The Power Attic Ventilator or the attic fans are used to exhaust hot air in the attic, some of the attic fans are, therefore, operated manually while others use a thermostat to either switch the fan on or off.
Attic fans don’t save money because they need to do the job with which they were fitted to do whether the soffit vents are properly sealed or not.
The only difference is that when the soffit vents are not properly sealed from the rest of the house, the fans tend to suck up the cool conditioned air into the attic, a process that makes it to consume more energy thus increase the utility bills.
But when the soffit vents are properly sealed then the fans will work normally but still consume power.
However, don’t be deceived to think that the attic fans are not beneficial to the home because you will need them to help prevent hot air from finding its way into your home, which could consequently increase the temperatures in your living space, but by sucking out the air, it helps reduce the load in your conditioner.
Attic fans, therefore, suck in air from outside through the open windows and doors while letting out the hot air through the attic vents.
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Tips on making your attic fan more energy efficient
Invest in radiant barriers
Radiant barriers can save you a ton of money because they work both ways that is they reflect radiant light to where it came from, beginning from your living space, and the one from the sunlight.
When installed the barrier will work by preventing the electromagnetic transfer of heat, it, therefore, needs to be constructed from a highly reflective material that can be mounted on one or both sides of the substrate.
Most attic barriers are, therefore, made of aluminum and the substrate can feature cardboard, plywood, Kraft paper, or the plastic films.
So, during installation, the barrier needs to be installed perpendicular to the incoming radiant heat since it travels in straight lines.
Important to note is that the different local climates have different methods of installation for effectiveness.
Therefore, if your home is located in an area with very hot climate, where the heat that ends up in your attic comes from the sun then the radiant barriers will be positioned on the attic ceiling, or better yet, you can have them installed in between the roof beams.
But if you live in an area that experiences frequent cold climates then you will have to install the radiant barriers on the floor of the attic to redirect the radiant heat from your home back to your living space thus keeping the home warm.
Get the energy-efficient attic fans
For as much as the attic fans will help regulate your home temperature, the type of attic fan that you decide to install will either encourage energy efficiency or plunge you deeper into high power bills.
The above is also dependent on the climate of the area that you live and the level of insulation in your home.
And unlike the normal fans that we use in the house, attic fans will help provide heat and moisture protection to your household stuff, they can extend the lifespan of your roof, and effectively regulate your home’s temperature.
And on the other negative side of the coin attic fans are known to decrease energy efficiency especially if your attic was not properly insulated, also, prepare to experience some shakeup in your bank balance during installation.
Install the energy-efficient insulation
When you insulate your home it acts as a barrier to the extreme temperatures, so when you properly insulate your home, and that is the basement, floors, walls, and ceilings you will be able to at least save about 20% on the cooling and heating costs.
The idea, therefore, is to ensure that your attic retains and releases heat effectively because if it traps heat then the installed heating system will have to work extra hard to retain the right temperatures in your living space.
Invest in an energy-efficient ventilation system
An energy-efficient ventilation system works largely to protect your home, for example during summer, heat from your home will rise into the attic and if by any chance the hot air gets trapped then your roof shingles will feel the heat from below thus exposing them to roof damage.
Additionally, the hot humid air will lead to the development of mold and mildew.
When you vent your attic it also means that you allow cold air to flow in more so during the winter months.
While this might not seem sensible it will actually save you from paying for repair.
Remember that when your attic becomes cold there are minimal chances of the rising heat to melt the snow that is on your roof.
If the above happens then the melted roof snow will refreeze in the gutter and consequently cause ice dams, which will then damage the roof.
Prevent air leaks in the attic by sealing cracks
Unless you want to pay huge utility bills then you will have to seal the cracks in your attic.
When your attic is experiencing air leaks then heated air can leak in during winter, while the cool air will leak in during summer, which will consequently force your HVAC system to work harder, even worse is that the attic leaks are a starting point for serious water damages.
Conclusion
While attic fans help regulate the temperatures in your home, you must first prepare for the high installation costs, you also need to invest in a thermometer that you will use to take the temperature of your attic.
Be careful not to hang it inside but outside the door of your attic and ensure that the temperature does not go past 130 degrees Fahrenheit.
The reason for the above is because high temperatures in your attic tend to shorten the lifespan of the shingles and too much heat will deteriorate the items that you store in your attic thus lead to moisture problems.
Here’s a great reliable attic fan for a good price on Amazon.