Are Solar Attic Fans For You?
Today, many manufacturers have started to experiment with the designs of the fan and one such experiment led to the availability of the attic fan. Most homes in
the United States have an attic, which can be extremely hot in the summers. So
an attic fan can do wonders and you can transform your attic into a mini bedroom
or even a library.
The most popular attic fans are the ones, which are solar powered and they
provide excellent ventilation apart from keeping the attics cooler. All solar
attic fans are powered by small 10 to 20watt solar panels. These solar panels
provide power to a DC motor when there is enough sunshine. An attic fan is installed
with intake vents. The attic fan has the capability to exhaust air with a rate
of at least 800 to 1200 cfm. This helps in maintaining high ventilation without
increasing the operating costs. The attic fan vent is normally mounted on or
near the roof, and they are combined with gable vents so that there is balanced
intake as well as exhaust air streams. You can also find separate solar powered
gable ventilators. Let's look at some of the features that make an attic fan
so popular.
Affordability
The total operating cost of a solar attic fan is almost negligible as compared
to the electric powered traditional fans.
Ventilation
The attic fan helps in reducing the temperature of the attic and thus reduces
the cooling load in the summers and at the same time provides ventilation without
any added load. One important thing to remember here is that if there is no
sunlight outside or if its cloudy then the solar panels will not charge and
you might not be able to use the attic fan for longer durations.
Implementation
Installing a conventional ceiling fan will need a lot of wiring but solar attic
fan units eliminate this need completely.
Cost
The cost of a solar attic fan is one time. Once you have got the solar panels,
they are going to work for a lifetime. The retail price of the solar attic fan
can vary from $300 to $600 depending on the manufacturer, the amount of ventilation
it can provide and other optional features like the thermostat.
Operational Cost
As compared to the conventional ceiling fan, the operational cost of a solar
powered attic fan is almost zero. Since they get their power from the sun light,
you will never have to pay for electricity.
Warranty
The warranty on the solar attic fan can vary from 5 years to 25 years depending
on the manufacturer.
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