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Best Attic Fan Covers: Full Buyer’s Guide & Why You Need One

When you have an attic, it is important to know what insulation is in place and how well it holds up against moisture. It’s also important to keep the air circulating, so mold doesn’t start growing. If you want something that will hold up, don’t worry about choosing between metal or plastic because they both work great!

Attic fans help regulate temperature by blocking out excess heat during the summer months or trapping cool air when outside temperatures drop. You can also use Attic fan covers to ventilate a room without opening windows, which is great if you’re worried about security.

Attic fans with vents are often overlooked despite having many benefits in favor of other cooling solutions like AC units or traditional ceiling fans. Let us look at a few of the most common types of attic fan covers on the market today and provide tips for choosing the right one for your needs.

Plastic Attic Fan Covers

The best plastic attic fan cover will have a non-attached frame that can be placed on top of your fan while giving you optimal access to change or clean the air filter. This type of cover (usually made from mesh) means there is no obstruction between the fan and the elements. 

Many people prefer to have plastic fan covers during windy days or when the ground is covered in snow. Some of the best plastic attic fan covers are:

Metal Attic Fan Covers

The best metal attic fan covers will help protect your fan from the weather elements while also providing good ventilation. The product’s frame should be adjustable, so you can make sure there are no gaps or holes where air can escape. 

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Most metal covers are made from aluminum, but some use steel, copper, and even zinc. Some of the best metal attic fan covers are:

Solar Powered Attic Fan Covers

This is the ideal type of attic fan cover if you want to ensure that your attic stays cool during the day while also saving money on your electric bill. You can get a solar-powered cover that will open and close automatically depending on the temperature, or you could get one that’s manually operated. 

The best solar-powered attic fan cover is:

Whole House Attic Fan Covers and Insulation

If you do not have an attic fan and want to get one, it may be a good idea for you to get whole house attic fan covers. These types of attic fan covers will help reduce your energy bills by keeping the hot air out during summer or cold air during winter. They also have a screen that will allow the air to circulate while keeping out insects and debris. 

The best whole house attic fan covers are:

Ventilation and Airflow Attic Fan Covers

If you don’t want to seal up your attic, you can still protect it from the weather with ventilation and airflow covers. These attic fan covers are designed to eliminate drafts or hot spots by allowing the air to flow freely. The best ventilation and airflow covers are:

Attic Fan Translucent Covers

These attic fan covers are not very different from the ventilation and airflow covers, except they are designed to be translucent instead of solid. This will allow the light from your attic to shine through while also providing airflow and ventilation for your house. The best attic fan translucent cover is:

Enclosed Attic Fan Covers

Enclosed attic fan covers are typically the most common type of cover on the market. The benefit to this is that they offer maximum protection against weather damage by completely covering your vents while also blocking harmful UV rays from entering your home and damaging furnishings or artwork left in the attic space.

On top of that, the best-enclosed attic fan covers are very easy to remove from above if you need quick access. One downside is that they can be more difficult to install/remove as there’s no handle on their front like an open model has.

Open Attic Fan Covers

They’re easy to install or remove without having to get up into your attic space. Simply turn a knob at the top of each side that allows you to attach it from above. They offer excellent airflow, but they still protect your attic fan vents from precipitation like rain or snow.

The downside of open models is that there’s no protection against UV rays (unless you install an additional cover). You must pay extra attention to ensure the insulation around them remains undisturbed.

Louvered Attic Fan Covers

Louvered attic fan covers are a step-up from both open and enclosed models. They offer a variety of benefits by providing excellent airflow, protection against UV rays, weather damage, etc., but still have openings that you can open to allow for ventilation if you need it. 

You can see an example of one on Amazon here.

Louvered fans are perfect for anyone who wants the best of both worlds in a single product! The downside is that they’re not relatively as easy to install or remove. Some models come with additional parts for installation, but these can be difficult to work with if you aren’t familiar with basic carpentry skills.

This small attic fan cover will only serve you if your vent is not more than 11”x 11”

Solar Attic Fan Covers

Solar attic fan covers are a great way to keep your home cool without using up energy. They work by allowing solar heat through while keeping out excess precipitation and harmful UV rays. The benefit of these is that they can help lower your monthly power bill since you’ll be less reliant on running an attic fan to keep your home cool. 

The downside is that the best solar attic fan covers are more expensive and can be difficult to install/remove from above without a second person’s help if you don’t have good upper body strength! Sunrise Solar has created one of the best fan covers on the market.

The product is very easy to install; simply place it over your fan and lock it into place. The product is designed for use with ridge vents for maximum air circulation. The product is made from polypropylene and is guaranteed never to crack or fade. The product also has a meager price tag; currently, it’s one of the cheapest fan covers on the market.

Here’s an example of a solar attic fan available at Amazon.

Twin Cities 94005-1

The Twin City Fan Company 94005-1 is one of the best attic fan covers on the market. This product is very easy to install and works with almost all brands and styles of soffit and ridge caps, metal and shingle-style roofing. The product also has a simple design which makes it easy to use, install, and clean. 

The Twin City Fan Company, 94005-1, is made from high-quality aluminum and is guaranteed not to rust or oxidize. The product also has an insulated frame to protect your hands from the heat of the fan. A lifetime warranty also backs the product. A great feature of this product is that it is easy to clean and can be washed with a standard garden hose.

Cool Attic CAC1060BLUE

The Cool Attic CAC1060BLUE is another excellent fan cover on the market. This product can match almost any roofline with its small and sleek design. The product is user-friendly as it simply slides right on your existing fan. Clear acrylic construction makes ensuring that your fan remains free of any debris very easy. 

The Cool Attic CAC1060BLUE is priced competitively and has an unparalleled 10-year warranty. The product is made from premium quality polycarbonate and is guaranteed to never yellow, crack or fog.

Here’s an example of a cool attic fan on Amazon.

Eco Breeze EACO1100

The Eco Breeze EACO1100 is an excellent option for a fan cover. This product is designed to prevent any leaves or debris from getting into your fan while allowing maximum airflow. It is made from high-grade plastic that doesn’t rust, corrode, or be damaged in any way by the elements. 

This product should protect your fan from rain, wind, and snow while still allowing the air to pass through. The Eco Breeze EACO1100 is relatively more expensive than other products on the market but has an unmatched 2-year warranty.

M-D Building Products 43251

The M-D Building Products 43251 is an excellent option for anyone looking to keep leaves and debris out of their vents. It is a universal fit product that will work with most types of vents. The product is made from UV stabilized, costs less, and is backed by a 1-year warranty.

Air Vent Gable Ventilator Attic Fan covers

The Air Vent Gable Ventilator Attic Fan Cover is a high-quality product that can be used with most types of vents. This product is made from premium polycarbonate and comes with a 6-year warranty. The Air Vent Gable Ventilator Attic Fan Cover is designed to fit almost any gable vent. This product has a low price point and can also be used with solar-powered attic fans.

Attic Fan Covers for Winter 

A winter cover is a perfect solution if you don’t want to remove your fan and prevent damage from snow and ice. These types of attic fan covers will protect your fan from all the weather elements while also ensuring that it doesn’t turn into a snow globe. The best winter cover example for an attic fan is The Gable Gust Guard.

Fan Sizes and How To Choose The Right One

Consider buying one of the best attic fan covers if you want an efficient, affordable way to keep your attic cool. It helps with the regulation of the temperature of your house and can help you save money on utility bills. Some covers even come with a gasket to ensure no air seeping through where the fan is located, while others will have a mesh screen.

There are many sizes and types of attic fans, but they can all be categorized into three main types: whole-house fans, gable fans, and ridge vent fans.

Whole house fans

These fans are connected to the power supply of the house, and they are either controlled by a switch or by the thermostat. Whole house fans work best in homes that have high ceilings, say 17 feet or higher.

Gable fans

These are smaller than whole-house fans since they are not connected to the power supply of the house. They are placed in an open gable area and cooled by the breeze circulating the home. Gable fans work best in homes with lofts and garages, like multi-story homes or double-story homes.

Ridge vent fan

These fans do not have a blade and usually look like a metal strip. All it needs is a ridge in your home for installation purposes so that you can place it in an enclosed attic. Since they do not have a blade, they are safe to use and perfect for homes with children or pets.

Benefits of Attic Fan Covers

  • Having an attic fan cover in the first place has many benefits. Here are just a few of them:
  • Allows air to flow through during hot summer days.
  • In the winter months, attic fan covers prevent condensation and moisture damage.
  • They prevent ice dams from forming after snow melts.
  • Attic fan covers keep your attic fan from turning into a bird’s nest or home for mice and insects.
  • It keeps your attic fan from getting damaged during a storm.
  • Prevent drafts, hot spots, and cold spots from forming in your house.
  • It prevents waste of energy by preventing air from entering or exiting your house.
  • Can reduce the temperature of your attic.
  • These covers prevent ice dams from forming after snow melts.
  • They also prevent bird nests or homes for mice and insects.
  • Attic fan covers prevent damage to your attic fan during storms, etc.

How To Buy The Best Attic Fan Covers

Here are a few tips on choosing the best type of attic fan cover for your situation…

  • Figure out what your needs are. This is the most important step, especially for homeowners who have never purchased an attic fan cover before! If you only use one room in the attic space during certain times of the year, then a louvered or open model would be ideal. 

If that’s not the case, and you’d like to ensure no harmful UV rays enter the space through your attic fan vents, an enclosed model is probably best. Take the following steps…

  1. Figure out the size of your fan. This step is easy since most models offer custom fit options to ensure that you get the best attic fan cover possible!
  2. Determine if you’d like an enclosed or louvered attic fan cover. Enclosed models are best for blocking out harmful UV rays from entering the exhaust vents found on most attic fans.
  3. Decide if you want a powered fan. If so, then it’s time to determine which model is suitable for you.
  4. Figure out the price range that’s best for you. Typically, this is done by selecting the fan that best fits all of your needs.
  5. Select one or multiple attic fans to compare prices and purchase!

Conclusion

These types of covers will help protect your fan by preventing damage from the weather and keeping out pests, debris, and other things that could cause issues. The best attic fan covers are those that provide the most protection and convenience for your home. 

If you are looking to extend the lifespan of your roof, improve air circulation in your house, or just want a way to save some money on energy costs this summer, an attic fan cover is an investment worth making for any homeowner.

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