When the temperatures of the day are very high, the last place that you want to imagine going to is in a hot and stuffy attic. A closed hot box (attic) in your home is not good for your air conditioning system, is it? One of the best ideas is venting that area, and a solar attic fan is one of the best solutions.
With a solar-powered ventilator that is engineered to address the problem, keeping the attic cool and slashing the energy costs will be pretty easy. However, solar attic fans have been a hot button subject, especially among professionals, for lack of consensus about their effectiveness. So, is a solar attic fan worth installing in your home?
What are Solar Attic Fans?
To help you make the big decision on whether to install solar attic fans, it is crucial to start by establishing what they are and how they differ from the whole-house AC system.
Although most building codes require all buildings to have good passive venting systems, they are rarely enough to force air through the attic. This is why you need a fan to get the hot and stuffy air out.
Attic fans are engineered to help keep homes cool. They work with passive vents on the rooftops and draw warmer indoor air up into the house’s attic so that it is pushed out via roof vents. If the attic fans are powered by electricity, they are likely to require extensive wiring and push your power bills up. Solar-powered attic fans were designed to address these challenges.
A solar attic fan is a simplified method of adding a motorized venting system without extra structural or electrical wiring. They are made with high-impact solar panels to power them all day, and keep your space cool and comfortable. In summer, a solar attic can reduce the temperature in the attic by up to 40°F.
Why You Should Install a Solar Attic Fan in Your Home
Like other attic fans, solar attic fans are primarily designed to help cool the attic. You will also love to hear that they come with more benefits. So, here are some of the benefits and reasons why you should install one in your house:
- Saving Energy
A solar-driven attic fan is a great way to cut dependence on electricity for air conditioning. In addition to cutting your home’s energy-related bills, solar fans will also reduce your consumption of fossil fuel and carbon footprint.
- A Good Way to Protect Your Roof
In summer, heat buildup in the attic can cause damage to your asphalt shingles. During the cold months, the condensing moisture can cause moisture-related damage, such as rotting. With a good solar attic fan, all the moisture and hot air are pushed outside to reduce the risk of roof damage.
- A Sure Way to Unlock Your Tax Credit
Although the amount of money that you will save using a solar attic fan might appear small, the truth is that the overall effect will be very big. For example, think about the value you will get by protecting the roofing, prolonging its lifespan and fewer breakdowns of your AC. Besides, you will also be eligible to get a federal tax credit for shifting to renewable energy. For example, using yellow blue solar fans will qualify you for a 26% tax credit.
- Increasing the Value of Your Home
We all love living in valuable homes. In addition to lovely painting, creating extensions, and installing attractive roofing, you can also install solar attic fans to increase the value of your house. For a home seller, the attic becomes a unique selling point because it demonstrates the awesome care he/she has given the house. It is also used to indicate that other systems, such as roofing and AC, are done well and durable.
If you want to make your home comfortable, durable, and valuable without increasing the energy costs, one of the best options is a solar attic fan. As we have demonstrated in this post, the fan will also come in handy in protecting the roof, extend the life of the AC system, and make it easy for you to enjoy up to 26% tax credit.
How to Select the Best Solar Attic Fan for Your House
When selecting a solar attic fan, it is important to go for the model that matches well with your AC system. For example, if your house is located in a place where changing the direction of the panel powering the fan is necessary, a rotating model such as the Solar Fan – 360º Rotation Square Solar Panel might be a great option. Other factors to consider when selecting a solar attic fan include:
- Quality of the Solar Attic Fan
In summer, the attic can get really hot and the moist air is not good for the roofing system. Therefore, you should look for a high-quality fan capable of expelling the hot air out of the attic fast. Furthermore, it should be designed to work with minima maintenance after installation.
- Size of the Fan
The attic in your home has a volume that is almost the same as that of your entire home. Therefore, if you multiply the volume of the attic in square feet by 0.7, it will yield the approximate minimum cubic feet of air that the fan should remove in every minute. So, the fan you select should a similar or higher rating.
Note that if the house is designed with steep roofing, the internal attic volume might be higher. Furthermore, a dark room is likely to raise the energy absorption from the sun. In these two cases, you should go for a large fan that is capable of clearing a larger volume of hot air from the attic.
- Durability
One of the most disappointing things is buying an attic fan and realizing that it has broken down after a week and requires a replacement. Homeowners want fans that can be tucked up on the roof and last there for years without requiring replacements.
If the attic fan will be installed on top of the roof, it implies that it will be subjected to extreme weather conditions, such as chilly winters and hot summers. Therefore, you should only go for the fan model made using quality materials that will not break down easily.
To confirm to clients that their solar attic fans are of high-quality, some companies also attach warranties to their products. When buying such fans with warranties, make sure to confirm that it is binding so that the manufacturer takes responsibility of maintenance or replacement in the event of damage.
- Brand
The current demand for solar attic fans has attracted a lot of dealers, but not all of them are committed to quality. So, if you want to get a high-quality and durable fan, it is advisable to only work with top-rated brands. To know if a brand is committed to quality, here are the things to consider:
- Check carefully to ensure that previous users of the company’s solar attic fans were satisfied.
- A good company should be committed to educating its targeted clients about solar attic fans so that they can identify the best options for their houses.
- Only buy from the brand that has multiple solar attic fans to provide clients with ample choices.
- The company should be driven by focus on delivering customer value.
- Ease of Installation
The design of a solar attic fan determines how easy it is to install. For example, fans that are installed inside the attic are more complicated compared to those that simply require drilling a small hole on the roof. However, it is advisable to put more focus on quality and use an expert if installation looks complicated.
The Best Solar Attic Fans
Now that you know what solar attic fans are, the next thing is identifying the best model for your house. Here, the goal is picking the models designed with the focus on quality and durability. Here are some of the top models to consider:
Solar Fan - Standard Roof Mount
This is a premium fan that is designed to make clearing hot and moist air from the attic efficient. The fan provides the same performance as other high-profile models on the market. These fans are tucked closer to the roof so that they are less conspicuous and resistant to wind. The attic fan is also durable.
Solar Fan – Snowy of “S” Tile Roofs
This is another top-rated solar attic fan that you can rely on to keep your attic and living space cool and comfortable. It is recommended when additional clearance of up to two feet is needed between the bottom of the fan and roof. This model works particularly well in snowy areas or "S" tile roofs where less clearance can cause serious airflow issues.
Solar Fan – Separate Fan and Solar Panel Roof Mount
If you already have or prefer to use a fan with a separate solar panel, this model will be a great find. The lovely thing about it is that you can use a more powerful solar panel to run it. However, you need to install a separate wiring system running from the solar panel to the fan.
Solar Fan – 360º Rotation Square Solar Panel
If your house is located at a point where the sun shifts its position so much, this solar attic fan will be a great option. With its 360º rotation and 35º tilt, it implies that you can direct it to the direction of the sun for optimal performance. The fan sits on top of the roof and is very easy to install.
Solar Fan – Gable Roof Mount
Does your house have air vents that need some boost? This Solar Fan – Gable Roof Mount is a high-quality model that is mounted inside the attic and on top of an existing gable vent. Once installed, it remains hidden and out of the weather, except for the solar mounted panel. It stands out from other models because no large holes are cut on your roofing.
Answers to Common Questions about Solar Attic Fans
- Will an Attic Fan Cool the House?
When you install a solar attic fan, it cools the attic by pushing out the hot air and drawing in cool air. Although the biggest effect will be in the attic, it also prevents the hot stuffy air from seeping into the living space. So, it will ultimately reduce the load on your air conditioner.
- Is It Okay to Use the Solar Attic Fan with the House AC On?
Because the AC and the solar attic fan are two different units, they can comfortably run simultaneously. However, if the air outside is cooler compared to the indoors, such as at night, there is no need to turn the AC on.
- Do I Really Need an Attic Fan?
It is true that attic fans are less conspicuous compared to other indoor fans. The reason for this is that they are tucked away up on the roofing, but it does not imply that they are not important. When installed properly, they can make a huge difference by working together with the entire house’s air conditioning system.
One of the best ways of getting high value from attic fans is installing the solar models because they run on natural light and will not push your power bill up.
- My Solar Attic Fan is Making Noise. What Might be the Problem?
When making solar attic fans, the moving part is designed with small ball bearings. With time, these ball bearings can wear out, resulting in squealing sounds. If you notice the squealing sounds, it might an indicator that the fan needs repair or replacement.
- Is an Attic Fan of Any Use in winter?
During winter, your heating system runs continuously to keep the temperature inside the house at the set level. As hot and moist air moves up, it can get trapped in the attic, and a fan would come in handy to push it out. This is very important in ensuring there is a smooth circulation of air.