The control you pick decides how easy your fan is to live with. Here is what each option does, which fans and dampers it works with, and what it costs.
Whole house fan controls come in four types: wired wall switches, wireless remotes, temperature controls and WiFi plugs. The most useful ones combine a timer, so the fan shuts off on its own, with a temperature setting, so it stops once the house is cool. When you order a CentricAir 2.0, a wireless 1 speed remote with timer is included at no charge, and upgrades run from $97 for a 2 speed wall switch or remote to $197 for a 2 speed wireless remote with timer and temperature control.
A whole house fan does its best work overnight, which is exactly when nobody wants to get up to turn it off. That is why the control matters as much as the fan. A good one runs the fan when it helps and stops it before the house gets too cold or the morning heats up.
What types of whole house fan controls are there?
Wall switches, wireless remotes, temperature controls and smart plugs, often combined in one device.
| CentricAir control | Speeds | Timer | Temperature | Works with | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wireless remote with timer | 1 | Yes | No | Backdraft damper only | Included |
| Wireless plug and play remote with timer | 2 | Yes | No | All dampers | $97 |
| Wireless remote with timer and temperature | 2 | 1 to 12 hours | Yes | All dampers | $197 |
| Wired low voltage wall switch | 2 | 1 to 12 hours | Yes | CentricAir 1.5 to 4.0, all dampers | $97 |
| 3 speed wall switch | 3 | Yes | Yes | QA-Deluxe 4800 (ECM) and CentricAir 4.0 ECM | $97 upgrade on the 4800; included with the 4.0 ECM |
| Smart WiFi control | High only | App schedule | No | Where offered as a control option | See product page |
Features, compatibility and prices from CentricAir product pages and the CentricAir 2.0 ordering options, September 2026. Prices apply when the control is chosen with a fan and may change.
Why does a timer matter?
It shuts the fan off for you, so it runs overnight without running all day.
You turn the fan on in the evening once it is cooler outside than in, and set the timer for the hours you want. When the time is up, the fan stops. Every CentricAir control in the table above includes a timer or an app schedule. This short video shows the 2 speed wall switch and timer in use.
What does temperature control add?
The fan stops when the house reaches the temperature you choose, not just when a timer runs out.
CentricAir describes its 2 speed wireless remote with temperature and timer this way: it never overcools the home, it never wastes energy because the fan only runs when needed, and you do not have to get up to adjust a timer. The 2 speed wired wall switch offers the same temperature and timer features in a wall mounted control.
Wired wall switch or wireless remote?
Choose a wall switch if you want the control in one place, and a remote if you want it in your hand.
CentricAir’s wall switches connect with a 50 foot plug and play cable. CentricAir says this eliminates installing and wiring a line voltage timer and speed switch. The remotes also use a plug and play connection and can be used from anywhere in the home. Either way, there is no high voltage switch box to wire in the hallway.
Does your damper change which control you can use?
Yes. Check compatibility if you choose the cold weather damper.
CentricAir fans come with an R5 backdraft damper, and a motorized cold weather R13 damper is available as an upgrade. The included 1 speed remote works with the backdraft damper only. The 2 speed remotes and the wired wall switch work with all dampers. Our winter guide covers when the cold weather damper is worth it.
Is a WiFi control worth it?
If you want to schedule or start the fan from your phone, yes. Know its limits.
The CentricAir Smart WiFi control is a smart plug with an app. It turns the fan on or off, sets a schedule and run time, and works with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts with no hub. It runs the fan at high speed only, works on 2.4 GHz WiFi networks only, and carries a 1 year warranty.
Open windows first, every time. A schedule or voice command can start the fan when nobody is near a window. Make opening windows part of the routine before any automatic start.
Which control should you choose?
- Set it and forget it: the 2 speed wireless remote with timer and temperature.
- Want the control on the wall: the 2 speed wired wall switch with timer and temperature.
- QA-Deluxe 4800 and CentricAir 4.0 ECM owners: the 3 speed wall switch. It is a $97 upgrade on the 4800 and comes with the 4.0 ECM.
- Want phone and voice control: the Smart WiFi control, if you are fine with high speed only.
- Keeping it simple: the included 1 speed remote with timer.
Every CentricAir fan lets you choose the control when you order.
Watch more from CentricAir
More videos from the CentricAir YouTube channel. Click any video to play it right here, or subscribe for new installs, tips and product walkthroughs.
Frequently asked questions
Does a whole house fan need a timer?
It is strongly recommended. A timer shuts the fan off after a set number of hours, so it does not keep running after the morning warms up. CentricAir controls offer timers from 1 to 12 hours.
Can I control my whole house fan from my phone?
Yes. CentricAir offers a Smart WiFi control that works through an app and with Alexa, Google Assistant and Siri Shortcuts. It runs the fan at high speed only and needs a 2.4 GHz WiFi network.
Can I replace my old whole house fan timer switch?
For CentricAir fans, the plug and play wall switch and remotes connect without line voltage wiring. For other brands, check the fan maker’s compatible controls.
What is the best control for a whole house fan?
A control with both a timer and a temperature setting does the most for you. CentricAir says its 2 speed wireless remote with temperature and timer never overcools the home because the fan only runs when needed.
Keep reading
Sources
- CentricAir control product pages: 2 Speed Wall Switch, 3 Speed Wall Switch, 2 Speed Wireless Remote, Smart WiFi Control, and the CentricAir 2.0 ordering options, accessed Sept. 2026.
- CentricAir Insulated R5 Gravity Backdraft Damper and Cold Climate Damper product pages, accessed Sept. 2026.