Benefits of Installing an Attic Fan for Summer

Heat rises, so it comes as no surprise that your attic can be a very hot place when combined with direct sunlight and little ventilation. At first glance, having a hot attic may not seem alarming, but the extra heat and moisture could raise your air conditioning usage and potentially harm your roof. If your attic is excessively warm, installing an attic fan can be the answer to several problems caused by inadequate ventilation. 

If you're considering installing an attic fan but aren't sure if it would be a good fit for your house, here are a few points to consider about attic fans, how they function, and how installing one can improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Why You Should Avoid a Hot Attic

Sunlight from windows, humidity and heat within your home has nowhere to go but up. This heat and humidity can make your already warm attic even hotter, resulting in warmer rooms in your home. Without proper ventilation, hot, humid air becomes trapped in your attic.

Humidity and extreme heat can cause damage to items stored in your attic, such as family heirlooms, seasonal items, air conditioners and even the roof itself. Continuous moisture in the air can result in mold and mildew as well as ice damming on your roof during the winter.

How Do Attic Fans Work?

The fundamental function of an attic fan is to remove hot air from your attic space. 

Attic venting fans remove hot, moist air from the attic while leaving the space beneath the attic floor alone. These fans circulate the air in the attic, drawing fresh, cool air from vents (such as those in your soffit) and pushing hot air outside.

Attic fans can be used all year long. In the summer, you can significantly lower the temperature in the attic, extending the life of the roofing shingles and sheathing. In the colder months, attic fans can also help you avoid ice dam damage. The fans cool the attic, bringing the temperature between the attic and the outside of the house to a comfortable level. This keeps snow from melting on your roof and freezing when it comes into contact with cold gutters.

The Benefits of Attic Fans

By improving ventilation in your home’s attic, installing an attic fan can help reduce moisture and even lower the temperature within your entire house. 

The following are some advantages of installing an attic fan:

1. Prevents Moisture in Your Attic - When it comes to your home, too much moisture is never a good thing. In your attic, it may be particularly harmful and even hazardous. If necessary precautions aren’t taken, several minor problems caused by moisture in your attic can lead to severe issues. Mold and mildew can result from humid air, which can be especially harmful in an attic. If left unchecked, mold can cause allergic reactions and respiratory problems, not to mention costly cleanup or structural damage to your attic and roof.

2. Increases the Life of Your Roof - The condition of your roof is essential for the integrity of your house. Damage from heat and moisture can eventually result in roof damage, expensive repairs, or even replacement. 

3. Reduces Interior Room Temperatures - The attic is the room in your house with the hottest temperature, causing your entire house to become warmer, especially during the summer. 

Because your attic traps heat from both the outside and the lower floors of your home, the weather outside can influence how hot it gets. If the outside temperature rises above 80 degrees, the temperature in your attic can reach 150 degrees or more. 

If you have an attic fan, you can cool down the rest of your house. The best part is that you don't have to keep your fan running all the time. If you only use the attic fan during the hottest part of the day, you can reduce the temperature in your attic by up to 50 degrees. You can also do this to reduce the temperature in the rest of your house by 10 degrees.

4. Lowers Your Energy Costs - We rely heavily on our air conditioners during the hotter months. However, running them constantly may have a negative impact on your electricity bill. Installing an attic fan can help keep your home cooler and energy efficient. If your home is naturally cooler, you may not need to use your air conditioner as frequently, potentially lowering your energy costs. 

Installing an attic fan with an adjustable thermostat allows you to set a dial and forget about the fan. When the temperature in the attic reaches a predetermined level, the fan will kick on and begin venting the heated air, cooling the attic space automatically.

Adjustable thermostats also turn off the fan if the temperature falls below the preset level. This makes it simple to use and helps you save energy by not running the fan when it's not necessary. 

Throughout the year, an attic fan is a great addition to any home. It not only helps to lower your energy bill, but it also makes you feel more comfortable in the summer and prevents harmful ice buildup in the winter.

Contact your local cooperative or public power district with questions concerning attic fan installation and rebate opportunities. 

Electrify and Save™ 

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Tri-State is a not-for-profit cooperative of 45 members, including 42 member utility electric distribution cooperatives and public power districts in four states, that together deliver reliable, affordable, and responsible power to more than a million electricity consumers across nearly 200,000 square miles of the West.