Posts Tagged ‘Air Conditioning’

Things To Consider When Choosing Roof Ventilation

Looking after your roof
A well cared for roof lasts much longer than a roof that is left to it’s own devices. By spotting problems early on you can save yourself a lot of heartache and extra cost from big problems. Your roof is responsible for taking the damage from everything that the elements can throw at it including wind, rain, sun and snow but it is also attacked by leaves, insects and other natural predators. Ineffective roofing can mean that any of these factors find their way into your attic and eventually your home and it is important you do what you can to prevent this from happening.

Small problems lead to big problems

The roof itself is one aspect of the home that is regularly overlooked by homeowners until there is an obvious leak or damage. The best way to prevent these leaks and damages is through a regular, professional maintenance check carried out by an experience roofer on your behalf. These checks are not as expensive as you might think and problems that area spotted early can be fixed before they become worse. One such problem that you should regularly have checked is that you have proper roof ventilation and that it is working effectively.

What is proper roof ventilation?

Proper roof ventilation doesn’t consist of either an intake or an exhaust, proper roof ventilation should comprise of both of these important elements in order to create effect air circulation in and out of your home. Not only will this protect your roof and your house but it will also help control the amount of time you use your air conditioning, thus bringing down the price of your energy bills. There are a number of ways that proper roof ventilation can be achieved and each have their advantages and disadvantages. The best choice for your roof will depend on the size and shape of the roof, and the layout of surrounding trees, wires and other objects.

Creating proper roof ventilation

In order to create proper roof ventilation that adequately rotates air in and out of the house it is important to get the level of intake and expulsion just right. This should be done by a qualified professional who can work out the figures required and advise you of the best course of action. Without expert advice you may find that you have an incorrect flow of air, which can not only mean a very hot house in summer but it can also mean a moisture build up in your loft and eventually warped, split, cracked or generally damaged roofs.

Causes of moisture buildup in the attic

It isn’t always the fault of the weather either. Washing machines, dryers and other household appliances as well as the occupants of the house all create their own moisture and without proper roof ventilation this moisture will build up on the inside of your roof. With a proper roof ventilation system a negative air pressure is created that sucks the warm air out of the loft replacing it with cool fresh air from outside preventing various types of damage associated with poor ventilation systems.

Ensuring you have Proper Roof Ventilation

Looking after your roof

A well cared for roof lasts much longer than a roof that is left to it’s own devices. By spotting problems early on you can save yourself a lot of heartache and extra cost from big problems. Your roof is responsible for taking the damage from everything that the elements can throw at it including wind, rain, sun and snow but it is also attacked by leaves, insects and other natural predators. Ineffective roofing can mean that any of these factors find their way into your attic and eventually your home and it is important you do what you can to prevent this from happening.

Small problems lead to big problems

The roof itself is one aspect of the home that is regularly overlooked by homeowners until there is an obvious leak or damage. The best way to prevent these leaks and damages is through a regular, professional maintenance check carried out by an experience roofer on your behalf. These checks are not as expensive as you might think and problems that area spotted early can be fixed before they become worse. One such problem that you should regularly have checked is that you have proper roof ventilation and that it is working effectively.

What is proper roof ventilation?

Proper roof ventilation doesn’t consist of either an intake or an exhaust, proper roof ventilation should comprise of both of these important elements in order to create effect air circulation in and out of your home. Not only will this protect your roof and your house but it will also help control the amount of time you use your air conditioning, thus bringing down the price of your energy bills. There are a number of ways that proper roof ventilation can be achieved and each have their advantages and disadvantages. The best choice for your roof will depend on the size and shape of the roof, and the layout of surrounding trees, wires and other objects.

Creating proper roof ventilation

In order to create proper roof ventilation that adequately rotates air in and out of the house it is important to get the level of intake and expulsion just right. This should be done by a qualified professional who can work out the figures required and advise you of the best course of action. Without expert advice you may find that you have an incorrect flow of air, which can not only mean a very hot house in summer but it can also mean a moisture build up in your loft and eventually warped, split, cracked or generally damaged roofs.

Causes of moisture buildup in the attic

It isn’t always the fault of the weather either. Washing machines, dryers and other household appliances as well as the occupants of the house all create their own moisture and without proper roof ventilation this moisture will build up on the inside of your roof. With a proper roof ventilation system a negative air pressure is created that sucks the warm air out of the loft replacing it with cool fresh air from outside preventing various types of damage associated with poor ventilation systems.

Proper Attic Ventilation Is Key For A Comfortable Home

Why do I need proper attic ventilation?

Attics can reach a stifling 165 degrees in the Midwest summers and even higher temperatures in the south. Ventilation exhausts this hot air to the outside and serves to keep the home more comfortable. Also, ventilation helps to protect other parts of the structure such as roof framing and sheeting.

I’ve found that standard passive ventilation like ridge vents and punched aluminum soffit vents do not work well. I’ve cut into enough roofs and felt the hot air rush out.

What about insulation?

Insulation prevents the conduction of heat from warmer to cooler areas.

The thicker the insulation, the longer it takes to equalize the temperature on both sides. In a 150 degree attic with a 70 degree second floor, the insulation will be somewhere between this.

At night as the attic begins to cool, the insulation will hold the heat and therefore will even be hotter that the attic air.

Ductwork in attic?

If you have a 2 story house, odds are you have ductwork somewhere in your attic buried beneath the insulation.

If your air conditioning is properly tuned, there will be a 20 degree drop against the A-coil. Meaning if the air returning to the blower compartment is 72 degrees then the air above the coil should be 52. Just a side note: having a 20 degree drop doesn’t mean your system is dialed in, but not having the drop confirms it. Losing just 5 degrees of heat from the plenum (top of furnace) to the upstairs vents cuts your effective capacity 25%. The hotter the attic means the larger amount of temperature loss, leaving the insulation even hotter. A 12 degree temperature loss is not uncommon, meaning a loss of 60% of capacity.

Here is a typical scenario: The home empties out in the morning and the thermostat raises up to 80 degrees. As it gets warmer throughout the day the attic gets hotter and the insulation gets even more so. At 430pm, the thermostat is set to drop the temperature to 70 degrees. It is 77 degrees in the house, meaning that the discharge temperature at the coil is 57 degrees. And because your a/c is probably not tuned correctly, that 57 degree air might be 61 degrees when it hits the hot duct in the attic and could be 71 degrees at the vent, leaving your poor a/c to run constantly in a futile attempt to cool the house.

Though its cooling off outside, your left fuming inside because your house won’t cool off for several more hours.

What’s the Solution?

The solution is better ventilation, specifically, mechanical ventilation. Solar powered fans do not work. They simply don’t move enough air around, possibly cutting the temperature by 5 degrees, but it won’t be enough for you to notice.

A quality fan that is installed correctly should have at least a 1500 cfm rating. The fan should be installed in a gable wall preferably with a vent in an opposite wall. Thermostat controls in the attic will turn on the fan whenever the attic is above 90 degrees and the attic is hotter than the outside air. Look carefully at the picture: if the fan is installed like this it will not work and will probably curse me for leading you astray. The vent needs to be sealed completely with aluminum, plywood, ductboard, etc around the fan ducting to be effective.

Aaron@onhomecomfort.com
http://www.onhomecomfort.com

Solar Attic Fans – DIY Renewable Energy You Can Afford!

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!

Blair Stephens is a copywriter and renewable energy enthusiast.

How An Attic Vent Fan Will Lower Your Energy Costs

Did you know that your attic can reach up to one hundred and sixty degrees in the summer months? If your home lacks proper energy efficiency due to poor insulation, this can increase your air conditioning cost because of all the extra power it will take to cool down your home. Did you also know that an attic vent fan can do as good or even a better job than some other cooling systems and even provide ventilation for your entire home with less power and give you a cheaper utility bill?

As previously mentioned, your attic can get as hot as one hundred and sixty degrees during the hottest parts of the summer. This can turn your attic into a giant simmering oven that can cook any prized personal possessions and cost you hundreds of dollars in increased utility prices. In the winter months, even though your attic is cooler, moisture from rain or snow can seep into your home and interact with the air in the attic to cause mildew, mold, and floor damage. However, it would not be very practical to spend money heating your attic to prevent such things. Don’t worry though! The solution lies in the installation of a fan in your attic.

An attic fan works by sucking in air from outside of the home and propelling it through the vents inside your home with no extra equipment required. This will ensure that every room from the bedroom, family room, to the kitchen is properly cooled. Basically, in the summer months, once your attic hits a certain preset temperature, the fan will pull cooler air inside the house and push the warmer air outside the house. Some of these fans also come with a humidistat. This is important during the winter months because a humidistat will pull the moisture from the cooler air thus preventing mold and other damage.

An attic vent fan, due to its efficiency, is also capable of cooling your whole house without you having to exhaust all of your financial resources, give up the quiet of air conditioning, or sacrifice the cooling efficiency of a central air system. This can save you money and still allow you to enjoy all the comfort and luxury you deserve. So if you are looking for the next best solution for your cooling needs, look up to the fans from your attic.

Dave Stevens writes more about attic vent fans at http://www.attic-ventfan.com

Solar Attic Fans – DIY Renewable Energy You Can Afford!

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!

Blair Stephens is a copywriter and renewable energy enthusiast.