Attic Fan : What Is Attic Fan And How It Works
Did you know Attic fans are a smart choice not only for cooling your home but also for energy efficiency? You can save 15 percent of the energy bills you use for air conditioning. Maybe you dont have any or shallow ideas about the attic fan, right? Dont have to be worried! In this article, we are going to discuss each and everything you need to know about attic fan: What is attic fan, how attic fan works, what type of attic fan are available in the market and what are the main benefits of using attic fan. All in all, each and everything you need to know before thinking about getting an attic fan.
Attic Fan Factors To Consider
Cubic feet per minute: The most important figure when it comes to attic fans is cubic feet per minute , the volume of air the fan moves. The bigger the house or attic space , the higher the cfm figure you need. Some fans are twin speed, so two cfm ratings are given. Motor power isn’t a major factor so long as it generates the required cubic feet per minute.
Square footage: Some manufacturers tell you their fan works in spaces up to 1,000 square feet or from 2,000 to 3,000 square feet, for example. It’s another useful guide, but you can’t always be sure how the company arrived at that figure. Cubic feet per minute is a more definite number.
Installation: Attic fans are either gable or roof mounted. Gable installation means you don’t have to get out on the roof. You’ll do most, if not all, of the work from inside the attic. Again, these are mostly of steel construction. Cheap attic fans may be supplied without a louver, so you’ll probably want to add one. With roof-mounted attic fans it’s particularly important to follow installation instructions carefully. Get it wrong and you’ll have water in the house the next time it rains!
Controls: Fans of all kinds often have thermostatic controls, though it may come at extra cost. With attic fans, it’s usually on a cord or cable, enabling you to position it some distance from the fan itself. This means readings wont be affected by rapidly moving air.
Why Purchase A Gable Attic Fan For Your Home
Rather than bringing in fresh air from the inside of the home like a whole house fan, for instance, a gable attic fan is a specific type of fan designed to remove the hot, stale air from the attic of a home. You will feel the benefit of this fan mostly on your cooling bill. Since gable attic fans remove the hottest air in the home, your air conditioner will be more efficient and you may be able to run it less while still effectively cooling your home.
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Does The Fan Spin At Different Speeds
Yes, the solar powered attic fans spin at different speeds.
If the angle of the sun is lower in the sky or the sun’s rays are trying to cut through thin clouds or haze, the fan spins slower moving less air.
The single solar-powered attic fan I have has not lowered the temperature in my attic at all. I took precise before and after temperature readings.
Price And Installation Cost Of Attic Fan
You might need to consider the following while installing an attic fan. It might cost you approximately $300 $ 600, for purchase, and up to $550 when you include labor.
Attic fans are cheap compared to whole-house fans. Easy calculation: a 1500 square feet attic, would cost $70, with additional humidistat costing $15. Professional help labor of $40, then the total would be $125.
The location and size of attic fans make it easy to install. Professional help is needed though to make it easier if youre a beginner
An electrician might charge $45 to $75 to per hour, while a carpenter from $70 per hour.
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Choose The Types Of Solar Attic Fans
According to Energy.gov, ventilation is one of the most cost-effective and energy-efficient ways to cool your home. Each house has different needs, so youll probably want a different type of solar attic fan depending on your homes construction. The primary types of solar attic fans are:
Roof-Mounted
These fans require a vent hole in the roof. The fan is then installed over the hole and sealed with shingle sheets. Roof-mounted solar attic fans do take longer to install and some buyers choose to have a roofer perform the installation for them but theyre often more energy-efficient than other models.
Since these are installed on the roof, they usually get maximum sunlight, making them more efficient. Some of them can also be tilted and angled for better exposure.
Roof-mounted solar attic fans are available in standard and hybrid models, meaning they come with an adapter so they can run on your homes electricity at night to continue cooling your attic.
Gable-Mounted
Unlike roof-mounted solar fans, which require you to cut a hole in your proof, gable-mounted solar attic fans are easier to install if your house already has a gable vent. The installation process is simple: connect the wires, bolt the unit onto your gable, and youre done.
The solar panels placement is crucial in these, as you need to get proper sun exposure for them to work. Angling the panel can help in such a scenario.
Portable
How Quiet Are Your Fans
Attic Breeze solar attic fans are designed for whisper quiet operation. Using a proprietary five wing aluminum fan blade adjusted for optimum airflow performance, our solar attic fans will produce < 1 sonne of noise during operation. In real world terms, this is less noise than you would hear in a quiet library.
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I Am Interested In Your Solar Attic Fan But Have Some Concerns Over Attic Depressurization I Recently Read An Article That Suggested Attic Fans Have The Potential To Pull Air From Inside The Home And Into The Attic How Do You Prevent This From Happening
We read the same article Jim and what they say is correct, an attic fan can depressurize your attic space if there is not enough intake ventilation to support the fan. However when referring to attic fans, the authors of the article are talking about AC powered attic fans, not solar powered fans like Attic Breeze. Although they may seem the same, AC powered attic fans and Attic Breeze solar powered attic fans are distinctly different.
AC powered attic fans operate with a constant speed motor and have an unlimited source of power to maintain that speed. When an AC powered attic fan does not have enough intake ventilation to support the fan’s requirement, instead of slowing down, the fan simply uses more power to maintain its operating speed, thus creating the suction effect known as attic depressurization. This results in air being pulled into the attic from any source available, including from inside the home.
But you don’t have to take our word for it, you can test it yourself. We created the Breeze Mate control system specifically to address attic depressurization concerns. Breeze Mate includes ultra sensitive barometric pressure sensing technology used to test for attic depressurization, giving homeowners like yourself peace of mind in knowing that your Attic Breeze ventilation system was properly installed. Breeze Mate features a range of additional safety and operational features as well.
Where Should The Solar Panel Be Located
The solar panel should be located away from the actual fan. In the Northern Hemisphere, you want the solar fan pointing due south.
My solar fan has this neat feature. This allowed me to put my solar fan on the rear portion of my roof so you don’t see it from the street, while the solar panel is on the part of my roof that faces due south.
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Why You Should Trust Us
When shopping around for the best solar roof vent or an attic fan, you should trust us! We envision being your one-stop source of valuable and reliable information on these solar fans.
Our team aims at providing you with insightful reviews to help you pick the right fan based on the features that youre looking for.
We make use of a systematic approach in creating these reviews. First, we considered the things to check and later picked highly rated attic fans to review.
In each review, weve highlighted each products special qualities along with its pros and cons.
So if you want to find a good solar-powered fan, you might want to choose CleanEnergySummit.org. Were your one-stop source of insightful solar attic fans reviews to compare and pick the right solar attic fan today!
How Solar Attic Fans In Florida Differ From Full House Fans
Now that youre familiar with what solar attic fans are, how they work and the benefits they provide, you may be wondering how they differ from full house fans. The biggest difference between a solar attic fan and a full house fan can be found in their very purposes. As was explained earlier, the purpose of a solar attic fan is to circulate air through your attic to facilitate the ventilation of the space and protect your home. The purpose of a full house fan is to cool down your entire living space.
In general, people use their full house fans to cool their houses at nighttime. A solar attic fan is designed to run when the temperature in your attic rises to a certain temperature, such as 90 degrees F. A full house fan, on the other hand, you typically turn on when the temperature outside drops lower than the current temperature in your home and can bring the inside to a more comfortable level.
Like a solar attic fan, a whole house fan can help lower your energy costs, too. A typical whole house fan draws between 200-700 watts compared to the 2,000-5,000 watts that are usually drawn by a central air conditioner. This means a full house fan uses only about 10-20 percent of the power that a central air conditioner uses to cool your living space. Therefore, during an evening when the temperature goes down, it can be more energy efficient to use a whole house fan for cooling your home rather than the air conditioner.
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Saves Overall Energy Consumption
An attic fan helps you save on energy because it runs purely on free solar power. The solar panels are used to charge the lithium-ion battery, which provides power at night.
That means your attic fan ventilator does not require additional power, allowing you to achieve off-grid living.
When the attic fan runs, it cools your home. That means your AC system has less workload. It will even last longer without servicing and/or replacement, thereby reducing the total cost of managing excess heat in your house.
What Does It Mean For You
Beat the Summer Heat
Remove Winter Mold and Moisture
A Solar Powered Attic Fan equalizes interior and exterior temperatures, safeguarding your home from the worst of winter.
- Removes excess humidity from showers, humidifiers, and dishwashers
- Prevents leaks and structural decay triggered by ice buildup on your roof
- Avoids damage to insulation and framing materials produced by moisture accumulation
- Fights weakening of internal structures caused by mold and fungus growth
Which Direction Does A Solar Attic Fan Need To Face Our Home Faces West And I Want To Make Sure I Buy The Correct Attic Breeze Model Can You Help Please
For optimum sun exposure in North America, the solar panel on your Attic Breeze solar attic fan should be installed facing toward the south, if possible. We offer a variety of solar panel mounting options designed to achieve this purpose if a good southern roof facing is not available on your home for installation of the product. The first step in determining the correct Attic Breeze fan model for your home is deciding where you want the actual fan unit to be located. Once you know the direction that fan will face and the amount of sun it can receive in that location, the correct Attic Breeze model can be easily selected using our interactiveDesign Studio software. The program will guide you through the different options and help you find the best Attic Breeze fan for your home.
Iliving 14 Wall Mounted Variable Speed Gable Exhaust Fan With Thermostat Control For Greenhouse Attics Workshop 2339 Cfm Coverage 3400 Sqft
Our rating:
The supporter pace is adjustable with Thermospeed Controller, Selection from 2339 CFM 600 CFM, letting you to adjust the air circulation to your wanted power, whilst however currently being expense and power economical, using only 230 watts at most speed. Thermospeed Controller can be set to instantly regulate temperature. This fan has a 4-blade steel propeller. The lover housing is created of weighty-duty galvanized metal with powder-coated end. Motor RPM: 1010, Functioning Amps: 2.85A. Industrial Apps, Partly Assembled, Vehicle Thermal Defense, Shaded Pole Motor Style, 15H x 15W x 8D, 6-ft. cord, NEMA plug 5-15P, 4 Steel Blades, Metal Housing, 4 Mounting Brackets, Requirements: UL United states and Canada.Impressive AIR VENTILATOR 2339 CFM, 120V, 2.85A, 1/8 Horse Electric power, 1010 RPM, Coverage up to 3400 square feetVelocity AND THERMAL Command Variable velocity and temperature regulation handle working with Thermospeed Controller, variety 600 2339 CFM, temperature handle range 32 130FCreate TO Final Industrial grade galvanized metal housing, trustworthy direct generate motor, Variable speed, UL certified, Noise Level < 60dBEFFICIENT 14 inches steel blades with deep pitch angle for maximum air movement, exchange air at 2339 cubic feet per minutes, ideal exhaust ventilator for garage, attic, greenhouse, and workshopCUSTOMER SUPPORT Local customer support to address all questions and concerns. Product is UL/cUL Listed.
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Do I Have To Cut A Hole In My Roof
Solar-powered attic fans require a hole to be cut in the roof, possibly two if you purchase one that has the remote-panel location feature. If you do not know how to properly flash these fan housings into the roof shingles, then you should hire a qualified roofer.
It’s not hard to do the work, but there are very important steps that must be followed to have a leak-proof installation.
How Many Solar Attic Fans Do I Need
The short answer is, It depends. The long answer is that the number of fans youll need is determined by a few different factors. The square footage of your home, pre-existing ventilation, the pitch of your roof, insulation and sealing of the attic, and whether or not you have vaulted ceilings all come into play.
For example, youll need one fan per 1,200 square feet if your roof has a low slope. If your roof has a higher pitch, youll need two attic fans to cover a 1,200 square foot space. For very high slopes, youll need two units to generate adequate ventilation in an 800 square foot space.
References
How Do Solar Panels Work At Night And On Cloudy Days
Concern about cloudy and overcast daysnot to mention nighttimecutting into the power of solar panels is one of the biggest reasons why potential customers for solar energy systems sometimes back away from the purchase. Solar panels arent necessarily new technology, but their residential use is new to many, and so people are often unfamiliar with how these panels work. These misunderstandings often mean that homes that would benefit tremendously from them dont end up getting them.
Wed like to shed some light on this cloudy/night misunderstanding and help you better see how solar panel installation can help your home. To find out more about solar energy systems in Warsaw, IN or to schedule solar panel installation, just reach out to Colliers.
Are There Pros And Cons To Solar Powered Attic Fans
There are pros and cons to solar-powered attic fans. Here’s a list:
- they work for free using the suns rays
- they do exhaust some hot air
- the solar fans do not require the services of an electrician to connect
- they are also very quiet
What are the Cons?
But after seeing my solar-powered attic fan work, I have a long list of cons:
- My fan only works when it is getting direct sunlight on the solar panel
- If a cloud drifts through the sky blocking out the sun, the fan stops spinning immediately
- As the sun sets, the attic is still hot and my solar fan stops spinning
- The fan I have moves only 800 cubic feet of air per minute when the sun is shining directly on the solar panel
Remington Solar Attic Fan
- Thermostat and humidistat pre-installed
- Can cool up to 2500 square feet
- Sleek and nice black color and design
- Some installation issues
- Expensive
The Remington Solar Attic Fan is another good pick if youre looking for a solar attic fan that delivers. There is nothing quite like it when it comes to reliability. It is by Remington that is known for many years as one of the best manufacturers of solar ventilation fans. I can agree because of the reviews regarding it that I have read. That is why I didnt miss but include this product in our top picks.
The 30W attic fan is another eco-friendly appliance because it is solar-powered. You dont have to think about spending more on electricity, as this item runs through the energy of the sun with is built-in solar panel.
I would like to recommend it not only for those environmentally conscious but also for those looking for a quality clean energy product.
Remington has been a solid name in solar products, and it didnt fail my expectations once again for this item. It has a bonus and integrated Thermostat and Humidistat. With it, you dont have to purchase them separately. Thats savings for us.
I also liked the black color of this exhaust fan because it blends well with just about any decoration or design. We dont also need to repaint our roof to match both the attic fan and roof.
More so, I would like to mention that it has the innovative noise-dampening technology that makes it quieter than others in the same category are.
