Posted by admin on August 30, 2010 · Leave a Comment
attic exhaust fans
Adrian Whittle:
In a large house it is important to have a proper circulation of air. This is needed during the warm months to keep the house cool and during the colder months to ensure that no mold and mildew is created or dry rot takes hold. Most of these homes will have an attic or loft of some form which is often used to store things or just left empty. The attic is the place where most of the heat will go and it is important to ventilate the space adequately. One way to do this is to use solar powered gable ventilators and attic fans. This article will explain how these devices work and how to install them.
How Solar Power Gable Ventilators Work
The principle is the same for both the attic fan and the gable ventilator. A solar panel is placed on the roof. This is used to create electricity from direct sunlight. The electricity will then be collected in a battery or used to power the operation of the vent mechanism or a fan. In most cases the vent and fan are part of the same package. Whilst it is not common to have a battery rigged up this will ensure that the device can be operated throughout the day and night (and even in bad weather).
There are two major advantages of the solar powered gable ventilators and attic fans over traditional units. The first is that they are easy to install. The second is that they are free after installation costs.
Installation is quite straightforward. The most difficult part is putting the solar panel onto the roof. This can be done by a tradesperson or by a competent DIYer. Once the panel in installed it is simply a matter of connecting the ventilator and fan up to the leads from the solar panel.
This is much easier and cheaper to install than a unit that used grid electricity, especially if there were no electrical sockets in the attic.
Once installed the solar panel could last up to 25 years. The mechanical mechanism in the ventilator and fan may wear out but they would last for many years. This would be free provided the sun continued to shine and could shave a few dollars off your electricity bill.
Learn more about about gable mounted solar attic fans at http://www.solarpowerappliances.com/ . The site has features on outdoor lighting and other solar power appliances. Adrian Whittle writes about using solar power and appliances that can utilize renewable energy sources.
Filed under Attic exhaust fans · Tagged with Attic Fan, Attic Fans, Attic Ventilator, Bad Weather, Diyer, Dry Rot, Electrical Sockets, Grid Electricity, Leads, Loft, Mold And Mildew, Mold Mildew, Principle, Proper Circulation, Solar Panel, Solar Power, Sunlight, Vent, Ventilators, Whittle
Posted by admin on August 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment
attic exhaust fans
By Christopher M. Hall
Attic exhaust fans are absolutely crucial to keeping a healthy home. The main purpose of attic exhaust fans is to provide ventilation to help control the temperature in your attic. If you attic gets too warm, you roofing will not last as long, the structure will not last as long, and you will pay extraordinary energy bills. Why go through all of this when you can quickly and easily install a quiet, solar powered house fan that will keep your home cool throughout the year? The savings you will experience in your energy bills in just one summer will make up for the cost of one solar powered ventilation fan.
So what are some of the most popular attic exhaust fans that you can buy online? Here they are.
Aura Solar Attic Fan – this solar / wind powered attic fan is one of the most popular on the market. The combination of solar and wind power means that this fan will continue to cool whether it is day or night, sunny or cloudy. It has a 10 watt panel specifically designed to run quietly and efficiently. In fact, you can stand right beside this exhaust fan as it is turning and not hear it at all. That is how quiet it is!
It is 12 inches in diameter and 9 inches tall. It provides an amazing amount of ventilation, and it is tested to withstand winds up to 200 mph. So don’t worry! If you start getting 200 mph winds, you are going to be worried about a lot of other things besides your attic exhaust fan! Customers talk about how easy this fan is to install although it is not very adjustable. This means you will have to make the hole just the right size.
Solar Attic Fan with 25-Year Warranty – You know companies really believe in their products when they are willing to give a 25-year warranty. This attic fan is also powered by the sun which means that there is no need for any wiring to get the ventilation your house desperately needs. Just this fact alone makes me want to go and buy it right now. I remember al to vividly what it is like to run wires in a roasting over for a new exhaust fan. No fun at all!
The 25-year warranty applies on the solar panel, the fan housing, and the fan motor. It also comes with a 10-watt panel, and it is already assembled and ready to install right out of the box. The panel is adjustable up to 45 degrees, and it can even be detached and mounted remotely if needed. This exhaust attic fan moves 850 cubic feet of air each minute. Talk about adequate ventilation. The manufacturer recommends one fan for every 1200 square feet.
Note: the attic fan above is not intended to be mounted on flat roofs or walls. It is intended for pitched roofs from 3/12 to 12/12.
Ventamatic Whole House Fan – if you are looking for a more heavy-duty exhaust fan for your attic, you need to look at this fan for the whole house. It has 2 speeds, and it is built sturdily to eliminate vibration even when running on high. It has 4 aluminum air blades that are balanced to ensure a smooth rotation and little sound.
One customer who installed this fan said that it is adequate for their house of 2,400 square feet. A frame does need to be built to house this whole house ventilation fan, and you will need to run electrical wires to the motor. So plan on spending a few hours getting this puppy setup, but it will definitely be worth it when you feel the cool breeze that it produces.
One final attic fan that we will look at is the Dayton attic exhaust fan. This ventilation fan not only removes hot air from your attic, but it also helps in removing moisture as well. You probably know that nothing can ruin a home quicker than moisture. This fan is absolutely huge and can ventilate more than 1,500 square feet. It comes with shutters that keep the motor free from rain, debris, and dirt. It also has a blade guard to keep the blades from being damaged by various items.
A customer who ordered this product raved at how quickly it was delivered and the great customer service that the company provided. I am sure that you will have the same great experience if you order this attic fan today.
Now we all know how desperately people are trying to save money, and for most people, a lot of money can be saved in energy bills. Electric bills especially seem to be rising faster and faster. But when installing your attic fan, be sure to put it in the right place. If you don’t, you could actually increase your energy use instead of dropping it.
Install the fan facing the top of the attic on an exterior wall. Don’t block of the air passage to any existing gable vents or other attic vents. If you install an electric fan, it would be a good idea to install a light switch that allows you to control the fan from the interior of your home. This can also save you money by turning off the fan when it is not needed.
Learn more about where to find the best Attic Exhaust Fans online at my website http://atticexhaustfans.net.
Filed under Attic exhaust fans · Tagged with Attic Exhaust Fan, Attic exhaust fans, Attic Fans, Aura, Diameter, Energy Bills, Roofing, Solar attic fan, Solar Wind, Sun, Temperature, Ventilation Fan, Warranty, Watt Panel, Wind Power
Posted by admin on August 9, 2010 · Leave a Comment
attic exhaust fans
Blair Stephens:
I hear all too often that people are hesitating to move towards renewable energy because of costs. There are a number of small changes you can make that are not expensive that will make a huge change in your home’s overall efficiency and comfort. A solar attic fan is one of the easiest and most effective renewable energy investments you can make in your home.
Why would you use a solar attic fan?
Well, many people already use exhaust fans in their peaked attics or crawl space. The air in these spaces becomes very hot, and by conduction, that heat passes through to the rooms below. This can increase the need for air conditioning and other energy using cooling methods or just make your house hotter during the summer which is uncomfortable. By exhausting the hot air, you reduce conduction and keep your home cooler consequently reducing power consumption in cooling.
In the fall, winter and spring, solar attic fans can also improve ventilation and reduce moisture in the air of your attic which protects anything you have up there as well as your insulation which will be far more effective when dry and well ventilated. Normal attic fans are wired into the AC power of your home while solar attic fans take their power from the very sun that is heating your attic air. If you already have a traditional attic fan in your home, a solar attic fan is an easy investment that will save you money in the long run and set a great example to others in your community.
Depending on your roof configuration, you’ll be able to find a solar attic fan that will meet your need. Some units are self contained and have the fan and the solar panel in the same unit and must be roof mounted while others are designed for separate installation – meaning the solar panel can be mounted in one location and the fan can be mounted in another.
Solar attic fans are absolutely feasible for most DIY enthusiasts. There are several things you need to take into consideration before choosing the solar attic fan for you.
If your roof peaked or flat? Is your home oriented properly for solar exposure? Do you have non-shaded area for the solar panel mount? Do you have a proper air intake to offset the air being blow out (you don’t want a vacuum)?
Solar attic fans run in cost from $300 to $600. If you have someone handy in your home, they can probably complete the entire installation – in face this is a great starter project for renewable energy enthusiasts. You can also have solar attic fans installed by a professional contractor, roofer or handyman if you are so inclined. So if you’re looking for a quick, inexpensive and fairly easy way to make your home more efficient for the summer time, then consider a solar attic fan! Your home will be cooler, your attic will be dryer and more comfortable and you won’t be using any electricity to make it happen!
Filed under Attic exhaust fans · Tagged with Ac Power, Air Conditioning, Attic ventilation, Attics, Blair, Conduction, Crawl Space, Diy Enthusiasts, Energy Investments, Exhaust Fans, Fall Winter, Hot Air, Insulation, Power Consumption, Renewable Energy, Small Changes, Solar attic fan, Solar attic Fans, Solar Panel, Winter And Spring
