How Much Does It Cost To Install Solar Attic Fan

Ensure There Are No Leaks Or Cracks In The Attic

Before solar fan installation, make sure the attic is correctly sealed off from the living space. Also, ensure that there are no leaks from outside into the attic.

The presence of leaks from the living space into the attic means the solar attic fans will draw cool air from your house. Consequently, your air conditioner will do more work to keep the house cool, and your energy bills may skyrocket.

On the other hand, if there are leaks from the outside into the attic, more heat will seep in. If this happens, you will need extra fans to sufficiently cool the attic. So, before you go installing the fans, ensure the attic is airtight from the living space and the outdoors.

Should I Hire A Professional Attic Fan Installer

Homeowners with the right experience, skills, tools, and time to do the job can opt for a DIY passive attic fan installation. However, we strongly advise shelling out on professional labor costs to ensure the installation is done correctly and safely.

There is no need to put yourself at risk of danger when a professional can do it for you flawlessly. Installing an attic fan is not a beginner-friendly project. Even trained professionals take some time to set up these fans right where they belong.

Should you plan to install an electric-powered fan, you will be required to consult an electrician for proper electrical installation and wiring. It is something you will need to consider an investment as it guarantees the safety of all the occupants in your home.

Is A Solar Attic Fan Worth The Cost

Q: Tim, can you cut through the fog of confusion about solar attic fans? Do they really work, or are they mostly hype? What does it take to really cool an attic space? My husband really thinks its a great idea to buy a solar attic fan, but I dont want to waste the money if it does little or nothing. — Bridgett W., Tampa, Fla.

A: There are talented and clever salespeople and marketing managers who can cast a spell upon you about new or newer products. Any product that has to do with solar or is touted as environmentally friendly breaks down the purchase barrier with little effort. After all, who doesnt want free energy, and who wants to be an environment hater?

I remember when the solar attic fan craze was hotter than the surface of my roof at noon on a summer’s day. Manufacturers sent me fans to test, and test I did! The results were just as I expected. The solar attic fans all moved less than 1,000 cubic feet of air per minute and they did nothing to lower the temperature inside my own attic.

The infrared rays from the sun are powerful. They can elevate your roof temperature above 160 F. I’m quite sure in certain situations I could get a reading higher than 180 F using my thermal imaging camera.

This heat is transferred to the roof sheathing and then to the roof framing members. In essence, your entire roof structure starts emitting low-level infrared heat just like the embers in a campfire.

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Solar Powered Attic Fans

One common advantage about using the solar powered attic fans is the saving of electric bills. A small solar panel which can supply 10 to 20 watts is installed in the device in order to power the DC motor in the presence of sunlight. Since it is powered by sunlight, the fan runs at a faster rate when we experience more heat from the sun.

That is why the solar powered fan can function very efficiently to cool down the attic temperature during very hot days. And using one will reduce your attic fan cost.

Unlike the conventional types of fans which re powered by the main in your home, you do not have to bother about the wiring when installing your new attic fans. Without drawing the electricity from your home, you save on the monthly electric bills which you should be paying if you were to use the traditional kinds. However, you should also take note that the sun powered types can be a little more costly than the conventional fans.

When comes to installing the solar powered fans, you should know how attic fan installation to get the maximum benefits from the attic exhaust fan. Since you need the sunlight to power the fan, the position on the roof should be significant because you want the solar panel to expose to as much sunlight as possible. If the place you want to position the fan cannot capture as much sunlight as another position, you would have to separate the attic fan and solar panel so that you could get the maximum benefits.

Attic Fan Pros And Cons

All attic fans have their pros and cons. The biggest pro to any attic fan is that it can rapidly cool the attic, so your homes HVAC system does not work so hard, and your energy costs plummet, especially during warm weather. Proper ventilation from a fan keeps your roof in shape by removing moisture from the space so the roof does not rot, and the shingles do not prematurely age by shrinking, curling, or splitting. All attic fans can stop unwanted mold growth in the space. In some cases, the attic fan might not be sufficient ventilation for the space. Attic fans require maintenance, and some units are noisy. Some types require power to function, which would cause an increase in your monthly energy bill.

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I Had Two Attic Breeze Fans Installed Last Summer By Your Dealer Here In The Bay Area I Was Very Impressed With The Reduction In My Electricity Bills However This Year The Fans Do Not Appear To Be Running Even Though It Is 70f Outside So I’m Wondering If They Are Operating Properly

Based on our warranty records, we see that your solar attic fans have our thermal switch control option included. Please note that this control option is a mechanical thermal switch which operates in a nominal range of 65°-75°F. This basically means that the switch has a temperature range where it can either open or close. Unlike a “thermostat” that you may use in your home with a defined temperature setting, a thermal switch has a much more course range of operation. So no worries, your fans will start working as soon as it gets a little hotter outside.

Solar Powered Attic Ventilation Fans

Yu and Moore have done research on the performance of the SPAVFs.

This experiment was done in a ranch-style house in Boone, North Carolina in the USA. The attic was around 1440 square feet of area. In this experiment, two situations were considered mainly.

In the research experiment, they have built a solar-powered attic ventilation fan with the following specifications.

• Power: 30W
• Maximum airflow: 1550 cubic feet per minute
• Solar panel capacity: 30W
• Fan blade: 12 inches
• Base flashing: 24-inch x 24-inch

In this experiment, under similar conditions, they have taken the solar irradiance readings, ambient temperature, and attic temperature readings for the given two situations above.

It was shown in the results that the attic temperature reduced from 3.90C to 140C after the introduction of SPAVF. Therefore, it is crystal clear that solar-powered attic ventilation fans also have the same effect on the attic temperature as the normal grid-tied attic fans.

Now we know that the effect of SPAVF and the grid-tied attic fan on the attic temperature is the same, lets see why SPAVF is a step ahead of the grid-tied attic fan.

The main difference between the grid-tied attic fans and SPAVFs is that the SPAVF is not connected to the grid. It does not use power from the mains to power the fan motor. Instead, it uses electrical energy produced by solar panels connected to it.

• Stainless steel screws

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Choose A Good Location Our #1 Rule For How To Install A Solar Attic Fan

You should already know that a south or southwest-facing spot is the best place to install a solar panel. When youre deciding how to install a solar attic fan, youll also want to consider other location factors, such as placing it about two feet from the peak of the roof. In most cases, this is the most energy-efficient way for how to cool your attic .

Ventilation is the least expensive and most energy-efficient way to cool buildings.

In addition, if you plan to install multiple solar-powered attic fans, space them as far apart as possible to enhance the air circulation in your attic space. This way, youll get the most out of your machines.

I Am A Contractor In California And Have Been Installing Solar Attic Fans From Costco For A Couple Of Years Now I Can See That There Is A Clear Need For A More Durable Better Built Product And As A Result I Found Attic Breeze The Attic Fans I Currently Install Are Made Of Plastic So While I Am Impressed With How Durable Your Products Appear I’m A Little Concerned About Your Fans Possibly Rusting When Installed In Coastal Areas Since They Are Made From Metal Has This Been An Issue With Any Of Your Fans

Glad you found us Mike. The retail-grade fans that Costco offers are designed to be a low-end, cost-competitive solution to attic ventilation. That is definitely not the market that Attic Breeze participates in. Instead of designing a product based on hitting the lowest price point possible, Attic Breeze takes a different approach our products are designed to offer the best performance and quality possible, even if that means it may cost a little more to make the product. We only use the highest quality domestic and foreign materials available to manufacture our products, and unlike the attic fan you have been buying at Costco, we do it right here in the USA. At Attic Breeze, we believe in making professional-grade products for contractors just like yourself that are engineered to last a lifetime.

We never use plastic materials because plastic has the potential to become brittle and crack over time when exposed to years of UV radiation on a customer’s roof. Instead, Attic Breeze products are made from zincalume alloy construction and stainless steel hardware. Zincalume is a corrosion resistant metal alloy that is commonly used in most modern metal building construction. And for additional protection, we bake on a heavy-duty powder coated finish as well, making our products extremely durable and resistant to the effects of coastal salt air exposure. So no worries Mike, you’ve found the professional-grade product you’ve been looking for.

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Prep Your Installation Spot

If youre placing a fan in a new spot, prep will involve cutting a hole in the roof. You can do this with a reciprocal saw.

Cutting a hole in your roof can feel intimidating, so measuring properly and taking your time is a must.

In some cases, youll be replacing an existing vent and installing your solar-powered attic fan in its place. In that case, your next step is removing the old vent, and you can usually manage this with a pry bar. Then, youll need to carefully measure the existing space to determine whether your new solar fan will fit without modifications.

Why Install An Attic Fan

Before we take a look at the cost of an attic fan installation, its important to understand the advantages of having one installed in the first place. Attic fans operate by filtering in cooler air from the exterior of your home and pushing warm air in your attic outside. As a result, they come with a number of benefits, including:

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How Much Does It Cost To Install A Solar Attic Fan

4.4/5Attic fan installation costsaveragemuchfanaveragemore about it

Attic fan installation costs between $300 to $600, with most homeowners spending $550 to install a fan . There are certain factors to consider that influence the final cost.

Likewise, do electricians install attic fans? If you are mounting on your roof or are adding an electric or solar-powered fan, you will need to hire a professional roofer, carpenter, and/or electrician. Overall, installing an attic fan is beneficial for ventilation and will lower your energy bills.

Subsequently, question is, are solar attic fans worth it?

Solar Attic Fans Are They Worth It. The short answer is – it depends”¦. Often the property’s HVAC system duct-work is routed through attic spaces, which, even though they are insulated to protect the house below, will still get very hot when in the direct sun or the heat of high summer.

Does a solar attic fan save money?

Solar Attic Fan ReviewsEven though electric attic fans can lower your air conditioning costs, they cost more money to run than what they save you. Meanwhile, solar attic fans are free to run, lower your electric bills, and have few costs beyond purchase and installation.

I Came Across Attic Breeze While Looking For A Way To Lower My Electric Bills My Attic Gets Very Hot During The Summer And It Seems Like Attic Breeze Might Be The Solution Can Your Solar Attic Fans Be Used In An Attic That Has Blown Insulation If So Will I Have To Crawl Through My Attic To Install The Fan

You came to the right place, Terri… getting the heat out of your attic is what we do best. As long as the blown insulation is more than two feet below the solar attic fan unit, there should be no issues. Attic Breeze roof mounted fans are designed to be installed from the topside of your roof, so no need to crawl through your attic during installation.

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How Much Is A Solar Attic Fan

Whats the Cost of a Solar Attic Vent / Solar Attic Fan? The Solar Guys offer Solar Star® attic fans and installation at an affordable price. A single fan typically costs $300 to $600 plus an extra $100 to $150 each for installation.

Is solar attic fan worth it?

Go Green Solar attic fans are environmentally friendly, harnessing the suns power without the need for electricity. A Good Investment For Florida residents, more than 250 days of sunshine are normal, making a solar attic fan a good investment designed to make your home more comfortable and lower your energy costs.

How many solar attic fans do I need?

Is solar or electric attic fan better?

Electric attic fans are more powerful and cheaper than solar attic fans, but they consume a lot of power. If you do choose to use an electric attic fan, consider one with a thermostat and set it for 130ºF or above.

Do I Need Two Attic Fans

The attic fans just pull air through a hot attic space in an effort to reduce the infrared heat gain you feel through the ceiling of your home. If you want your home air conditioner to cool you better, then you might want one or two attic fans. Without this open space, the fans will not move much air.

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Evaluate Your Attics Ventilation

Any solar attic fan that you choose to install has one goal: to take the hot air out of your attic. So, what replaces this hot air then? Most lofts will feature ventilation points typically located at the eaves of your roof. Look for this in the bottom corner of the roof. Make sure your attic has the proper ventilation to take in cool air after the hot air has been transferred outward.

How Long Does It Take To Install A Solar Attic Fan

It takes anywhere from a few hours to half of the day to install a solar attic fan, depending on your skill level and your site. This includes how quickly you can work, and how easily accessible your roof and attic are.

Additionally, if you have additional wiring upgrades, you will spend more time connecting the wires as well.

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Which Is Better: Whole House Or Attic Fans

Whether a whole house or attic style is better for you will depend on a variety of factors. For example, attic fans will not raise home value but they are cheaper to purchase and install, while whole house are more expensive and can raise your home value. Also, whole house styles depend on a lower outside air temperature, while the attic styles can work with high temperatures.

Additional Environmental Benefits Of Using Solar Energy Include The Following:

Reduced risk: Extracting coal, oil and natural gas from the earth and transporting these fossil fuels have environmental risks associated with them that generating solar power simply doesnt. When oil is being transported, for instance, there is always the chance a spill might occur which may have devastating effects on the environment. After an oil spill involving the vessel, Exxon Valdes, it took sea otters 25 years to recover to their pre-spill levels, for example.Reduced dependency: As alternative energy sources such as solar power are used more often by private consumers and businesses, the nations dependency on fossil fuels will drop. Currently, only about one percent of electricity is derived from solar power, even though the sunlight that hits the earth every day is more than 2,500 times the amount of energy used in the United States daily.Reduced depletion: As the nations dependency on oil, coal and natural gas decreases, the need to harvest these resources from the earth will also drop. This will slow the depletion of the countrys finite fossil fuel supplies.

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