Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

[Kells81]

I need to install an attic vent or two on my house and ran across some that are solar powered. Anyone of you here have one of these that can report back on functionality?

I have been trying to implement more and more items at the house to be solar, I.E. I have solar powered guard lights around. I would love to get to the point where every light and small load in my house runs off solar,

I have a bit of experience with Solar as I did an install here in Afg on an outpost to make it solar reliant. It was on a much larger scale than I am looking for at my house though.

 

[427Cobra]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

I put ridge vents in my house, no moving parts, no electronic to go bad, wind turbines work good too but most lack a decent bearing\bushing so they don't last forever, couple years ago I was on my roof fixing a shingle that a storm blew away, the heat coming out of the ridge vent just about cooked me.

 

[High Binder]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

I dunno about solar but adding a attic fan will not only make your house much cooler but will significantly drop your cooling costs over the course of the summer. I think mine is set so that it turns on when the temp hits 100-110.

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

As long as you have adequate venting around your soffits, then you should have no problem at all with standard roof vents. If/when you replace those shingles (everyone) seriously consider putting in the "Peak-Vent". By far, the most efficient means of equalizing the temperature of your attic.

And remember this, the GOAL of this exercise is to ensure that your attic temperature is THE SAME as the ambient outdoor temperature. All of your insulation on your ceilings keeps your heat/cold in your house. The shingle life, and the structure itself will live longest when everything is 'neutral'.

Solar items are great, sure. Where they are required. If you've got a hot attic, then first look at your soffit venting. That is the 'intake', and remember that heat rises. If the air can't get in, then the heat can't get out.

 

[Kells81]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

We have soffit vents but there isn't anywhere for the air to go,

 

[Sean the Nailer]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

Then a few standard vents will make a MASSIVE difference. Don't ever bother with the 'whirleybird' thingy's... they're designed to be replaced regularly. That, and they always let in rain.

You really don't need to get 'solar "multi-fail" gizmos' here. They are just something that has a bunch of parts that will break in time.

You say you have soffit vents, great. They allow the air to get in. As it does so, the air will be heated by the radiance attracted from the shingles, as well as the residual heat that permeates through your insulation. That will rise, when given a chance to "vent" through a higher port. The higher this port is, the more 'flow' you'll have, ensuring a healthy and efficient attic.

This may all sound irrelevent, blase, and insignificant. But believe me when I tell ya'll, the last thing you want to do is have to replace your roof, from the ceilings up. Including your ceilings. That job SUCKS.

 

[BALLISTIC]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

Last summer I replaced the 4 'whirleybirds' on my parents house with solar attic fans, and well, we haven't had much heat yet this year, but I can tell that these will make a huge difference with the temperature that the attic sees. The ones purchased have a thermostat that hangs about a foot below the roof which only allows the fan to come on when the temperature is above 85*. Each fan moves about 1200 CFPM, so the air in the attic will be constantly replaced during the hotter days. This will reduce the energy need to cool the house, as well as keeping the house fresh with outside air, and they are very easy to install.

There is a side venting fan in the house that had an adjustable thermostat, but that fan uses 4 amps to run, and while it did provide significant cooling, the energy use compared to cooling effect, the solar attic fans are the better route, but now both are in use.

 

[TB2Blazer]

Re: Solar Power and your house... Solar Attic Fans

I used to sell solar attic fans for a living and I can honestly tell you they will most definitely lower your heating bill in the summer as well as increase the life of your roof. By cooling off your attic it helps to keep your shingles and roof much cooler in the summer which will definitely extend the life of your roof. Soffit vents are not enough and do not actively move air. The whirly birds suck and don't do much at all. There has also been a law here in GA that states you may no longer put any electric powered fans in attics due to fire issues. Solar powered attic fans are great period. They lower your heating bill in the summer by almost 40% and they keep the moist air in the winter out of the attic so mold cannot accumulate. They can be expensive but they are easy to install and most are completely maintenance free. If you have any questions about them let me know and I can even tell you step by step how to install one. I'm not in the business anymore but sold them for over a year and I love them.