This super heated air can back up in the
upstairs of your home. An attic fan works by drawing this super heated hot air
out of the attic to the outside, thus creating less work for the air
conditioning system.
Attic fans can also
extend the life of your roof shingles by eliminating the excessive heat they’re
exposed to via super heated air in the attic.
Attic fans are
usually mounted on the roofs of homes and are controlled by a thermostat. They
automatically turn on and off based on pre-set temperature settings in the
attic.
Traditionally
installing an attic fan requires framing, roofing and wiring, however there are
now solar powered attic fans on the market that eliminate the wiring aspect of
the job. The solar panel sits literally on top of the attic fan cover and
produces enough electricity to power the attic fan. Like traditional attic fans,
the solar attic fans are controlled via a thermostat so no human control is
required.
Attic fans are
normally mounted on either the back of the home’s roof, a couple of feet from
the roof peak, or on the gable end of a home.
For longevity, it
is best to purchase all metal fans with screens to prevent animals and birds
from finding their way into your attic. In addition, make sure the attic fan
comes with a Firestat sensor that automatically shuts the attic fan off in the
event of very high temperatures (e.g. in the case of a home fire).
Attic fans are a
great way to lower your cooling bills, so this year think ahead before the next
summer heat wave hits.
For help on Attic Conversion and Attic
Renovation Projects, see HomeAdditionPlus.com's
Attic Conversion Bid sheet. The
Attic Conversion Bid sheet will help
to ensure that you hire the right contractor so that your attic conversion
project is built
correctly, on time and budget.
How to Finance your Attic Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if financing is
required.
