EASTERN CONNECTICUT Blog

Solar Attic Fans: How Ventilation and Insulation Work Together

How Ventilation and Insulation Work Together to Keep Your Home the Perfect Temperature 

In the hot summer months, attics worldwide turn into mini saunas as heat rises from the home and gets trapped in the attic alongside moisture that collects due to high humidity levels. 

If you have a well-insulated attic, you might think that this phenomenon isn't anything to worry about, as the insulation should keep the heat out of your main living area while trapping your air conditioning inside. 

However, excessive heat and humidity in your attic can do a lot more damage than you think, from making insulation less effective to actively damaging your attic and roofing. This can lead to costly repairs and skyrocketing air conditioning bills. 

Thankfully, there is a simple fix to this problem, ventilation. With proper ventilation, your attic will stay cooler, your insulation will be more effective, and you'll be able to enjoy comfortable temperatures year-round. 

Our pick for one of the best ways to ventilate your attic. Solar attic fans. Keep reading to find out why solar attic fans are one of our favorite picks for attic ventilation. 

What is a solar attic fan?? 

Solar attic fans are ventilation fans that are powered by built-in solar panels. The fans pull heat and moisture out of your attic and vent it outdoors, continually reducing the buildup of heat and humidity in your home. 

What makes solar attic fans so popular is that they require no additional electricity to function. They draw all of their power straight from the sun, making them a cost-effective and eco-friendly alternative to traditional attic fans. 

The Advantages of a Solar Attic Fan: 

Reduces electricity/utility/maintenance bills: 

By utilizing the energy of the sun, solar attic fans can help you save money on your electricity and maintenance bills. 

Preserves your roof structure: 

By keeping your attic cool, solar attic fans help prevent the deterioration of your roof's materials, prolonging its lifespan. 

Keeps your attic cool:  

By reducing extreme heat buildup in your home, solar attic fans help keep your attic cool and create a more comfortable living space. 

Helps eliminate mold and reduce moisture:  

By ventilating your attic and reducing moisture in the air, solar attic fans can help fight off harmful mold growth and prevent damaging moisture. 

Easy to install: Solar attic fans are easy to install and don't require any wiring, assembly, or mess to clean up afterward. 

Eco-Friendly: 

Solar attic fans are a sustainable way to ventilate your attic without electricity. They are equipped with a built-in photovoltaic power system that uses the sun's energy to power the fan. 

Helps with the Connecticut heat and humidity:  

Solar attic fans are an excellent way to combat the heat and humidity of Connecticuts' climate. 

Eligible for the federal tax credit:  

Solar attic fans are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit. 

More affordable than replacing an AC unit:  

Solar attic fans are much more cost-effective than replacing an entire air conditioning unit. 

No fire hazards:  

Unlike electrical attic fans, solar attic fans have no fire hazards. 

Storm-proof:  

Solar attic fans are built to withstand harsh weather conditions, making them ideal for the Connecticut storm season. 

So, if you choose to install a solar attic fan, what benefits can you expect? Let's take a look at the specific benefits that installing a solar attic fan can bring. 

It removes excess moisture 

Excess moisture in your attic can have disastrous consequences, and if you live in a warm, humid environment, moisture can accumulate quickly in a hot attic. The accumulation of moisture can lead to various issues, some small, some much larger, and costly. 

The most common issue with moisture buildup is mold. Black mold and mildew love a warm, humid environment, and once they begin to take root, they can spread throughout your attic and affect the air quality of your home. Mold and mildew can cause severe allergic reactions in some people and may lead to respiratory irritation and breathing issues in others. 

And because most people don't spend a lot of time in their attics, mold can go unnoticed for months or even years, and by the time it's caught, it can cost a lot of money to have it removed. 

One of the larger issues that moisture buildup can cause is structural damage. When wood is exposed to moisture for many years, it can rot or warp, and this can cost thousands of dollars to repair. 

With a solar attic fan, your attic is continually vented of moisture, preventing the development of costly damages brought on by excess moisture buildup. 

It can extend the life of your roof 

When temperatures rise in your attic, it can cause damage to one of the most important elements of your home, your roof. Your roof protects your home from the elements, but when it's subjected to an excessively hot attic, it can warp or even crack. Roof damage can be exceedingly expensive to correct, so venting excess heat with a solar attic fan can be crucial to extending the life of your roof and preventing costly repairs. 

It can improve the efficiency of your air conditioning 

When an attic gets too hot, some of that excess heat can penetrate your existing insulation and begin to heat the rest of your home. As your home gets warmer, your air conditioner will have to work harder to keep up. This can drive up your cooling costs significantly. An attic fan vents this excess heat and will help keep your home cooler overall, meaning your AC won't have to work as hard. And with a solar attic fan, because it generates its own power through its solar panels, it won't add to your electric bill. That's a cost-saving win-win. 

Are solar attic fans expensive?? 

Solar attic fans cost a little bit more than traditional roof vents. However, they offer numerous cost-saving advantages that can more than offset the initial cost of the device. They are more powerful than a traditional wind-powered vent, which means they will vent more heat and thus drive down cooling costs more. 

They also work year-round, whereas a wind-powered vent won't work on a hot summer day without a breeze. This continuous operation paired with zero operating costs thanks to the built-in power generation means that solar attic fans end up saving you more money in the long run than the cost of installing them. 

Solar attic vent fans run on solar energy and function by pulling superheated air out of an attic and replacing it with cooler outside air. Doing so reduces the workload of your HVAC system in cooling the living area upstairs. This ultimately prolongs the lifespan of your air conditioning unit and serves as an excellent alternative to the costly process of replacing your air conditioning unit. 

Passive vents alone are not as effective as solar attic vent fans at expelling heat and moisture. An overheated attic functions in a similar manner to a giant radiator, transferring heat from the attic into living areas and hiking up both utility bills and temperatures. 

By utilizing solar power, an attic fan saves money while also regulating the temperature of the attic, thereby increasing the efficiency of your AC unit. Well-maintained solar attic vent fans ultimately serve as a wise investment for homeowners. 

Does Koala Insulation offer solar attic fans?? 

Koala Insulation's team of skilled experts specializes in all types of attic insulation and ventilation to ensure your ultimate comfort. If you're in need of a solar attic fan or want a thorough evaluation of your home's insulation to pinpoint areas of concern, look no further than Koala Insulation of Eastern Connecticut. 

Our experts come fully equipped with cutting-edge equipment to meticulously examine your attic or home and identify any areas that require improvement or repair. Not only will they provide a detailed assessment of your current living conditions, but they'll also utilize their extensive experience to design optimal solutions that suit your home and budget. 

By hiring a Koala Insulation expert, you'll not only benefit from a more efficient home sooner but also enjoy years of energy savings that come with professionally installed insulation. Trust us to deliver the ultimate comfort that lasts!