First determine your attic area by multiplying the length by the width.
My attic isnt getting enough power.
Knowing how to troubleshoot common problems that could befall your fan will help you make simple repairs.
A cool day is best.
How many vents do you need.
Do not use mechanical means electric attic fans.
The attic fan works by removing the superheated air from your attic so the air in your entire home can circulate and cool down.
And the extra heat is not just a summer concern come winter hot attic air can melt snow on the roof during the day only to refreeze when temperatures drop overnight creating ice dams that lead.
On a warm day attics can get dangerously hot.
Expect to spend a full day on this project.
You can also contact your local municipality to check on building code in your area.
As a certified licensed home inspector it is not correct to say too much ventilation is bad for an attic unless rain moisture is getting in.
Most building codes require a ratio of 1 150 ventilation space to attic floor space.
Ventilation of attic spaces is required by most building codes as well as by roofing material manufacturers and the national roofing contractors association nrca.
With enough exhaust vents and intake vents your attic has breathing room and is better cooled.
Not the overabundance but the lack of insulation in the attic.
Follow these maintenance tips for your attic fan once in every 2 3 years.
Since solar powered attic fans rely on energy from sunlight it is crucial that the panels charge enough to power the fan.
A 30 x 40 ft.
Solar panels not getting enough sunlight.
So while solar powered units may not be plugged into your home s electrical system they are still pulling up cooled air once again forcing the a c unit to work harder.
Venting a homes attic is a very important best building practices will say 50 at the ridge and 50 at the soffits unobstructed.
Professional maintenance for attic fans.
An attic fan is a great way to keep your home cool during the hot summer months.
If your fan appears not to be functioning at its full capacity fan blades are moving slowly or not at all check to see if something is blocking the solar panels from charging.
After the attic fan has been in use for some time it may develop problems.
Another reason your attic is so hot is because of insulation.
Heat also makes shingles easy to damage.
However if not enough ventilation is installed to meet the requirement for your attic size and or heat load your cooling performance will not be as good as expected.
To give your attic fan the full life that it can have you ll need to get it serviced by an hvac expert once in every few years.
When sized appropriately your attic breeze solar attic fan should keep your attic temperature to within roughly 15 f of the outside ambient air temperature.
