Danny s tests of solar attic fans showed that in florida where there s abundant solar energy yearly savings from installing two fans in a house with just over 1 000 square feet of air conditioned floor area amounted to only 460 kwh.
How much money does a solar attic fan save.
Many solar fan companies say the cost can be recouped in 1 2 years however.
Prices range from a few hundred dollars up fully installed and some brands are offering really long warranties up to 25.
The solar attic fans all moved less than 1 000 cubic feet of air per minute cfm and they did nothing to lower the temperature inside my own attic.
The downside of attic ventilation fans.
These ventilation fans are usually mounted in the upper slope of the roof and are designed to cool the attic save energy on cooling costs and extend the life of the roof shingles.
Ad the infrared rays from the sun are powerful.
Solar fans can also help you save more money on your utility bills than electric fans.
A florida study found that installing two solar attic fans in a house just over 1 000 square feet saved about 460 kwh which amounts to about 50 per year.
Check out some of the solar attic fan companies websites for more data.
Attic ventilation fans whether hard wired or powered by their own solar panels seem like a low cost and effective way to help keep your house cool.
Depending on how much you paid for your system it could take more than 10 years to recoup your cost.
This product requires direct sunlight to operate.
Hip roofs are tough.
The only time i would ever use an attic fan is if i had a roof that was unusually difficult to vent passively.
That means it could take between 10 15 years to get back to even with this investment.
Or use the link at the top of any page here to find a local solar installer who can advise you if a solar attic fan is a good investment for you.
Depending on what your utility charges that s about 40 per year.
However the utility of attic ventilation fans is actually quite a controversial topic.
Just make sure you have the right climate to use one.
Good insulation reduces fan effectiveness.
An attic fan may not reduce your air conditioning costs but a whole house fan is a different story.
As hgtv points out cooling a 1 000 square foot home with solar attic fans can save you about 40 per year in a warm climate like florida.
On the other hand solar attic fans don t come with electrical problems so you can save some money in that area.