Solar Attic Fans

Heat, molds and pesky smell; these are just few of the common problems that you will face when your attic is not properly ventilated. Thanks to the insulating material installed in your roof, a stretch of hot or humid days can make your attic smell like a neglected basement. Without any form of ventilation, your attic can get hot as blue blazes during the summer.

With the advent of going green, manufacturers have adapted solar technology to provide solution to attic ventilation problems. With that, they have created solar attic fans as the ‘green’ alternative to wired ventilation fans. With the use of renewable and readily available energy source, solar attic fans do just the trick in finally making your attic room breathe.
The importance of proper attic venting

To a home that is equipped with air conditioning systems, proper attic ventilation helps keep the roof cool. It minimizes the need to operate the air conditioning machines to keep the entire house cool, which in turn yields huge savings. It increases the flow of fresh air and induces air circulation, which prevents the building up of vapors coming from the steam of your shower or from the kitchen. This way, it prevents moisture from being trapped in the attic, a common cause of rusting and rusting of roof and truss materials. Also, maintaining proper attic ventilation is a way of protecting your health for it helps minimize the bacteria and mold growing inside your home.

The ideal attic ventilation solution

As the name implies, solar attic fans are ventilation fans that specifically operate on solar power. Solar attic fans present a technologically advanced and environment-friendly solution to common attic problems. As it operates on renewable solar energy, it costs nothing to operate. Imagine the savings it can give you with your attic maintenance.

Pros and Cons

Solar attic fans do not need to be wired into any of your home electrical sources, making it so easy to install. Its operation depends on the electricity converted from the energy it gets from sunlight. Unlike electric vents, solar vents do not exhaust hot air. While they do not cause anything to operate, each unit costs around $350 to $600. They are relatively expensive but the turn of your investment will be very fast.

The only disadvantage with solar-operated fans is that their best operating condition coincides with the best solar condition. They only operate with ample sunshine to power the fan motors. With that, problems may be encountered with their operations during the winter season. As a solution, these fans need to be installed at the unshadowed and usually sunny portion of your roof.

Fan operation usually stops during sundown. However, all-day running should be enough in keeping the attic cool and fresh. Thankfully, the best solar condition typically coincides with the time when there is a great need for attic cooling and ventilation.

Reminders

Installing solar attic fans should require a hole to be cut off your roof. If you have a standard asphalt shingles, installing solar attic fans do not require caulk or roofing cement to prevent leaks. Have the holes done by a great roofer to prevent ruining your roof. Also, consider buying the ones that have solar panels that can be installed away from the actual fan. This will allow you to optimize solar fan operations and hide the odd sight of solar panels to the portion of your roof where sunlight is best collected.