How Much Money Does A Solar Attic Fan Save

However the utility of attic ventilation fans is actually quite a controversial topic.

How much money does a solar attic fan save.

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. Many solar fan companies say the cost can be recouped in 1 2 years however. Just make sure you have the right climate to use one.

Hip roofs are tough. You re almost always better off using passive ventilation like a ridge vent a soffit vent that sort of thing to reduce attic temperatures and not use an attic fan. The only time i would ever use an attic fan is if i had a roof that was unusually difficult to vent passively. Prices range from a few hundred dollars up fully installed and some brands are offering really long warranties up to 25.

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. This product requires direct sunlight to operate. 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.

That means it could take between 10 15 years to get back to even with this investment. 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. If your solar fan needs replacement it can cost between 400 and 750. Solar fans can also help you save more money on your utility bills than electric fans.

Check out some of the solar attic fan companies websites for more data. Depending on what your utility charges that s about 40 per year. 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. An attic fan may not reduce your air conditioning costs but a whole house fan is a different story.

For example if you had a hip roof. The downside of attic ventilation fans. On the other hand solar attic fans don t come with electrical problems so you can save some money in that area.