Solar attic fans can move different amounts of air depending on the model. The amount each fan can move is measured in cubic feet per minute, or CFM. Generally, it is recommended that the average attic use a solar fan rated at least 1,000 CFM. In my solar attic fan reviews’ list, the HQST Solar Powered Attic Fan is a worthy candidate for the “Best” spot. It is an All-in-one unit that not only helps to lower the temperature but also helps to reduce damage caused by moisture.
We spent 47 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top options for this wiki. If your energy bills keep rising in the summer — and your house doesn't seem to be getting any more comfortable — then a buildup of hot, humid air in your attic may be to blame. These solar fans can circulate that air, keeping your home cooler without costing you a dime in additional utility costs. They even help reduce ice formation in the winter, potentially saving you thousands on repairs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to support our work.
We spent 47 hours on research, videography, and editing, to review the top options for this wiki. If your energy bills keep rising in the summer — and your house doesn't seem to be getting any more comfortable — then a buildup of hot, humid air in your attic may be to blame. These solar fans can circulate that air, keeping your home cooler without costing you a dime in additional utility costs.
They even help reduce ice formation in the winter, potentially saving you thousands on repairs. When users buy our independently chosen editorial picks, we may earn commissions to support our work.
If you've noticed your utility bills skyrocketing without noticing a corresponding increase in the comfort of your home, then you may be losing a lot of cold air — and hot cash — out of your attic. A steamy attic can affect the whole house, causing your air conditioner to have to work harder to keep your home cool.
In that case, a solar-powered attic fan could be just what the doctor ordered. However, before you spend money on a fan, it's important to first check your. If your house isn't properly insulated, then anything else you do will be nearly useless, as all the treated air will literally fly out the window.
Once you've made sure that your house is sealed up tight, however, installing an attic fan is a useful next step. Of course, you may be asking yourself, 'How will a solar-powered fan work inside my attic? You will have to attach a solar panel to your roof, but that should require minimal work, as these fans leave a small footprint.
The most obvious benefit of the fan is that it will drastically lower the temperature in your attic. This keeps the heat from spilling out into the rest of the house and forcing your cooling system to work overtime. Not only will this save you money on your electric bill, but it will also prolong the life of your HVAC unit.
Plus, using less energy to keep your house cool is better for the environment. Since the fan will take all of its juice from the sun, it won't use electricity, which is bad for the planet. Your roof will also be grateful for the help, as fans can prevent moisture from building up and damaging your roofing materials. This is especially important when the mercury drops, as many roofs suffer water damage during snowstorms. This is due to the fact that heat from the house gets trapped in the attic, causing the snow on the roof to melt. The water can then get trapped and re-freeze in your eaves. Even if it's not snowing, mold can still easily form if moist air in the attic has nowhere to go.
What To Look For In Your Fan While buying a solar attic fan is a smart move, that doesn't mean you should get the first one you come across. There are a number of factors to consider before pulling the trigger. The first thing is your climate. If you live in a place that's hot most of the year, you'll naturally put more of a strain on your fan than living in a cooler climate would. This means that finding one with a long lifespan is paramount, so you might have to shell out more up front, but you should make it back in the long run. This means that finding one with a long lifespan is paramount, so you might have to shell out more up front, but you should make it back in the long run.
The next factor is the size of your attic. The larger the room, the bigger and more powerful you'll want the fan to be. If you've got a smaller attic, you can still get a strong fan (and you'll likely reap the benefits from it), but you could probably pay less and still get the job done almost as well. You also need to consider the size of the solar panel, and whether you'll be able to place it in direct.
Some units have to be mounted directly under the panel, while others allow you to run wires from the panel to the fan, giving you more flexibility in placement. The important thing is to make sure the panel is getting enough light. This may require consulting a contractor to see how feasible the installation will be. Installing a solar fan isn't the most difficult job in the world, but it will still require moderate carpentry and electrical skills, so you may feel more comfortable handing the job off to a professional if you're not experienced yourself. Other Ways To Cut Cooling Costs One of the easiest ways to keep your cooling system running effectively is to be sure to change your air regularly, preferably once a month.
This is especially crucial if you have pets, as hair, dirt, and dander can all clog up a filter quickly, forcing your air conditioner to work much harder to do its job. This is especially crucial if you have pets, as hair, dirt, and dander can all clog up a filter quickly, forcing your air conditioner to work much harder to do its job. Also, the more sunlight that hits your home, the hotter your home will be. You can mitigate some of this heat by installing trees and other landscaping to shade your home — without blocking any solar panels, of course. Investing in some heavy and keeping them closed is another easy way to beat the heat. A programmable thermostat can also save you some dough, as you can be set it to work more when you're home and awake, and less when you're not.
These can also prevent you from accidentally using too much electricity, especially if you're the type who immediately turns the thermostat down every time you get hot. Of course, putting fans in more rooms than just the attic can also help.
This can help circulate the cooled air that the AC is putting out, while also keeping you refreshed at a lower cost. It's much cheaper to run a fan than the air conditioner, so use the AC as a last resort. Last updated on August 21, 2018 by After getting his bachelor’s from the University of Texas, Quincy Miller moved out to Los Angeles, where he soon found work as a copywriter and researcher, specializing in health and wellness topics for a major online media brand. Quincy is also knowledgeable about home improvement, as he’s had extensive experience with everything from insulation to power tools to emergency room trips, sometimes in that order.
Sharing a home with three dogs and a couple of cats has forced Quincy to learn as much as he can about pet supplies, animal nutrition and, most importantly, the best ways to tackle the mountains of fur that accumulate in every corner of your home. Thanks for reading the fine print. About the Wiki: We don't accept sponsorships, free goods, samples, promotional products, or other benefits from any of the product brands featured on this page, except in cases where those brands are manufactured by the retailer to which we are linking.
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1) Cool down areas air conditioning does not reach 2) Reduce reliance on using air conditioning units 3) Ease of installation 4) Tax credits Solar powered attic fans are widely selected for their ability to cool rooms that AC doesn’t cool efficiently while reducing reliance on AC. Add on top of that, they are incredibly easy to install, going with a solar attic fan is a game changer for those who want these benefits. Installing a high-quality unit can decrease attic temperatures by as much as thirty percent while simultaneously reducing AC usage by six percent. Solar attic fans can achieve this by taking the hot air that’s in your attic and pushes it outside while allowing cool air to travel through the vents. This drops the total temperature in the home allowing the AC to run less, leading to a decrease in energy usage.
The fans are not plugged into your electrical and are the included fan motor is instead run from solar power collected by the built in solar panel. Some models come with batteries to allow the units to keep working even in low light conditions and at night. Installation can be done by most homeowners without the need to call a pro.
One amazing benefit of going with a solar attic fan is that they are eligible purchases for utilizing the Federal Residential Energy Credit. This allows the home owner to take advantage of a 30% credit for the total cost of the unit and installation. Some local and state governments offer additional tax incentives so check with your local administration for potentially larger savings.