Ridge Vent Vs Solar Fan

Solar powered attic vent fans usually don t move as many cubic feet of air per minute cfm as hardwired fans.

Ridge vent vs solar fan.

As warm air rises in your attic fresh air is drawn in through soffit vents. A ridge vent or a solar attic fan. When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan consider the needs of the attic. It could reverse the natural flow of hot air out the ridge vent.

That means you will need to double up your investment in this area. This is a solar panel supplying free electricity to the attic fan under the silver dome on the rear roof. In addition to soffit gable and or ridge vents you may want to add a power vent fan to your attic to increase air circulation. Combining an attic power vent fan with a ridge vent is usually not recommended because.

But they re much easier to install since no wiring is needed. 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. Also since the fan is powered by the sun it should turn off when the sky is overcast during a storm which will keep it from drawing rain into the attic. Attic fans can also make a lot of noise.

Without ventilation unfinished attic spaces can end up having stagnant air. Installing roof ridge vents and more attic insulation are better options experts say. Unlike ridge vents attic fans use electricity and need regular maintenance to keep working properly. That depends on your roof.

In this back by popular demand article see the difference between roof box vents and continuous ridge vents. The fan blades spin but they don t lower the attic temperature at all. 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. 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.

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. What makes ridge vents so effective is how they run the length of your roof. An attic fan is an active system that actually forces air out. Ridge vents are an ideal solution to ventilation in an ideal attic.

Which is better for your roof. Ridge vent vs solar attic fan. Without any air movement temperatures in the attic soar in summer and plunge in winter. Purchasing an electric or solar attic fan may not provide the savings that homeowners expect.