Solar Attic Fan 20W
Attic venting is an important aspect in maintaining the functions in your home. Proper venting cools your roof extending the material life and reduces the load on your air conditioning system. Attic venting also increases fresh air circulation which reduces vapor build up generated by everyday activities like showering and cooking. Excess moisture trapped in your attic can cause a variety of problems from rust to rot to increased bacteria and mold counts which can have a direct impact on your respiratory health! Passive vents have been a part of building codes for years but soffit vents, ridge vents and louvers rely on nature to provide sufficient air pressure and air movement. So the majority of the time your attic is stagnant and continues to build up heat and moisture.
Benefits/Costs
Compared to powered vent fans, there is no need for electrical wiring, and a solar ventilator uses no electricity (hence avoiding operating cost). Although equipment costs are greater for solar powered attic fans than conventional powered fans (about $200 more), the cost to bring electrical wiring to the attic to supply a conventional ventilator closes the gap on installed cost.
Ventilation is only provided when there is ample sunshine to power the fan motor. The highest solar insolation (and, hence, fan speed) typically coincides with the time of greatest need for attic ventilation.
If there is inadequate attic intake air and poor sealing between the conditioned space of the home and the attic, powered attic fans can potentially draw air from the house into the attic. Not only can this compromise energy efficiency, it can increase the risk of attic moisture problems as well as increase the risk of drawing the byproducts of combustion into the house (a process called backdrafting).
Painless Installation
The best installation feature is that the fan requires no electrical hook-up. That means no electrician and no complicated wiring is required, making the installation of your attic fan fast and easy. It mounts in the gable end of the home, behind a decorative shutter. The solar panel comes with brackets that allow for mounting on the roof. After the fan and the solar panel are positioned and secured, a simple plug-in from the fan to the solar panel is all that is required.
