Attic Fan Instructions

Attic fans cool the air and help to remove built-up heat.

Attic fans are an excellent way to reduce electricity costs and cool a home. Heat naturally rises, causing a buildup of hot air in the attic of a home. By containing heated air in an attic, the air conditioning system must work harder to cool the home. Utilizing an attic fan can reduce the strain on a cooling system, reduce cooling costs by up to 30 percent and extend the life of the roof. Attic fans circulate and create airflow in the attic, to move and cool the heated air. There are a few key steps you should follow when using an attic fan.

Instructions

1. Evaluate the attic fan to ensure it is large enough for your space. The calculation for proper attic fan volume is to multiply the attic volume by 10 and then divide by 60. The solution is the required flow rate for an attic fan. Compare the solution to the manufacture's specifications of the attic fan to determine if the fan can properly ventilate the area.

2. Verify that proper ventilation exists to allow airflow into the attic space. Soffit vents or rafter vents are required in the attic space to allow fresh air to enter the attic. If no vents are present, the attic fan will pull cool air from the home.

3. Inspect any soffit or rafter vents in the home to ensure they are not blocked or clogged. Blocked soffit vents prohibit fresh air from entering the attic space, and cause an attic fan to pull cooled air from the house. This will raise cooling costs and lower the effectiveness of an air conditioning system.

4. Turn off and inspect the attic fan if any noise, grinding, squealing or squeaking occurs. Attic fans, when running properly, do not create noise. If noises occur, this is an indication that an issue exists and the fan could require maintenance. Running an attic fan that requires maintenance could burn up the motor of the fan, diminish the fan's productivity and damage the fan blades.

5. Inspect the temperature setting of the attic that automatically starts the fan. Most attic fans operate by utilizing a temperature gauge to determine the temperature of the space. When the temperature rises above the fan settings, the fan turns on. The acceptable setting is 100 degrees. Setting the temperature gauge too high or low can reduce the effectiveness of the attic fan.

Tips & Warnings

• Inspect the attic fan yearly, and perform routine maintenance, including cleaning the blades and lubricating the motor.

References

• Attic Fans: Attic Fans and Whole House Fans
• Ultimate Attic Fans: Commonly Asked Questions: