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 deal with these high temperatures and avoid them to propagate into the home’s rooms you must keep the attic cool, and attic fans are a cheap and easy mean to achieve it.

The energy 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. 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 proper 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.