Do fans in attic help?

Based on our industry experience, the answer is, yes. Attic fans do really work. They will help to circulate air in your attic and ventilate the space so that it stays closer to the outside temperature.

How much does an attic fan help?

Attic fans pull the hot air out of the attic and ultimately lower the temperature inside. Typical attics will reach 120-150 degrees during the summer. An attic fan can help lower that temperature by up to 50 degrees, which translates into up to a 5 degree lower temperature inside your home.

Are attic fans a waste of money?

While attic fans will certainly suck air out of your attic, the problem is that this air needs to be replaced. Where does the air come from? Some of it will come from the soffit vents, and some will come from attic air leaks. If you have problems with ice dams, a LOT of air will come from attic air leaks.

Does an attic fan cool the attic?

As the attic fan draws outdoor air into the attic, it vents hot, stale air out through attached dormers. In this way, the attic fan replaces the stifling air with fresh air, cooling the attic and, in turn, your living space below.

When should you run an attic fan?

Attic fans work best at night when the outside temperature cools and that air is drawn into your warm home to cool it off.

Do attic fans really help?

Is it OK to run an attic fan all night?

It is ok to run the fan for a few hours at a time, but then you should let it cool off before firing it up again. However, and as stated above, running your fan longer than it takes to replace the attic air is a waste of electricity.

Do attic fans help with AC?

When they work the way they're supposed to, attic fans improve your air conditioner's performance by removing hot air from your attic. The attic is generally the hottest part of the home because it's not air conditioned and because the air is warmed by solar heat that the roof absorbs.

What are the pros and cons of an attic fan?

How do I get hot air out of my attic?

Install electric ventilators and attic fans, which remove hot air from an attic. They have thermostats that turn the fan on at a recommended preset temperature of 100-110 degrees. Alternatively, install passive vents such as gable, soffit and ridge vents, which are openings in the roof that allow hot air to escape.

Do attic fans use a lot of electricity?

On average, an attic fan uses less than 300 watts of electricity. If it were to run constantly, it would use up to about 180 kWh per month. Unfortunately, this cost can add up.

Which is better whole house fan or attic fan?

To ventilate the attic, the attic fan is a better choice since it actively moves air out of the attic. In fact, the whole house fan only deposits air from the house into the attic. Unless an attic fan has also been installed, the whole house fan relies on passive methods to remove that air from the attic.

Do attic vents really work?

Strong attic fans can actually back draft furnaces or water heaters by pulling combustion gases out of their burners and into the home. Good attic ventilation is excellent for preventing moisture and condensation but it is usually not enough for cooling in the summertime.

Do you need an attic fan if you have roof vents?

Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because: It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent. If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it's raining, it might pull rainwater in with it, which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic.

Should I turn off my attic fan in the winter?

But did you know that an attic fan can also play an important role in your attic during winter? It's true. An attic fan in winter can help prevent ice dams, reduce moisture in your attic during winter months, and prevent mold and mildew buildup due to moisture problems in the attic.

Does cooling your attic help cool your house?

By lowering the temperature of your attic and reducing the amount of hot air that is forced into your living space, you'll be able to reduce the strain on your HVAC system, saving money on your electric bill during these typically expensive months.

What happens if your attic gets too hot?

If you've ever wondered how hot an attic can get, consider this: The average temp of an unventilated attic in the summer is 150 degrees. That's hot enough to cook an egg and bake the shingles on your roof. This kind of damage causes leaks, which can lead to costly structural damage down the road.

How hot is an attic on a 100 degree day?

Thanks to the radiant heat affect, attic temperatures on a 100-degree day can reach 170 degrees or more.

Do attic fans help with heat?

Attic fans can make a difference in a number of ways. In the summer, a properly installed attic fan can remove excessive heat build up, providing cooling to an attic space. This helps reduce the pressure on your insulation systems, preventing unwanted heat transfer into your living space.

Where should attic fans be placed?

Simply cut an opening in the roof, typically near the peak, and install the fan over the opening. Then shingle above and around the flashing just as you would for a standard roof vent or plumbing stack. In our case, we chose a gable-wall fan that was slightly easier to install because no shingles had to be disturbed.

Will an attic fan help cool my upstairs?

The good news is that there is a fairly easy solution. The installation of an attic fan will help to move all of that hot air back outside, thereby lowering your attic temperature by up to 60 degrees. With a cooler attic there is less heat overflow into the upstairs of your home.

When should I turn off my attic fan?

Turn the fan off when you're done, or let the fan turn off on its own if you have it set to run for a certain amount of time. If your attic fan has a thermostat, set it to kick on when your attic space reaches a certain temperature.

Do attic fans help with humidity?

Yes, attic fans will help with humidity. During the winter, moist air produced by daily activities rises to the attic and gets stuck there. During the summer, the attic can get severely hot and become extremely moist. An attic fan will reduce the workload on your air conditioner as well as help dissipate the humidity.

Are attic fans a fire hazard?

"Most attic fans are put up there and forgotten," says Kenneth Kent, deputy marshal of the Arlington County Fire Department. "They're not inspected for years, and when they malfunction, they can start a fire." How common is it that ventilation fans overheat? It depends on how they're manufactured.

What happens if attic is not vented?

And if you don't vent correctly, all that warm, wet heat is going to sit around and take up space in your attic. The more heat that seeps out into your attic, whether it's through poorly sealed openings (things like recessed lighting or the attic entry) or through general physics, the cooler the rooms feel.

How many attic fans do I need?

The general rule of thumb in these situations is of roughly one vent per every 300 square feet of attic area if the attic has a vapor barrier. If not, there should be one vent for every 150 square feet. You will need to have 1 square foot of vent area for every 150 square feet of attic space.