Winter Air Leakage: Whole house fans can hurt you more in the winter than they help you in the summer. Older models especially can be a big source of air leakage in the attic, causing your
Whole house attic fans have become less common in new houses for several reasons: Energy Efficiency Standards: Modern homes are designed to be more energy-efficient, often incorporating better insulation and sealed envelopes. This reduces the need for ventilation that whole house fans provide.
The best part is that you don't have to keep your fan running all the time. If you only use the attic fan during the hottest part of the day, you can reduce the temperature in your attic by up to 50 degrees. You can also do this to reduce the temperature in the rest of your house by 10 degrees.
You can expect your attic fan to last between 10 - 15 years before needing its motor replaced.
Whole House attic fans were designed to change the stale air inside the house for fresher outside air in a matter of a few minutes, usually in the cooler mornings. They were very common before the days of central air conditioning.
Winter Air Leakage: Whole house fans can hurt you more in the winter than they help you in the summer. Older models especially can be a big source of air leakage in the attic, causing your heating bills to skyrocket as warm air escapes and cold air seeps in.
The cost to install an attic fan is $625 on average. Installing a small, passive attic fan may cost you as little as $369, but a larger solar or dual-powered attic fan can surpass $914. Contrary to what their name might suggest, attic fans help to cool your whole house—not just the attic space.
By removing hot air from your attic, attic fans can help reduce the workload on your air conditioner, which can lead to lower energy bills. They can also prevent ice damming during the winter months, which can cause damage to your roof and home.
If the evenings are cooler, you can try turning the attic cooling fan off until the morning, but if you notice your HVAC system begins to struggle to keep your home comfortable, you may want to keep running the attic fan overnight.
An attic fan can help cool down the living space if the attic is not insulated. A hot attic radiates heat through the ceiling, much like the heat of a coffee mug on a hand holding it. An attic fan lowers the heat in the house by reducing the attic's temperature; it never moves any air within the home.
In addition to being visually unobtrusive, ridge vents are also typically cheaper than other forms of attic ventilation. They rely entirely on the natural movement of hot and cold air, making them cheaper to install and operate than new electrical attic fans.
On hot summer days, you can run your attic fan throughout the day and night. If temperatures cool significantly overnight, you can choose to turn off your attic fan until the morning. You may think that during spring, fall, and winter, you won't need your attic fan, especially if temperatures are consistently cool.
Many people don't know that a poorly ventilated attic accelerates shingle aging and warps the roof's wood sheathing. They won't make your roof last forever, but attic fans may reduce the wear and tear, improving the years of use you get out of your roof and delaying expensive replacement costs.
They're supposed to help cool your house, but do attic fans really work? The answer is yes. Attic fans lower your air conditioning bill by removing the heat at the top of the house. They can also help cool the second floor, and in fact, they even prevent moisture from building up beneath your roof.
You don't need to have your attic fun running all of the time. Having it running only when it's needed maximizes its benefits for your home's AC and overall energy efficiency.
The 30% Federal tax credit for solar attic fans has been extended through 2033. The Solar Powered Attic Fan is eligible for a 30% credit on the purchase price of the fan, installation and sales tax (Including installation cost). So let us help you get the money! Its an easy two step process.
The cost of operating a whole-house fan is also less expensive compared to an air conditioning unit. While energy usage will vary depending on how much you use it and what type of unit you have, in most cases it's pretty much accepted that whole house systems are less expensive and use less energy.
While having both types of ventilation isn't necessary, some homes need more ventilation in their attic space than others, and that's where this pair comes in. You may need to use one or more attic fans along with a ridge vent in a large, warm attic space that needs more ventilation.
Most attic fans have a lifespan of 10–15 years. If yours is nearing or past this age, it might be time to consider attic fan replacement.
If you have a solar or electric attic fan, it's best to hire a licensed electrician to replace it.
We recommend sizing your attic fan at . 5 CFM per square foot of attic space for every 2 feet of peak attic height. This formula gives a minimum of 15 complete air exchanges per hour. This means for a 1500 SQFT attic with a peak attic height of 4 feet, you will need an attic fan that moves at least 1500 CFM.
Due to inefficiencies in relying on existing attic vents for air intake, attic fans have lost popularity. These vents often aren't designed for this purpose, resulting in inadequate replacement air supply.
If you're looking to install an attic fan, you'll need to hire a residential roofing contractor to do it for you.
How Does an Attic Fan Work? If you're considering an attic fan for your home, you're probably wondering, “How does an attic fan work?” The basic principle of these fans is that they push hot air out of attic spaces.