Basements, Attics and Crawl Spaces - attic fan advice

Hi, I was wondering if I could get some help with attic ventilation? I am getting moisture build up in the winter months and it is quite hot in the summer so i believe I need an attic fan. I am going to go with the electric rather than the solar but I am also looking for one with more a manual control rather than thermostats and humidstats, something that I can switch on and off when I need to. Something that plugs directly into a standard outlet would be perfect as I have one about 5 feet away and i can just add a simple switch on to it but these, for some reason, don't seem to be available. Any ideas where to get something like this? Any help would be great. Thanks very much.

Hi Adam. Attic fans have some issues that make their benefits questionable. If you are getting moisture in the attic during the winter, you have air leaks from the house to the attic. Electrical and plumbing holes, drop ceilings over kitchen cabinets, and chimney chases to mention a few. Once these are sealed your problem should be greatly reduced. Then, what is up there for ventilation now? Let's see if it is enough to start with.

Bud

Thanks for replying. It is an old farmhouse and I don't believe there is anything up there now for ventilation, no soffits or roof vents of any kind. The winters out here are brutal and I get frost all over the roof sheathing and I think this then melts and leaks down to the ceilings and also pools in the attic insulation. It has ruined the drywall ceiling panels, they are stained and crumbling. What do you suggest? Any help is appreciated.
Adam

Until Bud wakes up, I'll start the day. Installing an attic fan without any soffits won't do what you want. Installaing an attic fan, as Bud says, has it's own issues (burned out motors, poor circulation, etc.). IMO, you would be best served by installing soffit vents, then cutting a ridge vent, installing a ridge vent cap. This will take the air from the soffits, wash it across the air in the attic, and allow it to exit the ridge vent. It is passive, so you don't have to worry about "is my fan running, is my fan running too much", you know.
Others will chime in, so give it a chance and take the best information for your situation.

ESB: Research Exposes Attic Ventilation Myth (http://www.oikos.com/esb/30/atticvent.html)
BSD-102: Understanding Attic Ventilation — (http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/digests/bsd-102-understanding-attic-ventilation?full_view=1)
Plone — (http://www.buildingscience.com/search?SearchableText=gable+vents+and+ridge+vents)
Use 1/100, not 1/150: Air Vent: Continuous Soffit Vents Specifications (http://www.airvent.com/homeowner/products/intakeSoffit-specs.shtml)
Get you going.......
Be safe, Gary