Ridge Vent Vs Solar Fan

What makes ridge vents so effective is how they run the length of your roof.

Ridge vent vs solar fan.

Purchasing an electric or solar attic fan may not provide the savings that homeowners expect. Choosing a ridge vent or an attic fan. Because solar attic fans operate with a lower power output they are unable to move as much air as some of the other options that are available. Installing roof ridge vents and more attic insulation are better options experts say.

The fan blades spin but they don t lower the attic temperature at all. As warm air rises in your attic fresh air is drawn in through soffit vents. Solar powered attic vent fans usually don t move as many cubic feet of air per minute cfm as hardwired fans. In this back by popular demand article see the difference between roof box vents and continuous ridge vents.

An attic fan is an active system that actually forces air out. Roof box vents and continuous ridge vents are separated by a few differences and deciding which one to put on your roof depends on which better fits the type and situational roof you have. That depends on your roof. It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent.

This is a solar panel supplying free electricity to the attic fan under the silver dome on the rear roof. Without ventilation unfinished attic spaces can end up having stagnant air. Without any air movement temperatures in the attic soar in summer and plunge in winter. Unlike ridge vents attic fans use electricity and need regular maintenance to keep working properly.

If air is drawn in through the ridge vent while it s raining it might pull rainwater in with it which could lead to leaking or mold in the attic. You will probably need two solar attic fans to get the results you want. Ridge vent vs solar attic fan. Since your solar vent fan only moves 500 cfm a third to half that of a typical hardwired attic vent fan it probably won t move enough air to reverse the action of the ridge vent.

When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan consider the needs of the attic. Which is better for your roof. Attic fans can also make a lot of noise. Adding roof ridge vents can reduce summer air conditioning costs prevent roof mildew and rot and keep your roof in better shape longer.

But they re much easier to install since no wiring is needed. Ridge vents are an ideal solution to ventilation in an ideal attic. A ridge vent or a solar attic fan. Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because.