Solar Attic Ventilation

Solar attic ventilation is an energy-efficient choice that helps keep a home more comfortable all year long. Although most of us don't think about ventilation until those hot and humid days, good home ventilation is important year-round.

Solar attic ventilation (typically provided by electric fans) is important for several reasons. In the summer it's important to move heated, stale air out of an attic space that would otherwise keep the house feeling "stuffy" and likely cause you to turn up your air conditioner. Proper ventilation is also necessary to keep down moisture levels that could lead to mold and a shortened roof life.

Older homes often use a passive ventilation system, made up of a combination of soffit, gable, and rooftop vents. Many homeowners install thermostat-controlled fans to assist ventilation during very hot days.

While these can be a good way to help cool the home, solar powered fans can be a great alternative and run automatically from sunrise to sunset. In some cases, they can provide a significant savings on installation since running a new outlet might cost more than the unit itself.

If you already have a powered vent, you may be able to convert the unit to operate on solar power and eliminate the electricity cost.

Not long ago, I spoke with a local house-ventilation expert about the impact of a solar fan running during the winter. He pointed out that ventilation is just as important during the winter months to prevent ice damming.

The critical issue is having sufficient insulation and air sealing so that you are not losing heat from the house during the winter, or losing cooling in the summer. In his view, the ideal temperature of the attic should be roughly equal to the outside temperature.

So before those hot, humid summer days come rolling along, consider whether your home is properly vented, and the advantages of solar attic ventilation - including:

Low cost to install, free to operate.

Prevents shortened roof life.

Helps keep home more comfortable, potentially reducing air conditioning costs.

And to ensure any fan meets its full potential:

Install adequate insulation and seal air gaps to keep from losing conditioned air. Make sure soffit vents are open so that outside air is pulled through the attic - not indoor air.

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REVIEWS OF SOLAR ATTIC VENTILATION DEVICES

All of these are highly rated. It will come down to your budget, the size of your attic, and the look of the fan.

Natural Light Solar Attic Fan

This attic fan is available in 10, 20 and 30 watt option. It operates on solar energy and helps reduce the cooling load on your air conditioner and needs no wiring. It is available in three models from which you can pick one which best fits in your attic.

Its features include an adjustable solar panel and aircraft grade aluminum with powder coating. With no wires, the installation process is also much easier. You can buy this at a price of USD $337 with a 25 year warranty.

Earthtech Solar Attic Fan

This home appliance is available at a sale price of about USD $409. It's a 10 watt solar attic fan with 1,200 sq. ft. venting capacity has an adjustable solar panel bracket, a sleek and compact design and works quietly.

Its perfect venting system keeps your roof cool and reduces the load on the air conditioner. Installing this is a good solar attic ventilation solution to keep the area moisture free, hence, rust and mold free as well.

Attic Breeze AB-201A Solar Attic Fan

This is one of the best residential products according to various solar attic fan reviews. You can buy this 20 watt attic fan at a price of USD $483. With this attic fan, you have the option of standard mounting or pivot bracket. The solar panel, fan blades are made of aluminum and the fan motor body is made from stainless steel.

Broan 353 Gable Mount Attic Fan

This product comes with a gable mount feature and has a slim 7/8" profile solar panel which is mounted on the roof. This solar panel is connected to the gable ventilator via a hidden wire, hence, providing you a perfectly designed attic fan.

The solar panels are made of weather proof material and fan blades are made of aluminum. This product is priced between USD $65 and $80 - making this the cheapest option for a fan of this quality.

Don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions about solar attic ventilation by clicking here.

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