How Solar Attic Fans Work - Cooling Your Attic with Solar Power
Solar attic fans have emerged as a environmentally-friendly alternative for attic venting. Although they are not particularly well-known or popular, learning how solar attic fans work can be the first step in determining whether or not to install one in your home.
Attic Venting
Why is attic venting important? First, it helps to circulate fresh air throughout your home. The fresh air reduces the amount of moisture build-up and helps to prevent the growth of mold.
Secondly, in circulating fresh air, attic venting also helps to keep your home cooler, and thus reduce the amount of time your air conditioner needs to run (saving you money!).
How Solar Attic Fans Can Help
Solar powered attic fans work by collecting energy from sunlight and using it to turn the blades of the fan. The fans are generally quiet, and aside from the initial cost, they're free to operate since they run on solar power.
There's a downside, too. Naturally, a "solar-powered" anything needs the sun in order to function. Solar attic fans will turn when there's enough sunlight hitting the solar cells. When it's cloudy, or when the sun goes down, the fans simply stop spinning.
One way to maximize the amount of time your solar fan will
operate is to purchase a fan that allows you to install the
solar panel in a different location
You'll probably need multiple fans in order to properly cool your attic. A large volume of air needs to be circulated in order to be effective, and a single fan won't be enough (unless you have a very small attic).
You can install solar attic fans yourself. However, you might want to hire a competent roofer to ensure that the seal around the fan is water-tight.