What Are The Best Solar Attic Fans
Although there are plenty of good options to choose from, the Solaro Aire and the Yellowblue Solar Fan are two of the best solar attic fans. Both are USA-made, and Solaro products come with a 25-year warranty, while Yellowblue fans come with a limited lifetime warranty. You really cant go wrong with either one.
Ready to improve your attics ventilation by installing one of these brilliant fans? Get a free attic inspection and solar attic fan quote.
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
How Can A Solar Attic Fan Help Improve The Efficiency Of Your Homes Ac Unit
Living in Florida means lots of sunshine. When the areas of our home are not properly insulated or ventilated, heat and moisture can get trapped and then transferred into our living space. We have to bump up the thermostat to compensate for the increase in heat. A solar attic fan helps to disperse that heat and cool off our attics and thus, cool off our living space and lower our electric bills because the AC unit is not having to work as hard nor do we have to keep playing with the thermostat to find a comfortable temperature.
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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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Solar Attic Fans How They Work
Solar attic fans work by pulling in the cold air from the soffits and pushing out the hot air that has accumulated at the top of the attic.
This is basically how air naturally moves: cold air is at the bottom, and warm air is at the top. The attic fan just helps the air move more which adds cooler air circulation.
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Understanding The Effects Of Heat And Humidity On Your Home
With 90° plus temperatures and sticky humidity, Florida residents often escape to the inside of their homes and air-conditioned comfort. For those whose homes arent properly insulated, or have no air conditioning, what happens? Well, attics trap solar heat, which then readily transfers to living spaces, forcing those with air conditioning to adjust the thermostat down, which in turn causes utility bills to go up.
Without proper ventilation and air exchange, trapped Florida humidity can damage insulation, deteriorate your roof, cause fungal decay, and delaminate plywood. Attic ventilation in the form of a solar attic fan can help, and since it is powered by the sun, you wont use additional electricity. In result, solar attic fans remove excess heat from your home.
What Is The Best Solar Attic Fan
The Solar Star® Solar Attic Fan can improve any attic situation.
A Solar Star® attic fan is the ideal ventilation solution. Solar Star® is the leader in solar powered attic fans. They bring you the most technologically-advanced, environmentally-friendly ventilation solution. By placing the attic fan where it is most effective, it can properly circulate the air in your attic and transform your home into a more comfortable living environment. It can suppress heat buildup and battle moisture. The best part is they cost nothing to operate.
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How Much Will A Solar Attic Fan Save
solar attic fanssavedmuchit could
. Herein, is solar or electric attic fan better?
Solar attic fans exhaust hot air for free, using the sun’s rays. They’re also cheaper to install than electric fans because you can do it yourself. Last, don’t forget the green benefits associated with solar fans: they are a responsible use of energy that will keep your conscience clear.
Also Know, what is the best solar attic fan? Top 5 Solar Attic Fan
- Natural Light Solar Attic Fan 36-Watt
- HQST Solar Powered Roof Mount Adjustable Attic Fan 30-Watt.
- Natural Light Solar Attic Fan 24-Watt
- Broan 345SOWW Surface Mount Solar Powered Attic Ventilator 28-Watt.
Hereof, how much does it cost to install solar attic fan?
Do the Math. Energy Star-rated solar attic fans still qualify for a federal tax credit of 30 percent of your purchase and installation costs. A single fan typically costs $300 to $600 plus an extra $100 to $150 each for installation.
Is solar attic fan 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.
Amtrak Solars Powerful 40
Amtraks gable mounted fan is a great choice for those who have an existing gable vent or those who own greenhouses or RVs. This unit comes with a 14-inch fan housing plus a 10-inch high efficiency fan blade that is connected to a thermal protected fan motor. This sun powered fan is made in the USA and is guaranteed to last for at least thirty years.
Its 40-watt crystalline solar cell starts working as soon as it is hit by the suns rays, and the fan runs all day, every day. Another amazing thing about this particular solar attic gable fan is that the installation can be completed without the help of an electrician. That is how simple it is to install!
Pros
- Solar panels that are made with high-quality polycrystalline
- Comes with a 25-year warranty
- Ventilation process that does not produce much noise
- Powerful fan motor
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They Can Help You Save Money
Finally, solar powered fans can save you money. The only costs involved are the up-front purchase of the fan and anything regarding installation. Obviously, youll need to do some maintenance, as well, but those costs are pretty low.
Since you dont need electricity to power the fan, you can let them run automatically year-round, keeping your home more comfortable. That means the house will be better heated and cooled, so you dont have to spend as much on electricity bills for air conditioning and heating, which also saves you some dough.
They Can Help Save Your Roof
Attic fans can seriously help increase your roofs life-span. Moisture condensates inside the attic and gets trapped inside where damage can happen. This rot, mildew, and mold can destroy your roof years before youd typically replace it. A solar roof fan, however, sucks much of that moisture out and adds the much-needed ventilation that prevents these build-ups.
Ventilation for your roof and attic can also help prevent ice damming that destroys the eaves of the roof.
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Reduced Attic Temperatures Energy Savings And A Cooler Home
There are lots of before and after tests that prove the effectiveness of solar attic fan systems in lowering attic air temperatures. A cooler attic cools your homes ceilings and reduces the burden on your air conditioning system, saving you money. This is the principal reason for installing solar attic fans.
How Does A Solar Attic Fan Work
Just like every other solar powered device out there, a solar attic fan operates by collecting energy from the sun through the use of solar cells or photovoltaic panels. These panels absorb the suns energy, and the said energy is then converted into electricity, which powers up the fan. Simple, right?
It works like this as the panels continuously collect solar energy to turn the fan on, the fan starts to rotate and pushes warm air out of the attic and exchanges it for cooler air from the outside. This process is extremely helpful during colder and warmer months. In summer when the heat can be unbearable, an air conditioner can become overworked as it tries to counteract the sweltering temperature.
In winter, moisture tends to set in and build up as the cold air outdoors meets the warmer temperature indoors. The issue with moisture is that it causes mold and mildew that can damage your home over time. But with the proper ventilation that an attic fan can provide, all these problems can be prevented by exchanging warm for cold air or vice versa whenever it is necessary.
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Consider Size And Weight
A bigger fan, with a larger coverage area, will almost always be larger and heavier, although this also depends on the design materials for example, the small 1,280 CFM fan from Brightwatts weighs 28 pounds compared to the 34.5-pound 1,750 CFM fan from GBGS. Size can be important if you have limited space in your attic or a small entryway, since you need to be able to get the unassembled fan into the attic and have the blades rotate without obstructions.
Solar Powered Attic Fan
KitchenVentilationtext:
This solar panel produces enough electricity to power a spinning fan in the round ventilator on the roof at the top of the photo. See it? But the fan only works when the panel is basking in sunlight. The fan does not lower the temperature in the attic at all. I feel solar fans are a waste of money. Copyright 2018 Tim Carter
“But after seeing my solar-powered attic fan work, I have a long list of cons.”
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Roof Turbine Installation Cost
A roof turbine costs $100 to $150 installed. Usually, you will have a roof turbine installed at the time you have your home re-roofed. Many homeowners opt to have old turbines replaced when they fail to spin. A roof turbine does not require electricity to function and depends on the hot air pushing up to spin. The wind turbine exhaust has been used for centuries. It is highly energy-efficient. However, during severe storms, it can allow rain to enter the attic space. It cannot be controlled with a thermostat.
Solar Attic Fans Draw Cool Air Up Through The Ceiling Of Your House
One drawback of solar attic fans is that you need an airtight seal between your home and your attic to avoid the fan drawing cool air from your house up through gaps in the ceiling into the attic.
This would cause a problem since one of the main arguments for having a solar attic fan is to reduce the workload on your air conditioning. If it turns out that your aircon is cooling air that is then drawn into your attic, then the systems achieving the opposite of what you want.
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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.
Add The Thermal Switch Temperature Controlled Attic Fans
Maximize motor performance by adding Temperature Controlled Thermal Switch to any attic fan model. Using a thermal switch, the fan will turn off when it gets cold and turn itself back on when the temperature gets hot in your attic. The thermal switch activates when temperatures reach approximately 85° F and deactivates when temperatures drop below 65° F . Can be installed on all attic fan models.
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How Long Do Attic Fans Last
Typically, attic fans have a lifespan of up to 15 years as long as they are properly maintained. This usually involves having the attic fan professionally serviced by an HVAC technician who will clean the fan shutters, lubricate the oil ports, and wash the fan blades as well as inspect the unit for any repairs needed.
How Do You Tell If Your Attic Is Properly Ventilated
How to determine whether you need better attic ventilation Look at your eaves and roof. Touch your ceiling on a warm, sunny day. Thick ridges of ice on your eaves in winter are a sign of poor attic ventilation. Warm air that escapes living space also carries moisture that will condense on rafters or roof sheathing.
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We Take A Look At How Solar Attic Fans Work Their Pros And Cons And More
Slashing the amount of sunlight that comes into your home is an easy way to cut cooling costs in the summer and making the sun work for you to save money is even better. From solar screens to solar air conditioners, there are plenty of ways to not only harness the suns energy, but also stop the sun from heating your home.
Is a solar attic fan another great invention to make the sun work for you, or is it just a gimmick? Read on to learn more about how it works, the pros and cons, and whether it will really save you money.
When Is The Best Time To Install The Fan
I had decided to do the work early in the morning while it was cool on the roof. Within an hour after installing it, the sun hit the solar panel and the fan blades started to spin. It was almost magical to see the solar attic fan work.
You’re a pretty clever guy to get the sun to do double duty. It makes perfect sense to make the sun cool your attic space, since it is the source of the problem in the first place.
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How Big An Attic Fan Do I Need
You need a minimum of 1 square foot of attic air venting for each 750 CFM of air flow. If you need 6,000 CFM of air flow through your house, divide 6,000 by 750 to get a minimum 8 square feet of attic venting. That translates to one attic vent 3 feet by 3 feet, or two attic vents, each 1 ½ feet by 1 ½ feet.
Homeproduct Info How A Solar Attic Fan Works
1. Heat Builds Inside An improperly Vented Attic
The sun beats down on a homes roof and heats up the enclosed attic space. Passive vents allow some circulation but do not provide the pressure needed to force out the hot air.
2. Solar Attic Fan Provides Air Circulation
The photovoltaic panel of the solar attic fan collects sunlight that powers the fans motor to increase air movement.
3. Air Circulation Moves Hot Air Out Of Attic Space
The increased air circulation provides the pressure needed to force out the hot air from your attic. Attic venting can cool your attic space by up to 40 degrees!
Attic Venting Key Concepts
Attic ventilation is an important aspect of maintaining the structure of your home as well as saving energy. Improper attic venting can lead to moisture buildup that can cause mold growth and also cause wood rot. The key to proper attic ventilation is to create continuous air circulation throughout the attic space while preventing moisture from entering. In an ideal venting system, air should enter the attic from the eaves or soffits and escape outside at the roofs ridge.
Solar Attic Fans Work With Your Existing Passive Vents
In summer months, a solar attic fan can reduce the temperature in an attic by up to 40°F!
Solar Attic Fans Operate Using Free Solar Energy
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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.
