What is a Solar Attic Fan and How Does It Work?

Let the SUN cool your attic space!

A “solar powered attic fan” is a powered roof vent that runs on solar energy instead of standard electricity from the grid. Instead of consuming electricity to cool your attic, the solar fan uses a built-in solar panel to transform sunlight into electric power. This solar electricity drives a motor that turns the fan blades, removing heat and moisture from your attic. Plus, it’s easily installed by one of our trained technicians!

The thing is, your roof receives direct, intense rays from the sun. These rays heat the roof, making it radiate thermal radiation (heat) into the attic. A radiant barrier on the roof or just below the roof deck helps reduce this; however, attic fans add benefit as well. Whether your roof is a shingled, tiled, metal, or sprayed roof heat begins building up in the attic space. A solar attic fan is a great, simple solution that can help a bunch with making your home more energy efficient. They help reduce the heat building up within the attic, subsequently reducing the heat radiating into the building itself through the ceiling. Obviously, this benefits the load on cooling systems. However, many homeowners are unaware of the benefit to the roofing material. That is, the increase to the material’s longevity. In fact, manufactures will not honor their material’s warranties unless the structures have had adequate ventilation, usually in the form of multiple, roof-level vents or a powered attic fan.

So, what’s a smart homeowner to do? Multiple vents can be quite expensive and not quite as effective as a powered fan. A powered attic fan is the better option, usually. They add a great deal of benefit, with little cost of installation, compared to multiple vents that is. Nevertheless, a traditional, powered attic fan will add residual costs in the form of electricity costs, as they pull power from the grid. A Solar Powered Attic Fan is a great alternative. Installation is easier than a traditional powered attic fan, usually, without all the costly wiring to the home’s power box. Plus, a solar-powered attic fan runs on clean, highly effective energy from the Sun. Installing a solar powered attic fan is a great way to add value to your home, oblige your warranty(s), reduce your cooling costs, and reduce your carbon footprint! What better way to cool your attic than with the Sun itself?

Salt River Solar & Wind supplies and installs Solar Powered Attic Fans. We’ll get you setup with a simple, effective solution that will decrease your cooling costs Today! Just give us a call at (623) 975-2313 or visit us online.