Monday, April 5, 2010

Solar Attic Fans

Solar attic fans are energy saving alternative to conventional powered attic fans. These are usually installed to the ventilate attics which help in keeping them cool in summers. Solar attic fans have a solar panel which jump starts the DC motor when exposed to sunlight. Usually the solar attic fans will exhaust air at the rate of 750 to 1250 CFM and will have intake vents to ensure the attic is ventilated.

You can install solar attic fans by cutting a hole in the roof or the wall where you plan to install the fan. Make sure you get professional help to install the fan as improper work can ruin your attic. If you plan to install the solar attic fan yourself, make sure you take every possible precaution as improper installation can leave the roof venerable to leakage.

There are several models of solar attic fans available in the market. Your choice of the model will depend on your requirement and the space available. If the sunlight is at a distance from the attic, you can choose a high-profile model that protrudes. If you have limited space, you can choose low-profile models that don’t protrude. Usually people who have north-facing rooms choose high-profile solar attic fans. Some solar attic fan models allow you to install the solar panel and fan separately. This can prove to be useful as you can install the fan in a discreet part of the wall and the solar panel in an area that receives maximum sunlight.

Solar attic fans are particularly useful to people that believe in saving the environment and energy. Another advantage of installing solar attic fan is that you don't have to go through the hassle of hiring an electrician to fix your fan. The installation of the solar attic fan does not require the services of an electrician. Another problem with electric powered attic fans is that they suck cool air from other rooms to cool your attic. However, with solar attic fans you don't face these problems.

The biggest benefit of using solar attic fans is that they use sun as the source of energy, which means that your operation cost is zero. This is one of the main reasons why people prefer solar attic fans over conventional attic fans. With energy cost rising by the day, many people have switched to solar attic fans to reduce their cost. Solar attic fans are extremely quiet when compared to traditional electric powered attic fans. Also, solar attic fans are resilient to hail, strong winds and other extreme weather.

One of the biggest drawbacks of using a solar attic fan is that they require ample sunshine. During winters when it is overcast, your attic may not get the cool air that it requires. Even if it is partly clouded outside, your fan will run at reduced speed. At night, your attic fan may shut down because it does not get the sunlight that it requires. Also, solar attic fans are expensive when compared to traditional electric powered fans.

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