Attic Ventilation Fans

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Attic Ventilation Fans

Ventilation is a very important factor to consider and make provisions for, while constructing a house or a building. In particular, rooms that do not tend to have large windows or are enclosed need ventilation fans that promote the circulation of air. The attic is an example of one such room in a house that requires special care for ventilation.

What are Attic Ventilation Fans?

Attic ventilation fans are specially designed for installation and use in attics. The problem with attics is that, since they are directly below the roof, tend to get hotter than the rest of the house. Moisture is also retained within the room. To combat these issues, ventilation fans work to remove hot air from the attic space, minimizing moisture, when the weather is humid. Cool, dry air enters the room through the ventilation system.

It is also possible to design an attic ventilation fan that cools the entire house by making use of the ducts. This could eliminate the need for a central air conditioning system.

Types of Attic Ventilation Fans

There are various types of attic fans that you can choose from, depending on the nature of your requirement. Let’s take a look at a few of the varieties available.
  • Simple Turbine Fans: These attic ventilation fans do not make use of electricity, and run purely on wind power. They are installed directly beneath the eaves of the building. In climates where there is a lot of wind movement outside, these fans are a great option for saving some power. However, if you live in a place with hardly any wind flow, these fans might be pretty useless.

  • Electric Fans: These are the most common attic fans and are run entirely on electricity, merely by the push of a button. In some advanced models, you would be able to select between varying levels of speed. Attic ventilation fans with other features, like a thermostat to automatically switch on the fan when the temperature of the attic is at a certain predetermined level, are available.

  • Solar Ventilation Fans: These attic fans, though not very widely used, are becoming popular with the increase in awareness among people to save power. These fans function in almost the exact same way as electric ventilators, expelling hot air and lowering the temperature of the attic. The models that come with a storage battery along with the fan will ensure that it works even when there is no access to direct sunlight, for instance in winter or on cloudy days.
Attic ventilation fans do more than just cool or bring down the temperature of the room. They remove stored moisture as well. This prevents the formation of fungus or attic mold. Mold in the attic could cause several problems; it could spread to other rooms through walls, and trigger allergies and other issues.

The best option is to get attic ventilation fans installed during the construction of your house. If not, you should at least get a provision made for future installation. You could take a look at the several models of fans available in the market and then take your pick.

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