Sufficient attic venting saves your ac cooling costs for the summer season.
Attic venting ridge vent vs fan vs solar.
Also since the fan is powered by the sun it should turn off when the sky is overcast during a storm which will keep it from drawing rain into the attic.
How can we help you today.
Well i have a house that has a ridge vent in it.
The safety and effectiveness of an attic fan is a subject that is hotly debated but line powered products usually cost more to operate than they can produce in savings during the summer.
Scott in georgia is on the line with a question about attic ventilation.
Since your solar vent fan only moves 500 cfm a third to half that of a typical hardwired attic vent fan it probably won t move enough air to reverse the action of the ridge vent.
Unlike ridge vents attic fans use electricity and need regular maintenance to keep working properly.
Attic fans can also make a lot of noise.
Last don t forget the green benefits associated with solar fans.
Typically ridge vents need two feet of clearance on either end.
Choosing a ridge vent or an attic fan.
The house currently has ridge vents and i am wondering if installing a solar powered fan can bring any real benefit or not.
My house is in zone 6 and highs are usually in the 80s during summer only had three 90 days last year.
This can make keeping a 2 to 1 soffit to ridge vent ratio difficult.
If you have suitable intake venting a ridge vent might be a better.
Solar attic fans exhaust hot air for free using the sun s rays.
Is there any advantage in using an attic fan comparing to ridge vents.
When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan consider the needs of the attic.
And the temperature in the attic gets to be somewhere around 115 to120 degrees during the summer and it gets pretty warm.
Attic venting is an important aspect of maintaining a healthy home.
They re also cheaper to install than electric fans because you can do it yourself.
Without any air movement temperatures in the attic soar in summer and plunge in winter.
Without ventilation unfinished attic spaces can end up having stagnant air.
No costly power bills to incur there.
They are a responsible use of energy that will keep your conscience.
It extends the life of your roof shingles.
If you have a six foot hip roof that means you only get four feet of venting.
Solar powered attic fan removes excess heat from your attic during summers and helps prevent moisture and ice dams during the winters.
These situations are perfect for a solar attic fan.