Attic fan

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imex99's avatar

imex99

Senior Member

4,927 posts
Apr 11, 2013 6:00 AM
Anyone have them or ever have them?

2nd floor gets much warmer.....trying to cool the upstairs equally, 1st floor feels good, the upstairs gets hot!

Any suggestions?
Apr 11, 2013 6:00am
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Apr 11, 2013 7:09 AM
In our last second home we had an attic fan. It did work but, it was loud and costly, temp setting was high but it ran all the time. The cost of operation vs the some what cooler upstairs … not a good deal

Few hints to help, we have the same problem in this 75 year old home presently ..
1. Clean out your attic from having a lot of stuff stored in it.
2. Roof vents helps
3. Check your insulation
4. Close off some of the vents down stair to force cooler air up stairs</SPAN>
5. We put ceiling fan down stairs to keep the air moving

6. We put two ceiling fans upstairs to circulate the air &#8230; big help </SPAN>

I will never have a attic fan .. ever again</SPAN>
Apr 11, 2013 7:09am
Curly J's avatar

Curly J

Self Pwner in Training.

7,282 posts
Apr 11, 2013 8:34 AM
I'm a fan of Attics. Hope this helps.

Actually my Aunt and Uncle used one for years to cool their house. Didn't really cool so much, but there was some good airflow within the house while it was running.
Apr 11, 2013 8:34am
imex99's avatar

imex99

Senior Member

4,927 posts
Apr 11, 2013 9:31 AM
Belly35;1423280 wrote:In our last second home we had an attic fan. It did work but, it was loud and costly, temp setting was high but it ran all the time. The cost of operation vs the some what cooler upstairs … not a good deal

Few hints to help, we have the same problem in this 75 year old home presently ..
1. Clean out your attic from having a lot of stuff stored in it.

Nothing stored, just insulation

2. Roof vents helps

Are you taking about ridge vents on top of the shingles, have those abs soffit.


3. Check your insulation
4. Close off some of the vents down stair to force cooler air up stairs
5. We put ceiling fan down stairs to keep the air moving

6. We put two ceiling fans upstairs to circulate the air … big help

I will never have a attic fan .. ever again
I was looking at solar power/electric and has thermostat/humidistat. Only runs when gets to certain setting.
Apr 11, 2013 9:31am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Apr 11, 2013 10:19 AM
Do you have soffit and ridge vents? A proper passive system with proper attic insulation should be sufficient in Ohio. Usually an attic fan is a crutch for the passive system or the insulation being insufficient.
Apr 11, 2013 10:19am
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 11, 2013 12:17 PM
I rent and do not have an attic.

Hope this helps.
Apr 11, 2013 12:17pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Apr 11, 2013 12:32 PM
I live in an attic. Hope this helps.
Apr 11, 2013 12:32pm
TedSheckler's avatar

TedSheckler

Emporium Entrepreneur

3,974 posts
Apr 11, 2013 4:37 PM
Pick6;1423412 wrote:I live in an attic. Hope this helps.

Apr 11, 2013 4:37pm
Q

QuakerOats

Senior Member

8,740 posts
Apr 11, 2013 5:23 PM
I replaced one that is mounted in the roof a couple years ago --- new ones do not need lubed, which is good. It has a thermostat so it pops on whenever it gets, say, over 95 degrees in the attic. Sucks out the really hot air from the attic which puts less pressure on your second floor temp's. A real good idea for less than $100.
Apr 11, 2013 5:23pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Apr 11, 2013 6:17 PM
TedSheckler;1423619 wrote:
i lol'd
Apr 11, 2013 6:17pm
S

Sonofanump

Apr 11, 2013 7:13 PM
Our house has one, we run every once in a while for no more than twenty minutes at a time.
Apr 11, 2013 7:13pm
Flash's avatar

Flash

Senior Member

1,035 posts
Apr 11, 2013 8:02 PM
Works really well if put in the upper hallway and pulls cool air from down stairs up. Have a timer controller switch in hallway and set for 1/2 -1 hr. You can regulate the breeze in one room by opening only those windows in that room and it sucks the cool night time air up thru the room your in upstairs. Great for the Spring and Fall when it gets hot in the house upstairs and cools off outside. LJ's right in that the attic has to have good vents for it to work. A fan in the roof of the house is a waste. Has to be in the hallway or bedroom upstairs.
Apr 11, 2013 8:02pm
M

MontyBrunswick

Apr 11, 2013 9:19 PM
imex99;1423317 wrote:I was looking at solar power/electric and has thermostat/humidistat. Only runs when gets to certain setting.
My dad built one. Has three ~12" fans on a piece of plexiglass that sits as a replacement to the attic window. Only kicks on when it reaches a certain temperature.
Apr 11, 2013 9:19pm
Ironman92's avatar

Ironman92

Administrator

49,363 posts
Apr 11, 2013 9:28 PM
Love the ones in the house that get the air into the attic. Really cools the house down in a hurry. Make sure the windows are cracked before turning it on!

/pilot light troubles
Apr 11, 2013 9:28pm
Cat Food Flambe''s avatar

Cat Food Flambe'

Senior Member

1,230 posts
Apr 11, 2013 11:23 PM
We put one in when we build the house - it's mounted in the ceiling of the upstairs hallway. The builder added more vents to the ridgeline and eaves accommodate the air flow, and we later added a muli-speed control and an airtight cover to keep the heat from leaking out in the winter. Absolutely love it - on the high setting, it can replace the air in the house in less than two minutes. With a little air moving, the house is usually comfortable to about 80 degrees if it's not terribly humid, and we can save 30-40 AC days a year as a result.

Like Ironman said, if you turn it on without any doors or windows open, it pulls all the outside air into the house through the water heater vent, which blows out the pilot light.
Apr 11, 2013 11:23pm
said_aouita's avatar

said_aouita

Banned

8,532 posts
Apr 12, 2013 8:12 AM
Gotta saw?


Apr 12, 2013 8:12am
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Apr 12, 2013 11:24 AM
We put one in a few years ago. I guess it does help some with the cooling not a big fan. I am not sure but the guy that installed it said it will help make the shingles on the roof last longer. I guess only time will tell
Apr 12, 2013 11:24am
LJ's avatar

LJ

Senior Member

16,351 posts
Apr 12, 2013 11:38 AM
said_aouita;1423894 wrote:Gotta saw?




:laugh: soffit vent attempt
Apr 12, 2013 11:38am