Gas and Oil Home Heating Furnaces - Source of Solar Powered Attic Fan

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.




View Full Version : Source of Solar Powered Attic Fan


mitchf
04-04-03, 04:11 PM
Have problem with heat buildup in attic and have read that solar powered attic fans with thermostat work well ..... my problem has been locating a unit source on the internet.... no local sources in my community ... so hoping to find supplier say east of the Mississippi.
Appreciate any suggestions.


slumlordfrank
04-04-03, 04:47 PM
How about a simpler solution. Ridge and soffit vents. No power needed (except to install), not even solar. They work off IIRC convection, letting air in at the soffits and out at the ridge. Figure about $2-$4 per foot of ridge to buy and install. Keeps your attic cool and just as important, dry.
Also, how much attic insulation do you have. Over the past 20 years design in the south has changed. We don't use quite as much as up north, but all of my houses have R30.
frank

Ed Imeduc
04-04-03, 05:00 PM
Go for A power roof vent fan It will pay you back in no time at all. Just a 1/6 hp will handel 2600sq ft get one with a tstat on it Had some solar fans on a boat lots of sun but still not worth it.;) ED


mitchf
04-06-03, 11:05 AM
Thanks for the ideas Both suggestions make sense, but I'm trying to take the easiest way out(also gearing job to my ability).... the crawl space is almost inaccessibly low, filthy and electrical connection would require prone position after long crawl..it's a well built '60's house but neglected attic ventilation. I could install a ridge vent but for some reason feel that forced air would be better... there is so little pitch to the roof which I assume would lower air flow(current)??
There are 36" wide soffits on each long side of the attic and easily accessible electrical lines leading to flood lights ..... wonder if there's an unobstrusive fan for a soffit?

Much Obliged for your time.

firsthvac
04-06-03, 11:17 AM
You could also use an power fan that mounts to gable end vent and run the power to it through conduit along the meeting point of the wall and eave or consider installing a roof mount unit close to the power source so you can reach through the opening to wire it up (have had to do this on low pitched roofs myself)

hvac01453
04-06-03, 06:43 PM
Many commercial places use wind driven turbine fans, only they don't work on a windless day but a small air current spins them nicely. Power is free. No wire to run. All done from the roof. Do two!:)

Ed Imeduc
04-07-03, 09:27 AM
Have to say have had to take out many many turbine roof vents.
Not long the bearings go out and dont turn. In hard rains water does get in sometimes.And when you do need them there is no wind and its hot as H---------- all you have is a hole in your roof. You can run the power out side like. Or like firsthvac said through the hole fish power out. On a low pitch roof like this I would go with a power vent some how or way.For pennys a day you should get like a 1/2 to a ton of AC from it;)