Depends on the model and speed. The stealth x 5.5 I was quoted uses Hi: 490 / Med: 268 / Low: 88.0 watts (assuming per hour but not sure) and services between 1,681 SQFT to 2,522 SQFT homes.

 

[SoCal Dave]

How much power do these whole house fan use?

It varies depending on the motor size of the fan, but typically are 150-500W on high. Most have a low setting which uses less power.

 

[getakey]

How much power do these whole house fan use?

we have a whole house fan. Run it 8 hours at night
~500 watts/hr

our house is well insulated. Before the fan, house would not cool down lower than 77 or so, but we were not agressive with window opening. Now with fan easily cools to 72 (still not agressive with window opening, just mostly sliding doors)