Attic Fan Vs Insulation

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.

Attic fan vs insulation.

However the utility of attic ventilation fans is actually quite a controversial topic. Insulation or lack of it air leaks soffit vents the stack effect ridge vents attic fans recessed lights pull down stairs radiant barriers and all the ducts and or hvac equipment frequently located in attics. This complexity is easy to appreciate when you consider all the attic features that factor into energy performance. Instead of spending money on radiant barriers attic fans or levels of insulation above an r 40 investing duct sealing and shade screens would make more sense.

If we assume that the outside air is 10 f warmer than the desired. During the day any cooler air brought in by the fan will be heated up immediately by the surrounding structure. Lowering attic temps it is not an accurate statement to say that if you have good insulation you don t care what the attic temperature is. Loose fill or batt the common term for blanket insulation.

Both can be added to uninsulated attics or layered over existing material. Without any air movement temperatures in the attic soar in summer and plunge in winter. Most fans cannot keep up. For diy attic insulation you ve got two choices.

Once you ve decided which type is best for you examine the material options and prices to home in on the right product. Good insulation reduces fan effectiveness. One static vent style is the turbine vent which uses wind to power its enclosed fan all it takes is a light breeze to rotate the blades and suck heat out of the attic view example on the home. Without ventilation unfinished attic spaces can end up having stagnant air.

In most cases it is not difficult to air seal and insulated an attic. The alternative would be to install an attic fan that would draw cooler outside air into the attic while expelling the hot air. Heat conduction from the attic to the house is proportional to the temperature difference divided by the r value.