Lighting, Light Fixtures, Ceiling and Exhaust Fans - Gable Fan

I recently installed a ceiling fan in my cathedral BR and it definitely helped make sleeping more comfortable during warm nights. My two other bedrooms on the 2nd floor is directly below our attic. Our attic has those standard screen squared vents on the side. These two BRs do not have ceiling fans. Will I be killing two birds with one stone by installing a gable fan in the attic to suck the hot air out of the attic therefore making the two BRs below less warm and more comfortable at night?

Do gable fans require a lot electricity?

I believe you will have better results installing R30 insulation in the atic above the bedrooms if you do not have it already.

I already installed new R-38 insulation in the attic last fall.

I'm not a big fan of gable fans. But the topic comes up from time to time, and it always has its supporters.

Anyway, since you've already discovered that the ceiling fan works for you, why not just install two more of them? I'm sure it will solve the problem better than a gable fan.

I guess I'm looking at costs. Budget is tight nowadays. One Gable Fan is about $50 and two ceiling fans will cost me about $100 total. Labor will be more to install the ceiling fans than one gable fan. Another main reason is because the ceilings in those two rooms are less than 8 ft high and ceiling fans may be too low after installation.

I was thinking since I have brand new R-38 insulation in my attic, can enough heat still transfer through that and warm my rooms below? I dont want to waste money on gable fans if it wont help anyway.

I'm like John in that I prefer passive energy rather than using the powered versions. Would it be possible to install a ridge vent to evacuate the hot air. Hot air will move naturally to the highest point and evacuate itself if given proper soffit vents to allow cooler air in.

You can get "hugger" style paddle fans. They are designed for low head room situations.

In my last home, a ranch, I installed a gable fan with a thermostat. On at about 130 degrees and off at 90 degrees. It definitely made the rooms more comfortable and the air conditioner worked less.

I have a Tamarack Whole House Fan that I put in a few years ago and it works great. Last year I put in a solar gable attic fan to help keep the attic cooler until the outside temp is cooler than inside so we can turn on the Whole House Fan.

I am not sure that it is worth the money for the solar attic fan compared plug in attic fan - but who knows.

I bought it from this company below - they have both type. Your guess is as good as mine to which type to use - but to save energy and be more comfortable - use one!

http://www.wholehousefansdirect.com/solatubegablestart.asp

http://www.solatube.com/homeowner/solarstar.php

Bob