|
|
|
|
|
Gable
and Roof-Top Attic Fans
Attic fans - either roof-top
or gable-end attic fans - can be electric or solar
powered, and may allow huge energy savings. If your attic attains
high temperatures in hot weather conditions and you want to
lower these temperatures in order to get lower temperatures in
your house, gable and roof-top attic fans are an alternative to
consider.
Attic
Fans and Energy Savings
Attic temperatures may easily reach
temperatures of 100-130ºF (37-54ºC) or more in summer and hot
weather conditions, which is often a major cause of
high cooling costs.
To avoid these high temperatures to propagate to the
home’s rooms you must keep the attic cool, and attic fans are a cheap
and easy mean to achieve that goal.
The cooling savings provided by an attic fan depend on the exact
conditions offered by your home and your attic (color of the
roof, shading, attic insulation, etc.), but they can be very
significant, and the payback of the initial investment in an
attic fan is usually very short: three years or even less.
Electric attic fans and solar powered fans
Solar powered fans cost a little more than electric fans,
but they do not require electrical wiring and they operate
without… costs.
See, for details:
Solar powered fans
Solar vs electric powered fans
Attic Fans Installation
An attic fan is mounted on the roof or on the gable of a
house.
Many attic fans come fully assembled and are weatherproof.
Installation is easy and most manufacturers offer detailed
instructions, and do-it-yourself is often possible.
But be careful, when mounting the fan. It demands sufficient intake
air vents (soffit or gable vents...) in order to get a balanced
intake and exhaust air stream.
Attic Fans Location
Pay attention to the location of the attic fan: typically near the
ridge of the roof (two or three feet from it), or in the gable,
not far from the eagle or roof.
Though installation and mounting are usually easy and straightforward, it may be advantageous to
demand the services of
a roofing professional to install your attic fan. He will supply
and install the fan, choose the best
location, and implement the best ventilation system and sealing.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
