How Much Money Does A Solar Attic Fan Save
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If you lot're tired of paying extravagant electricity bills to cool your dwelling during the hot summer months, a solar-powered attic fan tin help save you money and keep y'all from called-for upward. These fans are designed to broadcast air within your cranium, which usually traps hot air. And since they run on solar energy, you won't pay annihilation to run the fan and you'll be able to use your air conditioner less and save coin on your energy bill and carbon emissions in the process.
In order to help you discover the best solar attic fan, nosotros looked at a number of features that differentiate these fans. Beginning, nosotros looked at the air menstruation capacity and coverage, which demand to lucifer up with the size of your home and attic. Nosotros also looked at the fans' ability draws, which affect the size of solar panel you'll need, and the dimensions and weight of dissimilar fans.
Nosotros spent tens of hours researching solar attic fans, poring through technical specifications and client reviews, to come up with our list of the five best solar attic fans in the table below. Proceed reading for detailed reviews of each fan, consummate with pros and cons. Our buying guide covers everything you need to know about solar fans, from how they can assist absurd your home and salvage yous money to what features to consider when choosing a fan. Finally, nosotros sum up our iii overall favorite solar attic fans for your abode.
Quick Summary
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"Pinnacle-rated solar attic fan with a big solar panel and a high CFM to comprehend a huge coverage area of roughly 2,625 sq ft."
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"Flush-mounting solar cranium fan which covers less area than our top choice, but is durable in stiff winds."
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"Large fan which requires less power top operate, but delivers nifty CFM to ventilate and is hands mounted."
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"Affordable fan suitable for smaller attics, featuring a durable solar console that tin can even resist storms."
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"Lightweight and small-scale solar attic fan with a durable construction, perfect for smaller attic spaces."
Superlative 5 Solar Attic Fans Review 2022
Features
- Ability: 36W
- Air menstruum capacity: 1628 CFM
- Size: 27.ii x 27.2 x 11.v inches
- Weight: 29.vi lbs
- Warranty: 25-twelvemonth
More features: mounts on iii/12 to 12/12 pitch roofs, covers ii,625 sq ft of cranium infinite
Users rave virtually this solar cranium fan from Natural Low-cal, which boasts a large solar panel and a significant amount of air flow. The fan is capable of moving i,628 CFM of air in your cranium, which provides coverage for a roughly two,625-sqaure-foot attic space. However, it is worth noting that this fan likewise has the largest power draw of any solar attic fan we reviewed, at 36 watts. That means the solar panel is relatively large and will require a roof with a big daily dose of direct sunlight. Users noted that the fan will not run at capacity if in that location are any clouds, even if the air temperature outside is as hot equally on a fully sunny day. Some users opted to connect this fan to their electric grid so that information technology would continue cooling into the evenings and overnight when the solar panel is not agile.
Despite its size, this fan is relatively light at under 30 pounds and is able to install on a wide variety of roofs – from 3/12 to 12/12 pitch roofs. Users constitute that information technology lowers the temperature in the attic by five degrees or more during the summer and most everyone who installed the fan noticed an immediate difference in the temperature in upstairs bedrooms.
I of the things that users loved most this fan was how like shooting fish in a barrel it is to install. The instructions that come up with the fan are articulate and easy to follow, even for those without roofing experience. The fan comes with an impressive 25-twelvemonth warranty that covers both the fan and the solar panels, and so you can be sure that you lot'll recoup your original investment in the fan over more than than two decades of use.
Why are we impressed?
- ane,628 CFM for large coverage area
- Piece of cake to install by yourself
- 25-twelvemonth warranty
What negatives must you be aware of?
- 36 watts requires total sun to run at full capacity
Features
- Power: 24W
- Air flow capacity: i,339 CFM
- Size: 27.2 x 27.2 x 8 inches
- Weight: 27 lbs
- Warranty: 25-twelvemonth
More features: mounts on pitched fiberglass-asphalt shingle roofs, covers up to 2,100 sq ft of attic infinite
For users with smaller attic spaces, there are few choices better than this solar attic fan from Natural Light. The 1,339 CFM fan provides plenty of air menstruum for attics up to 2,100 square anxiety, while the fan motor itself draws only 24 watts of ability. That allows the solar panels on this fan to be relatively meaty, with the whole unit weighing merely 27 pounds. Plus, the fan volition work even when there are some passing clouds in the sky and gives you more than freedom in deciding where on your roof you would like to mount the fan. The furnishings of the fan are immediate, with cooling of several degrees noted by most users in upstairs rooms while in that location is well-nigh no detectable racket emanating from the fan itself.
Users loved the depression-contour pattern of the solar panels on this fan, which mountain nearly flush with the roof. Users accept constitute that the solar fan is unaffected by strong winds from either hurricanes or tornadoes. They also appreciate how durable the mountain is since information technology is made from solid steel rather than a lighter, less sturdy cloth.
This solar fan is able to exist installed on a broad variety of roofs, including pitched fiberglass and cobblestone shingled roofs. Users note that it takes but a few hours to install when using the very complete instructions provided by Natural Calorie-free, and that the company's customer service is very helpful when it comes to answering questions that come up upwardly during installation. The solar fan also comes with Natural Light's 25-year warranty on the fan motor and solar panels, so you can exist assured that this fan will pay for itself in electric neb savings over its lifetime.
Why did it make our list?
- Just draws 24 watts of solar power
- Mounts flush with roof for durability in strong winds
- 25-year warranty
What is not ideal almost it?
- May be besides pocket-size for some attics
Features
- Power: 20W
- Air flow capacity: 1750 CFM
- Size: 20x twenty x 13 inches
- Weight: 34.5 lbs
- Warranty: 10-twelvemonth limited on motor, twenty-twelvemonth limited on solar panel
More features: for commonly sloped, cobblestone shingle or wood shake roofs, nosotros all equally flat concrete tile or slate roofs; can be adjusted 15° / xxx° / 45° / 90°
This large, ane,750 CFM solar attic fan is best for users who have a large attic, upwards to ii,800 foursquare feet, with brackish hot air that could get trapped in the corners with a smaller fan. Despite its large coverage area, this fan draws an impressively depression twenty watts, which gives you plenty of freedom in placing the solar panels on the roof. Plus, GBGS designed their console bracket so that information technology can rotate up to 90 degrees horizontally and the solar panels can be angled in increments of fifteen degrees up to 45 degrees from the bottom subclass. That allows you to have reward of the late afternoon dominicus and adjust the way the console is facing if y'all wish to keep the fan running at total panel as the seasons shift from spring to summer to fall. This is also an advantage since you tin can fold the panel down in case of high winds during a tempest.
This fan can be installed on a broad variety of roofs, including asphalt, shingled, or wood frame roofs, as well equally whatever flat roof. Users establish the installation procedure to exist relatively straightforward, although they noted that the bottom bracket screws are hidden by the solar panels themselves, which can go far extremely difficult to go a screwdriver into the assembly. The fan itself is relatively quiet for its size, but some users reported a scratching audio as if the bearings are rubbing on the motor.
GBGS provides a ten-twelvemonth warranty on the fan motor and a twenty-year warranty on the solar console so that you will be certain to compensate your initial investment in the fan. The motor is also protected past a thermal shutoff that prevents it from overheating, which helps to extend its lifespan far across the x-year warranty menstruum.
What stands out?
- Solar panel is easily adjustable with seasons
- Fan motor comes with thermal shutoff
- ten-year warranty on fan motor, twenty-year warranty on solar panel
What cons did we manage to find?
- Bottom bracket screws are difficult to access
- Some fans have scratching audio from bearings rubbing
Features
- Power: 25W
- Air period capacity: ane,280 CFM
- Size: 27 x 27 ten 12 inches
- Weight: 28 lbs
- Warranty: 10 years
More features: venting capacity of up to ane,800 sq ft
This cheap solar attic fan from Brightwatts makes information technology like shooting fish in a barrel to recoup your investment, which is as well great for users whose homes are just on the border of using enough air workout to the bespeak where a solar attic fan is economically benign. The fan is relatively minor, with a 1,280 CFM air flow capacity that is capable of cooling attics up to one,800 square feet. On the other hand, information technology besides has a relatively reasonable 25-watt power draw that ways you lot will take enough of elbowroom in determining where to place the panels on your roof and won't have issues if some clouds laissez passer by. However, some users were annoyed by the born thermostat, which prevents the fan from turning on when the temperature in the attic is below 80 degrees – withal hot enough to add estrus to upstairs bedrooms.
Almost users who purchased this solar fan opted to accept a contractor install it since the installation is more difficult than on more expensive models. There is some wiring that demand to be completed between the solar panel and the fan motor, although this too allows you to place the panels separately from the fan itself then yous can collect the most sunlight. The solar panel mounts low plenty to the roof that users report information technology surviving multiple hurricanes without damage. In addition, users found that it is nigh incommunicable to detect any noise from the fan when information technology is running at full ability.
Brightwatts offers a 10-twelvemonth warranty on this solar cranium fan, which is long enough to ensure that you will compensate your investment and is somewhat impressive given the depression cost point of this fan.
What practice we love information technology for?
- Inexpensive
- Solar panel is durable during storms
- ten-yr warranty
What were we disappointed with?
- Thermostat prevents motor from turning on beneath 80 degrees
- Hard to install
Features
- Power: 28W
- Air flow capacity: 537 CFM
- Size: 26.5 x 29.ix x 7.75 inches
- Weight: 22 lbs
- Warranty: 1-year
More than features: xiv-inch diameter roof opening width, designed for spaces of i,000 cu ft
This small solar attic fan from Broan is perfect for people with modest attic spaces or a 2d compartment in their attic that needs its own ventilation system. The fan has an air flow capacity of 537 CFM, which corresponds to an attic space roughly 1,000 square feet in surface area. Although the fan draws a surprisingly high 28 watts of power, this organisation weighs a minimal 22 pounds and has a significantly smaller footprint on your roof than any of the other solar attic fans we reviewed – the cutting on your roof but needs to be 14 inches in diameter. The fan itself is mounted only underneath the solar console, so at that place is no need to worry virtually exposed blades that could catch on something in your attic space.
The mount is fabricated of ABS plastic rather than steel, although users found that this was plenty durable during storms. The solar panel too mounts low to the roof, which helps to forestall damage when high winds coil through. However, this depression-profile blueprint can also limit the number of suitable places you can put it on your roof since there is no adjustability in the panel to angle information technology upwardly to capture sunlight. Therefore, the fan can have difficulty running at full power in the belatedly afternoon when the sun is low in the sky.
Users loved Broan's customer service whenever bug came up during installation, although well-nigh users were able to follow the installation instructions with no problem. However, it is worth noting that Broan only offers a 1-twelvemonth warranty. Although users written report this fan working for many years, the lack of protection compared to other fans tin can be a pregnant drawback.
Why did it brand our list?
- Small and lightweight with no exposed fan blades
- Durable ABS plastic construction
- Good customer service
What is not platonic about information technology?
- Just one-twelvemonth warranty
- Low-profile solar panel can make it hard to capture sunlight
What is a solar attic fan and how does it work?
A solar attic fan is simply a mechanical fan, like to those you probable have elsewhere in your firm, that is installed in your cranium and powered by solar panels on the roof. Virtually attic fans don't fifty-fifty demand to exist continued to your dwelling house's electrical circuitry for fill-in power since you lot simply need the cooling effect of the fan on hot, sunny days when the solar panels are working at maximum capacity.
These fans might seem similar a small addition to your home, merely they can provide a significant toll savings on your electrical bill by reducing the amount you demand to run your air conditioner. By circulating hot air in the attic, these fans are able to remove rut from 1 of the places it tends to pool inside your house and pull in fresh, cooler air. The upshot is that your cranium won't overheat, keeping the rooms below from heating up in turn and extending the life of your shingle roof by preventing the shingles from heating from beneath.
One thing to annotation about solar attic fans is that they tin can be somewhat expensive to purchase and install – which ways that yous'll demand to get at to the lowest degree several years of use out of the fan to recoup your initial investment.
However, different traditional powered attic fans, solar fans do not cost anything to run in one case they're installed. They as well don't draw nearly equally much ability equally traditional fans, so there are no concerns about generating negative air pressure that tin pull conditioned air or unwanted gases like carbon monoxide from your oven into the attic.
Features to consider while choosing a solar attic fan
How exercise you know which solar attic fan is correct for you? In this section, nosotros'll cover the most important features that differentiate solar attic fans to assistance y'all choose the fan you need.
Does power thing?
Since solar attic fans don't cost anything to power, the amount of ability that they depict only affects the size of the solar panels that volition be needed on your roof. If you accept a roof that does non have much dominicus exposure or much infinite to install solar panels, and so power can matter quite a bit – your panels will need to capture enough lord's day to consistently meet the ability requirements of your fan. However, for roofs that have plenty of direct sunlight, the power of your fan is likely not an important consideration when choosing a fan.
How much space exercise you need to exist ventilated?
If power is not a concern, you can base your decision of which solar cranium fan to buy based largely on the square footage of your cranium. A larger fan will be able to circulate more air, which is of import if you have a large attic with lots of hot air that needs to be recirculated. Typically, attic fans' abilities to motility air is measured as airflow capacity in cubic feet per minute (CFM), and a ane,000 CFM fan should be able to provide plenty air menses to circulate air over a 1,600-square pes or greater square pes attic. Thus, a ane,000 CFM fan is considered to have a coverage expanse of one,600 foursquare feet, while the 1,750 CFM fan from GBGS will have a coverage area of upwards to 2,800 foursquare anxiety.
Consider size and weight
A bigger fan, with a larger coverage expanse, will nearly always be larger and heavier, although this also depends on the design materials – for example, the modest 1,280 CFM fan from Brightwatts weighs 28 pounds compared to the 34.v-pound 1,750 CFM fan from GBGS. Size tin be important if you lot have limited space in your attic or a small entryway, since y'all need to be able to get the unassembled fan into the cranium and accept the blades rotate without obstructions.
Weight is a consideration for where exactly you tin install the fan, since a heavier fan will crave more support from your roof.
Warranty
It will take more than a few years' worth of use to recoup the initial investment into your solar cranium fan with savings on your electric nib from using less air-conditioning. Therefore, information technology is essential that your fan will final for many years to come. You tin ensure that this volition exist the case by choosing a fan with a long warranty – for instance, both Natural Light fans come with 25-yr warranties. Remember to ensure also that the warranty covers both the fan motor and the solar panels, since either of these components can be expensive to replace.
How to install a solar attic fan?
Although many people opt for professional installation of their new solar attic fan, you can save money by tackling this project yourself. You will need to first install the roof brackets and autumn-abort arrangement for the solar panels to the desired location on the roof. Then you will demand to apply a reciprocating saw to cutting the shingles on the roof to the shape of the circular base of the fan, and mount the fan to the roofing brackets. You tin secure this with caulk and so apply a roofing boom to supercede shingles in the area immediately around the brackets.
FAQ
Do solar attic fans lower the temperature, or exercise they but move air?
Solar fans tin can't lower the temperature of the exterior air they're bringing in, but by moving warm air out of your attic and bringing exterior air in they volition lower the overall temperature in your attic.
Do I need to install a solar attic fan toward the south to get most of it?
Where on your roof y'all install your solar panels volition depend on the setup of your roof and the power required past your fan. If you lot fan does not require much ability, you lot may be able to install it anywhere on your roof if your roof receives a lot of direct sunlight. However, if you have a high-powered fan and a roof that receives direct sunlight for simply part of the day, you lot will want to install the fan in the surface area that receives the near calorie-free – which is often to the southern-facing side of the roof.
Will a solar attic fan sustain hurricane winds?
Aye. Solar attic fans were originally adult for homes in Florida, where hurricanes are a common threat. As a effect, most solar cranium fans have been designed to withstand severe winds over 100 miles per hour.
Our Verdict
Our iii overall favorite solar attic fans on the market today are the 36-watt and 24-watt fans from Natural Light and the 20-watt fan from GBGS. The GBGS fan is perfect for big attics cheers to its one,750 CFM air flow capacity, and users greatly appreciated the ability to move the solar panel using the adjustable base to continue capturing lite every bit the sun moves with the seasons. The 24-watt Natural Calorie-free fan has the advantage of Natural Low-cal's piece of cake installation and 25-year warranty, plus a flush-mounted solar console design that users loved for its durability in storms and relatively high air menstruum capacity. However, we feel the 36-watt fan from Natural Lite is the best solar attic fan for almost homes thanks to its air flow capacity nearly on par with the fan from GBGS paired with easier installation and a ridiculously long 25-year warranty that covers both the fan motor and solar panel.
Source: https://houseandbeyond.org/best-solar-attic-fan/
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