Attic Exhaust Fans

Easily installed and free to operate, solar attic fans are a smart choice for homeowners who want to save money cooling their homes in summer, prevent ice dams in winter, and extend the lives of their roofs.

Operating Principle

A solar attic fan uses photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into electrical power. The electricity generated is used to turn a fan motor, exhausting air from the attic of a home.

Benefits

In summer, temperatures in an unventilated attic can exceed 160 degrees F. A properly sized solar attic ventilation system will reduce attic temperature to 5-10 degrees F above the outdoor temperature. Ventilating the attic reduces the amount of heat transferred from the attic to the home, decreases the load on the air conditioning system (reducing your electric bill), and extends the life of the roof.
In winter, heat trapped in the attic may melt snow on the roof, which trickles down and creates destructive ice dams in the colder eaves.
The attic becomes warmest when the sun is the strongest. A solar attic fan runs the hardest when the sun is strongest.
Everyday home activities such as cooking and showering create moisture which collects in the attic and promotes mold and mildew growth, reduces the effectiveness of insulation, and attacks the wooden attic structure. Year round fresh air circulation from a solar attic fan removes this moisture and prevents moisture related problems.
Zero operating cost.
Installation can be done by a handy homeowner. No electrician is required.
Quiet operation.

Things to Consider

· The cost savings due to reduced air conditioner load depends on the price of electricity in your area, the amount of attic space in your home, the efficiency of your attic insulation, and the amount of ventilation your solar attic vent is able to provide. A typical installation will usually pay for itself in savings within 1-2 summers of use.

· A solar attic fan should not be used when air from the living areas of the home can freely enter the attic. This would result in conditioned air being removed from the home. Any openings between the attic and the home should be sealed before a solar attic fan is installed.

· Properly sized attic vents are required to allow fresh air to enter the attic and replace the hot air removed by the solar attic fan.

· Solar attic fans should be mounted away from ridge vents and gable vents.

Configurations

Solar attic fans are available three configurations:

1. Self flashing roof solar attic fan: The fan base is flat and designed to slide under shingles and attach directly to the roof.

2. Curb mounted solar attic fan: The fan base is a cap designed to fit over a curb which is attached to the roof.

3. Gable fan: The fan exhausts horizontally through the gable end of the attic.

In addition, solar attic fans are available with fan mounted or remote solar panels.

Installation Overview

1) Cut hole in roof (South side is recommended), taking care not to cut through any roof framing members.

2) Slide unit under shingles

3) Reshingle around fan as necessary.

Commonly Asked Questions

1) What size fan do I need?

ANSWER: A solar attic fan should be sized to provide 10 attic air volume changes per hour.

To figure out what flow rate this works out to, figure out the volume of your attic in cubic feet. Multiply your attic volume x 10 air changes per hour to get the total flow required per hour.

Since fans are sized in terms of their cfm (cubic feet/minute) output, divide your total flow per hour by 60 to get cubic feet per minute.

Required flow rate in cfm = (attic volume x 10) / 60

Now check the fan specifications to find the fan or combination of fans required to meet your ventilation needs.

It is also very important to make sure there is enough air inlet area in your attic to allow fresh air to enter and replace the hot air being exhausted. A minimum of 1 square foot for every 360 cfm of exhaust is required. Typically soffit vents are used as inlets.

2) How long will a solar attic fan last?

ANSWER: Solar attic fans are designed to provide many years of trouble free operation. The length of manufacturers’ warranties are a good indicator of the high standards these fans were designed to:

Attic Breeze Fans – Lifetime parts warranty

Solar Star Fans – 5 Year parts on solar panel and motor, 10 years on all other parts.

Natural Light Fans – 25 Year parts warranty

SunRise Solar Fans – 5 year parts warranty on motor, 10 years on all other

3) How is a solar attic fan controlled?

ANSWER: A thermal switch is often used to control a solar attic fan. This switch only allows the fan to run when the attic is warmer than 80-90 degrees F. Running the fan only when the attic is hot extends the life of the fan motor and results in less heat loss to the attic in winter, but does not allow the fan to reduce moisture build-up in the attic at all times and does not allow the fan to prevent ice dams during the winter.

Where can I find more information and pricing on solar attic fans?

ANSWER: Follow this link: Solar Attic Fan

Kevin McErlean
Product Specialist
H-Mac Systems, Inc.
http://store.h-mac.com

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By Kevin Mcerlean

Easily installed and free to operate, solar attic fans are a smart choice for homeowners who want to save money cooling their homes in summer, prevent ice dams in winter, and extend the lives of their roofs.

Operating Principle

A solar attic fan uses photovoltaic panels to convert sunlight into electrical power. The electricity generated is used to turn a fan motor, exhausting air from the attic of a home.

Benefits

In summer, temperatures in an unventilated attic can exceed 160 degrees F. A properly sized solar attic ventilation system will reduce attic temperature to 5-10 degrees F above the outdoor temperature. Ventilating the attic reduces the amount of heat transferred from the attic to the home, decreases the load on the air conditioning system (reducing your electric bill), and extends the life of the roof.
In winter, heat trapped in the attic may melt snow on the roof, which trickles down and creates destructive ice dams in the colder eaves.
The attic becomes warmest when the sun is the strongest. A solar attic fan runs the hardest when the sun is strongest.
Everyday home activities such as cooking and showering create moisture which collects in the attic and promotes mold and mildew growth, reduces the effectiveness of insulation, and attacks the wooden attic structure. Year round fresh air circulation from a solar attic fan removes this moisture and prevents moisture related problems.
Zero operating cost.
Installation can be done by a handy homeowner. No electrician is required.
Quiet operation.

Things to Consider
· The cost savings due to reduced air conditioner load depends on the price of electricity in your area, the amount of attic space in your home, the efficiency of your attic insulation, and the amount of ventilation your solar attic vent is able to provide. A typical installation will usually pay for itself in savings within 1-2 summers of use.

· A solar attic fan should not be used when air from the living areas of the home can freely enter the attic. This would result in conditioned air being removed from the home. Any openings between the attic and the home should be sealed before a solar attic fan is installed.

· Properly sized attic vents are required to allow fresh air to enter the attic and replace the hot air removed by the solar attic fan.

· Solar attic fans should be mounted away from ridge vents and gable vents.

Configurations

Solar attic fans are available three configurations:

1. Self flashing roof solar attic fan: The fan base is flat and designed to slide under shingles and attach directly to the roof.

2. Curb mounted solar attic fan: The fan base is a cap designed to fit over a curb which is attached to the roof.

3. Gable fan: The fan exhausts horizontally through the gable end of the attic.

In addition, solar attic fans are available with fan mounted or remote solar panels.

Installation Overview

1) Cut hole in roof (South side is recommended), taking care not to cut through any roof framing members.

2) Slide unit under shingles

3) Reshingle around fan as necessary.

Commonly Asked Questions

1) What size fan do I need?

ANSWER: A solar attic fan should be sized to provide 10 attic air volume changes per hour.

To figure out what flow rate this works out to, figure out the volume of your attic in cubic feet. Multiply your attic volume x 10 air changes per hour to get the total flow required per hour.

Since fans are sized in terms of their cfm (cubic feet/minute) output, divide your total flow per hour by 60 to get cubic feet per minute.

Required flow rate in cfm = (attic volume x 10) / 60

Now check the fan specifications to find the fan or combination of fans required to meet your ventilation needs.

It is also very important to make sure there is enough air inlet area in your attic to allow fresh air to enter and replace the hot air being exhausted. A minimum of 1 square foot for every 360 cfm of exhaust is required. Typically soffit vents are used as inlets.

2) How long will a solar attic fan last?

ANSWER: Solar attic fans are designed to provide many years of trouble free operation. The length of manufacturers’ warranties are a good indicator of the high standards these fans were designed to:

Attic Breeze Fans – Lifetime parts warranty

Solar Star Fans – 5 Year parts on solar panel and motor, 10 years on all other parts.

Natural Light Fans – 25 Year parts warranty

SunRise Solar Fans – 5 year parts warranty on motor, 10 years on all other

3) How is a solar attic fan controlled?

ANSWER: A thermal switch is often used to control a solar attic fan. This switch only allows the fan to run when the attic is warmer than 80-90 degrees F. Running the fan only when the attic is hot extends the life of the fan motor and results in less heat loss to the attic in winter, but does not allow the fan to reduce moisture build-up in the attic at all times and does not allow the fan to prevent ice dams during the winter.

Where can I find more information and pricing on solar attic fans?

ANSWER: Follow this link: Solar Attic Fan

Kevin McErlean
Product Specialist
H-Mac Systems, Inc.

http://store.h-mac.com

By Charie D
Solar attic fans are a real lifesaver especially during extremely hot days. You see, your attic can quickly transform into an overhead furnace if you do not provide it with effective ventilation or cooling system. The sun’s heat can percolate in the attic and significantly raise the temperature in your home. Surely, you can always put up an air conditioning system up in the attic, but doing so will also drive your electricity costs and carbon footprints way up the scale. With this dilemma in mind, the best solution is a solar-powered fan in your attic. This is especially true if your home is not fully insulated to begin with or if you want to prevent heat buildup in your home during the summer months.

Solar attic fans provide a more cost efficient alternative to conventional attic fans. A big number of American households have been using attic fans to protect their homes from too much heat. This type of fan has been proven effective in preventing hot air from being trapped in the attic. However, leaving fans on for hours on end can take its toll on your pockets. The ever increasing costs of energy can surely make you pull the plugs off ordinary attic fans. But with solar powered attic fans, you do not have to worry about your bills. Harnessing the sun’s energy will allow you to enjoy the functionality of conventional fans without causing your utility costs to go overboard. As a matter of fact, your attic cooling system will be for free if you use this type of attic fans.

When you use solar attic fans, your energy cost savings do not stop in the attic. Rather, the total air conditioning requirements for your entire home will go down as a result of having a cooler attic. Your air conditioners will not be working too hard and you can even afford to turn them off for a few hours during the day without significantly raising the temperature in the lower areas of your home. When you invest in a solar powered attic fan, you make a one-time payment and then fully amortize the total cost in as early as two summer seasons. After paying off the cost, you get to enjoy a cooler and more comfortable home for the whole year and totally for free. Now, it is like having an unlimited return on your investment.

But if you think that solar attic fans are only good during the hot days of summer, think again. These devices can actually help you preserve your home. During the winter months, moisture easily builds up in the attic. As you know, moisture can cause all sorts of problems in your home, from causing the deterioration of the wooden parts of your home to hastening discoloration on your walls. By using solar powered attic fan even during winter, you ensure that the air inside your home is dry, preventing moisture to develop.

Solar attic fans are all about efficient air circulation inside your home. By enhancing ventilation, you get a more comfortable living space the whole year round.
Charie D

For more information on Solar Attic Fans, visit http://www.eSolarZone.com.

Author: Charlie D

Solar attic fans are a real lifesaver especially during extremely hot days. You see, your attic can quickly transform into an overhead furnace if you do not provide it with effective ventilation or cooling system. The sun’s heat can percolate in the attic and significantly raise the temperature in your home. Surely, you can always put up an air conditioning system up in the attic, but doing so will also drive your electricity costs and carbon footprints way up the scale. With this dilemma in mind, the best solution is a solar-powered fan in your attic. This is especially true if your home is not fully insulated to begin with or if you want to prevent heat buildup in your home during the summer months.

Solar attic fans provide a more cost efficient alternative to conventional attic fans. A big number of American households have been using attic fans to protect their homes from too much heat. This type of fan has been proven effective in preventing hot air from being trapped in the attic. However, leaving fans on for hours on end can take its toll on your pockets. The ever increasing costs of energy can surely make you pull the plugs off ordinary attic fans. But with solar powered attic fans, you do not have to worry about your bills. Harnessing the sun’s energy will allow you to enjoy the functionality of conventional fans without causing your utility costs to go overboard. As a matter of fact, your attic cooling system will be for free if you use this type of attic fans.

When you use solar attic fans, your energy cost savings do not stop in the attic. Rather, the total air conditioning requirements for your entire home will go down as a result of having a cooler attic. Your air conditioners will not be working too hard and you can even afford to turn them off for a few hours during the day without significantly raising the temperature in the lower areas of your home. When you invest in a solar powered attic fan, you make a one-time payment and then fully amortize the total cost in as early as two summer seasons. After paying off the cost, you get to enjoy a cooler and more comfortable home for the whole year and totally for free. Now, it is like having an unlimited return on your investment.

But if you think that solar attic fans are only good during the hot days of summer, think again. These devices can actually help you preserve your home. During the winter months, moisture easily builds up in the attic. As you know, moisture can cause all sorts of problems in your home, from causing the deterioration of the wooden parts of your home to hastening discoloration on your walls. By using solar powered attic fan even during winter, you ensure that the air inside your home is dry, preventing moisture to develop.

Solar attic fans are all about efficient air circulation inside your home. By enhancing ventilation, you get a more comfortable living space the whole year round.

About the Author:

For more information on Solar Attic Fans, visit http://www.eSolarZone.com.

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