How Do Attic Fans Work?

Do you have an unfinished attic? Maybe you’re using your attic space to store Christmas decorations or seasonal clothes. Did you know that your attic could also help keep your home cooler during the warmer summer months? Even if the summer isn’t a scorcher, having attic fans to cool off your home can also lead to noticeable energy savings. There is a misconception that an attic fan is used only to cool your attic, but it does more than moderate attic temperature. The temperature in your attic can impact the temperature in the rest of your home, making it a vital part of home comfort control. Without attic fans, the space will remain extremely hot, which means your air conditioner will need to work overtime to cool off your home. If you want to know why a hot attic means more work for your air conditioner and an overall hotter home, keep reading for more examples, advantages, and disadvantages of attic fan installation services.

Pros & Cons of Attic Vent Fans

Attic fans are installed on the ceilings of your attic, where they draw hot and humid air out of your home. An attic fan can also serve as a form of home ventilation, which is a much-needed HVAC system addition. The average attic can reach temperatures of more than 160 degrees during peak summer months. With so much heat sitting in your home, it’s no wonder your air conditioner may seem like it’s working overtime all summer.

There are some cons to attic fan installation, and these cons are rooted in improper installation. When an attic fan is installed, but the attic is left unsealed, your air-conditioned home will lose cooled air. If you have a natural gas-powered water heater, an attic fan could leave your home filled with carbon monoxide. It’s important to ensure your home is completely outfitted with carbon monoxide detectors. Additionally, if your attic fans don’t have proper flashing, you could end up with a leaky roof. To ensure the integrity of your attic fan, high-quality installation is key.

How Does an Attic Fan Work?

It may seem counterintuitive to cool your home off by cooling off your attic where no one lives; however, an attic fan works by pulling hot and humid air out of your home and attic space, pushing it out of the house. The soffit vents used in conjunction with attic fans pull outside air into your house to provide ventilation. Attic fans remove hot stale air and replace it with fresh air, which also cools the attic and your house. So, if the ceiling fans installed in your home haven’t kept your home cool this summer, maybe it’s time to consider installing an attic fan.

In addition to keeping your home cool during the hot summer months, there are many additional benefits, like:

• Energy Efficiency: Attic fans use less energy than your air conditioner by far, and they are a much more efficient means of home cooling. Because they keep your home cooler, meaning you’ll need your air conditioner less and use less energy during the summer months.

• Keeps Your Home Cooler: When your attic is cooler, it means your home is cooler. When hot air is allowed to sit at the top of your house, the temperature will remain high. When an attic fan is installed, the overall temperature of your home is lowered.

• Improved Roof Care: You’d think the sun beating down on your roof would be your primary concern during the summer months, but the real concern for your roof is within the attic. When hot and humid air is allowed to sit in your attic without ventilation, the conditions are ripe for mold growth. An attic will provide ventilation, and the hot and humid air will be forced outdoors, protecting your roof from rampant mold damage.

• Cooling Plan B: If your air conditioner breaks down during the summer, an attic fan can provide tremendous relief as you work to repair your system. An attic fan will remove the hot and humid air from your home and help cool down the overall temperature of your home.

At HomeWiz, we can help you take advantage of the benefits of an attic fan today. Our HVAC service team can install an attic fan in your home this summer to lower the temperature and keep you cool.

Call (207) 506-2232 or request an appointment online with one of our local experts.