Attic Exhaust Fans

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!

Faviano Torres :

Solar powered attic fans functions mainly to ventilate attics and keep attics cooler. These fans exhaust air and generally rely on a small solar panel to power its motor that is fueled by the sun. Units usually come fully assembled but anyone can install a solar-powered attic fan using conventional materials, tools and techniques. And they are very easy to install and they are installed with intake vents to provide high-capacity powered ventilation. They work just like electric powered fans, even so, much better than electrically generated ones, and it runs faster. Aside from this, there are a lot of benefits of using solar powered attic fans.

These are as follows:
- Solar panel costs nothing to operate. Due to the rising rates of the electric bill, solar power begins to gain its popularity because they provide high-capacity powered ventilation without electric operating costs. They are more affordable to operate than the conventional powered attic fans. Although equipments are more expensive for solar powered attic fans compared to the conventional type, but the dispensation of wiring and the zero operation costs can largely compensate the higher initial price.

- Reduces ambient temperature. Solar powered attic fans provide ventilation without added utility load while reducing summertime cooling loads. It helps minimize the power output losses as temperature rises, which helps cool the attic and ensure that it does not act like a heat sink. The presence of a mounting bracket allows for an envelope of cooler air to circulate continuously in the entire solar panel. It also reduce the heat in the rest of the house.

- Allows maximum exposure of sun to the solar panel. Because of how solar powered attic fans are uniquely designed, its mounting bracket houses the solar panel, which helps optimize the angle of the panel for it to use much more conveniently than the electric generated attic fan. This mounting bracket also provides remote mounting of the solar panel, which helps maximize the panel for its optimal placement.

- Convenient for all environments. Solar powered attic fans are adaptable for all locations, roof types and environments. Typically, more solar energy will be created if in a sunny area. With the solar powered attic fan’s powder coat, it allows these fans to withstand any types of environment. Solar powered attic fans suits every attic to help reduce the heat while at he same time decreasing the electric bill. Solar powered fans are perfect for anyone in any environment around the world because of its high efficiency, environment friendly capability and lower electric bills.

These are the benefits of using solar powered attic fans and it really pays for itself since it is whisper-quiet and works from sunup to sundown, cooling your attic before a mechanical fan would even turn on.

Muna wa Wanjiru :

When the outside air enters a house uncontrollably through cracks and openings it needs insulation. This reduces the heating / cooling cost which is necessary to build a healthier indoor environment. The air leakage can also cause air with dust and mould which is not hygienic.

Proper attic insulation helps you to reduce the energy bills. The attics can be easily insulated. Some older homes lack the proper insulation. First you can make a survey to decide how much insulation is needed for the present home. An energy audit can help you estimate the needed insulation. It is also necessary to decide the type of the insulation that should be installed. The crucial factor in this business is the R-value of the home which is an indicator of the efficiency to the thermal resistance.

To insulate an attic the best insulators are the loose-fill or batt insulation. The loose-fill is cheaper than the batt insulation. If the insulations are installed properly they can give a better coverage.

Some basic steps are need while insulating the attic. First of all seal all attic-to-home leaks because most of the insulators do not stop the flow of air. It is important to duct the exhaust fans to the outer side. A tight box is needed to cover the fan. You should seal the duct where it exits the box. The sides of the attic need either to be packed or closed with the drywall.

Be sure to seal the openings like soffit, dropped ceilings etc. Seal around the chimney and the framing using furnace cement or high temperature caulk. These caulking compounds are available in disposable cartridges and some pressurized cartridges even don’t need the caulking gun.

At the top of the walls of attic you should use a long life caulk for sealing the small holes and gaps. The rigid foam board insulation or expanding foam can be used for this purpose. The available liquid foam insulations are of cementitious, phenolic, polysocyanurate, and polyurethane type. These foams flow over obstructions and then expand. There are liquid foam materials also which can be poured. Though they are costlier than the batt insulation they assure better performance. The installation of these liquid foams requires special equipments. It is better to call a certified insulation installer for the work.

Before installing the insulator in the ceiling check for water marks. The water marks are indicators of the roof leak. Wet insulation is not efficient and possibly can cause damage to your home. It is very important to insulate the access to attic especially if it is not conditioned. Take into consideration the R-value and climate before insulating the attic access. It is equally important to note the location of the attic access. If it is next to the unconditioned part of your house like the garage or porch then it can affect the insulation in a great way.

If you are living in warm or hot climate then it is worth considering installation of a radiant barrier along with insulation. It is helpful to reduce the amount of heat in summer and heat loss in winter.