The Disadvantages of an Attic Fan
- Electric fans can be costly to operate depending on what you pay for power. ...
- Poor installation can lead to roof leaks, which can result in more expensive issues.
- For maximum financial benefit and comfort, you’ll need to make sure that your attic is properly air sealed and insulated.
- Won’t cool your entire house. ...
Full Answer
Why is my attic fan not keeping up?
Attic Fan problems Even though an attic exhaust fan can incrementally lower the temperature of a very hot attic, using a fan does not stop the source-radiant heat. During the day, any cooler air brought in by the fan will be heated up immediately by the surrounding structure. Most fans cannot keep up.
Do Solar attic fans cause roof leaks?
But a traditional attic fan such as an electric fan can have a rating as high as 1600 CFM. This means that solar attic fans cannot push attic air out, and electric attic fans can. During the installation of a solar attic fan, you will cut a hole in your roof. But if the hole is not cut or maintained correctly, it may become an opening for leaks.
Can a roofing company fix a leaking attic exhaust fan?
At Lyons Roofing, we can install and fix most roofing issues, including leaky attic exhaust fans. If you live in the Phoenix metro area and have this or any other roofing issue, contact us today and let’s nip your leakage problem in the bud.
What are attic fans for attics?
Attic fans are perfectly named and give you a vivid picture of what they are: fans for attics. They are one of the more popular types of attic vents. When installed on the ceiling of your attic, they circulate the air at the top of your house.
Do attic fans make a difference?
Attic fans can make a difference in a number of ways. In the summer, a properly installed attic fan can remove excessive heat build up, providing c...
Do attic fans really cool down a house?
Attic fans can help your house feel cooler on hot days. With that being said, they are not going to cool your entire house. To maximize the cooling...
Are attic fans good or bad?
Attic fans are good at what they do: removing unwanted heat and moisture from an attic. They have earned a bad reputation because of poor quality p...
Should an attic fan run all the time?
Running an attic fan all the time in theory is a good idea. You want your attic to be close to the outside temperature. However, if you have a powe...
Why does my roof fan leak?
When your fan runs, the rotating blades create a vacuum of sorts. When it rains, the fan can suck that water right in through the seams. Not a lot of water, mind you, but enough to cause a leaking issue later on. Your roof’s design can also be a culprit because most roofs are pitched at such a degree that the fan housing ...
Why does my roof leak water?
Your roof’s design can also be a culprit because most roofs are pitched at such a degree that the fan housing that is sitting upon it is also set on an angle, so when the water gets sucked in, it all sits at the lower end of that angle and now you have a pool of water that will soon start to leak.
Why do leaks cost money?
Did we mention that leaks can also cost you boatload of money? This is because leakage can deteriorate your attic’s insulation. Insulation keeps heat out in the summer and in during the winter. So if you lose your insulation, your energy bills will skyrocket.
Can a monsoon leak in the attic?
As monsoon season continues in Arizona, you may have noticed some slight leakage in your attic around the exhaust fan. But don’t worry! The cause and repair of this issue is relatively simple.
Can Lyons Roofing fix a leaky attic fan?
At Lyons Roofing, we can install and fix most roofing issues, including leaky attic exhaust fans.
What is an attic fan?
An attic exhaust fan is a powered attic ventilator which is used to push out the hot air in the attic during summer times and bring in the cooler air outside. The continuous replacement of the hot air with the cool air reduces the attic temperature. The attic fan is mounted on either the gable of the attic or on the roof.
How does an attic fan work?
An attic exhaust fan is a powered attic ventilator which is used to push out the hot air in the attic during summer times and bring in the cooler air outside. The continuous replacement of the hot air with the cool air reduces the attic temperature.
How much ventilation should I use for an attic fan?
By providing proper roof vents, this can be avoided but not to 100%. HVI advises a minimum of 386 square inches of soffit ventilation for an attic fan of 700CFM.
What is the R rating of an attic fan?
But you need an attic fan if the R rating is less than 14.
What temperature does the attic get?
People collect a lot of stuff, and many keep them in their attic. In hot areas like Texas and Nevada, the attic temperature rises to 150 degrees. Just imagine you going there to collect things. So in most cases, it is a matter of convenience.
Why is the heat in my attic so hot?
The logic here is that the majority of the heat in the attic, and inside the house is due to radiation from the hot roof, and it is impossible to remove radiant heat through air circulation.
Does solar attic fan reduce electricity?
And if you are using a solar attic fan it further reduces your electricity bills.
What is solar attic fan?
Solar Attic Fans are easily managed and fixed and a great product for proper attic ventilation. [Brand name deleted by editor] solar attic fans are no. 1 by builders and are the highest attribute made in the USA!
What is a ventilator in an attic?
A powered attic ventilatorhas a different purpose: it is designed to lower the temperature of an attic by exhausting air from the attic and replacing attic air with outdoor air.
What is an attic coffin?
The attic "coffin" you mention, which is used to air seal and insulate pull-down stairs, scuttle hole, or a whole house fan, is good in theory, but in practice, is cumbersome to install. Even though a manufactured cover costs more, it is far easier to install. It also requires no assembly.
What is a ventilation fan?
The most common kind of residential ventilation fan is one used to provide fresh air for building occupants. Examples of this type of fan include the fans in a heat-recovery ventilator (HRV) or an energy-recovery ventilator (ERV), as well as some types of bathroom exhaust fans. (For more information on this type of ventilation fan, see Designing a Good Ventilation System.)
What is the best temperature for ventilation cooling?
According to Springer, ventilation cooling works best in areas of the country with a mean daily temperature range of at least 30°F. According to the ASHRAE Fundamentals book, such areas include Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming, as well as most of Arizona, California, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, and Oregon.
How much duct leakage is there in a nightbreeze?
According to David Springer, the president of Davis Energy Group, one of the main consulting groups that developed the NightBreeze, ‘It is possible to achieve 6 percent duct leakage in a system that includes the damper.’.
What is a whole house fan?
Unlike a ventilation fan, a whole-house fan — an attic-mounted fan that exhausts air from a home at night — is designed to cool a house (that is, to lower the indoor temperature).
How much does it cost to have more than one solar fan in your attic?
So, if you are getting two, for instance, your total expenses may shoot up to $750 to $1500. Then in some jurisdictions, you might incur some extra costs due to the rules.
How much does it cost to install a solar attic fan?
Compared to alternative types of attic fans, the cost of getting a solar attic fan is high. On average, you can sell a solar attic fan for $300 to $600. Then if you cannot install it yourself, you may have to shelve out $150 to $300 for installation. In total, you may spend $450 to $900 to get a solar attic fan and install it.
Is a Solar or Electric Attic Fan Better?
The better choice between solar attic fans and electric attic fans depends on the user. Electrical attic fans are better because they offer stronger cooling (they are typically rated 800 to 1600 CFM). But this comes at a price – electric attic fans consume a lot of power, so your heating and cooling bills may rise. Conversely, solar attic fans are powered by the sun, which is free to use.
How much air does a solar attic fan blow?
One solar attic fan is expected to push around 800 to 1200 CFM of air, and a 1000-square-feet attic needs at least 700 CFM. For attics with steep or darker roofs, the CFM requirement is 15% higher.
How high can a solar attic fan be?
Solar attic fans usually have CFM ratings up to 1200 CFM. But a traditional attic fan such as an electric attic fan can have a rating as high as 1600 CFM. This means that solar attic fans cannot push air out of the attic, and electric attic fans can.
What happens when you heat up the attic?
Attic Insulation. When attic insulation is not efficient, hot air will move between the home’s interior and the attic. In warmer seasons, the hot air will rise into the attic. Then in winter, it will radiate towards the house. In both cases, it will undermine the effectiveness of the solar attic fan.
What happens when snow melts on a roof?
Then when the melted snow refreezes, it will form ice at the edge of the roof. As more snow melts, the ice at the roof’s edge holds the water back like a dam. This water retention may then damage the sheathing and walls of the home. In the presence of an attic fan, it would prevent this.
How does an attic fan work?
Even though an attic exhaust fan can incrementally lower the temperature of a very hot attic, using a fan does not stop the source-radiant heat. During the day, any cooler air brought in by the fan will be heated up immediately by the surrounding structure. Most fans cannot keep up. At night, after the sun’s radiation source halts, the structure will continue to be hot for some time. Any cooler air brought in from outside will eventually lower the the attic structure temperature, but that will happen VERY slowly. As soon as the sun rises in the morning, the radiant heating process will start again.
Why is the attic hotter than the exterior?
This creates a kind of hot air sandwich formed between the roof and ceiling structures. The warming of all these surfaces is why the attic interior gets so much hotter than the exterior temperature.
What to do if your attic is hot?
If you your house has a hot attic and ceilings during the summer, the solution is a system and not simply a powered attic exhaust fan or ventilator. To eliminate a hot attic you should consider a plan that includes radiant barriers and proper ventilation This is always best done when the home is under construction.
How to keep heat from migrating into the attic?
Your plan will likely require a completely sealed ceiling, a very thick layer of insulation, radiant barriers (reflective foil layers) above the insulation (preferably between the rafters) to block the radiation and isolate your hot attic from your cool house, additional ventilation openings and possibly a powered attic fan to remove warm air from the attic at the proper exchange rate.
How can I stop the heat from warming up my attic?
I believe the best solution may be a combination of radiant barrier to stop the sun’s heat from warming up the attic structure to begin with along with proper ventilation, attic exhaust fan (s), insulation and air sealing.
What insulation was used in the attic?
There was no other ducting or HVAC equipment in the attic. Insulation was a 6”-8” layer of blown-in fiberglass on the top of the ceiling, plus random pieces of R-19 fiberglass batts tossed askew atop the blown-in material, but not fully covering the space.
Where are air vents located in an attic?
Air openings are placed along the lower eave areas and the upper roof ridge or gable end. These openings allow fresher and cooler outside air to circulate naturally via convection up from the eaves and out at the gable or ridge vents.