How to Buy a Solar Attic Fan

Solar attic fans can be a great way to ventilate your attic and save money doing it by using solar power. The benefit of a solar attic fan is that it will make your living spaces much more comfortable in those hot summer months while reducing cooling costs. Aside from the summer use, a solar attic fan can also help to prevent ice damming in your attic by allowing moisture buildup to escape.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Square footage of your attic

1. Look for a solar attic fan to meet the needs of your attic size. When deciding on a model, you will need to have a rough estimate of the square footage of the attic. This will help you to decide what size solar attic fan you will need in terms of wattage.

2. You will also want to consider the materials. Make sure to choose a solar attic fan that will not rust. This will depend on how long you want your solar attic fan to last. Better materials will add a bit to the price but will pay dividends in the future.

3. You will want a solar attic fan that comes fully assembled. Trying to assemble the solar attic fan will take a significant amount of time, rather, you should look for models that come assembled so your only job will be to install the fan on your roof.

4. Consider the sound the solar attic fan will make. It will do you no good to install the fan only to find that you have the sound of a jet engine over your bedroom. Look for a whisper quiet solar attic fan.

5. Look for a leak proof flashing on your solar attic fan. Seamless or one-piece models are the best to avoid leakage on your solar powered attic fan. This will allow a solar attic vent fan to function at its best year after year without any costly repairs.

Tips & Warnings

• Take into account your attic needs, don't simply go for the largest or highest wattage because these will require greater solar needs and will likely make more noise.

[rkremer]

on 11/25/2009 #4 is a great tip to remember!

[solaratticfan]

on 9/17/2009 There is a great selection of solar attic fans mentioned at http://www.solaratticfansource.com

[mattsaboy]

on 8/31/2009 Great article and tips. 5 stars with a recommendation.