I am about to move into a house that has a small fan in both attic eave vents. Are these things worth the electricity they use?
Do they reduce the cooling bill by a noticeable amount?
Do they reduce the cooling bill by a noticeable amount?
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Attic Cooling Fans
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amazingflapjack
US Veteran
mine was down for repair for about a month, and the bill went up 50$-it is also nicer in the house, even when the a/c was on.
I have mine in the attached garage ceiling. I open the side door to the garage, and pull air in and through the roof. Makes it nicer in the garage too! Has a dramatic effect on the cost of A/C and makes it nicer in the house.
I have mine in the attached garage ceiling. I open the side door to the garage, and pull air in and through the roof. Makes it nicer in the garage too! Has a dramatic effect on the cost of A/C and makes it nicer in the house.
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Wee Hooker
Member
I can't speculate on yours (not knowing details of fan rating, house size, location etc) but I do have some experience with attic fans.
Specificly, I installed a large , thermostatically controlled whole house fan in the attic of a house I used to live in (back in the 80's). It did help keep the house cooler and promoted air flow. It was noticeable from when it was off or on in summer months. Additionally, it helped to better preserve things store in the attic as they didn't get cooked up there on a regular basis.
As far as "worth the electricity" that's a personal thing dependant on your finances and tolerance for heat. AC costs money to run but I wouldn't be without it these days.
Specificly, I installed a large , thermostatically controlled whole house fan in the attic of a house I used to live in (back in the 80's). It did help keep the house cooler and promoted air flow. It was noticeable from when it was off or on in summer months. Additionally, it helped to better preserve things store in the attic as they didn't get cooked up there on a regular basis.
As far as "worth the electricity" that's a personal thing dependant on your finances and tolerance for heat. AC costs money to run but I wouldn't be without it these days.
kwselke
Member
I used to live in a house in the Heights area of Houston that had an attic vent fan. The electric cost was negligible. The town home I have now has ridge vents that probably work as well or better than a thermostatically controlled fan in an old roof design. I think your cost benefit equation needs to look at whether or not the house has ridge vents and the amount of insulation in the attic.
Attics do get very hot and depending on the quality of the insulation in the ceiling,those fans could really help.
Sent from my Dick Tracy 2 way wrist radio.
Sent from my Dick Tracy 2 way wrist radio.
OP
It has 3 turbine vents and is 1400 sf, blow in insulation about 8" deep.
They are worthwhile in getting rid of heat in summer especially if you have long hot seasons. You didn't mention the climate you are in.
My climate is mostly hot. I have a ridge vent, extra insulation and louvers at each end. (I had turbines, but they blew off in a hurricane and I didn't replace them). My bills stay pretty low in hot and cold. I would at least put in insulation and some sort of ventilation be it natural or forced convection. I also put in double windows. It has all been worthwhile. I wouldn't think it was bad to have attic fans as well. The benefits far outweigh the cost.
Do you have vents for the air to enter? The fans on the attic vents aren't as effective and are fighting each other if there isn't outside air coming in somewhere.
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kwselke
Member
The house I lived in 17 years ago was about 1400 square feet and had two turbines along with the thermostatically controlled power vent. In my current neighborhood most turbine vents vanished after Ike.
Eight inches of insulation sounds good. Take a metal tape measure and check it to make sure it has not settled.
You should be able to find the wattage of the vent fan somewhere on the housing or paperwork. Electricity in Houston should run about 10.5 to 12 cents per kWh. If the two fans use 50 watts each (100 combined) they will cost about 12 cents for every ten hours they both run. They will probably only run full time at intervals between June and September.
I would take power attic vents as a plus in evaluating a home.
OP
I live in Houston so yes, it gets hot!
The air for the fans enters the eave vents on each end of the house.
OP
The house I lived in 17 years ago was about 1400 square feet and had two turbines along with the thermostatically controlled power vent. In my current neighborhood most turbine vents vanished after Ike.
Eight inches of insulation sounds good. Take a metal tape measure and check it to make sure it has not settled.
You should be able to find the wattage of the vent fan somewhere on the housing or paperwork. Electricity in Houston should run about 10.5 to 12 cents per kWh. If the two fans use 50 watts each (100 combined) they will cost about 12 cents for every ten hours they both run. They will probably only run full time at intervals between June and September.
I would take power attic vents as a plus in evaluating a home.
I am paying less than 10 cents per kWh.
Appreciate all the feedback. Never had any experience with these things before now.
kwselke
Member
May I ask what power retailer you use, and if you are month to month or have a long term contract?
THEWELSHM
Member
Florida here, have had them in many homes, I say a must mine were set to come on at 95 degree attic temp. I used to hear the kick off at dinner time.
thewelshm
thewelshm
tompehret
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We had an attic fan when I was growing up back east. Great in the summer since it drew air through the house and out through the fan in the attic. It was a pretty good summertime cooler back before we had AC. As far as a fan that vents the attic only, it's good for the attic as it will vent out moisture caused by condensation. That's a good thing.
DeathGrip
US Veteran
They're well worth running. I live in Fl and our summers are similar. Just make sure they are clean and not full of dust and such. Same with the eave screens.
I don't know about how the humidity in Houston will affect it, but my brother in California, who pays more at the lowest kWh rate there than I do at the highest rate here in Washington, swears by his. The small cost of electricity to run the fan is a pittance compared to what you save by not having to run your main HVAC system as hard.
OP
Cirro.
9.7 cents per kWh
I have a one year contract with them.
Just switched from Stream.
LVSteve
Member
You would think they would be standard issue in Las Vegas, but they are not. Some of that is down to the vaulted ceiling designs you find in many of the homes, though. My buddy has a single storey home with a more regular attic and said it made a huge difference to his electricity bill. In the summer your attic can reach over 140°F, so getting back down closer to a typical Vegas ambient of about 104°F is bound to make a difference.
BillBingham2
Member
Well worth the time and effort to set it up correctly (at every end).
B2
B2
attic eave vents.
I assume you mean gable vents, the vertical triangles at the end of the home, if so they are worth it!
The ridge vent some have mentioned are better by far than the turbines.
Good luck
Congrats on the new home
tb
I assume you mean gable vents, the vertical triangles at the end of the home, if so they are worth it!
The ridge vent some have mentioned are better by far than the turbines.
Good luck
Congrats on the new home
tb
