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During boiling South Carolina summers, attics can become unbearably hot, and this heat can transfer through the house’s structure, making it challenging to keep the rest of the house cool. Similarly, in winter, warm and moist air from the living space can cause dampness that compromises the wooden roof structure. Attic ventilation is a simple and cost-effective solution to this problem. By installing a series of vents under the roof gables and ridge, a continuous flow of outside air can help preserve the roofing structure in winter and keep the house cool during summer.

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Attic Fan and Ventilation Systems

Your home’s air conditioner battles against all manners of heat sources, including sunlight, steam from the stovetop, and even body heat from family members and pets. But one of the greatest sources of heat may be the hot air trapped in an unventilated attic.

Without air conditioning vents or proper ventilation, attic temperatures can soar on hot summer days. This heat can then radiate through the ceiling below, making your home hotter and more uncomfortable.

A proper ventilation system can help to bring attic temperatures down to match that of the outside air, making your home cooler and more energy efficient.

Unless you have plans to convert your attic to a functional living space, it doesn’t make sense to seal it off and route your HVAC vents up into the space. But you can install attic fans which will work to continuously replace the stagnant air with fresh outdoor air, keeping your attic from turning into an oven.

Trapped heat isn’t the only underlying problem with an unventilated attic. These spaces also trap in various types of moisture, both in the form of natural humidity from the outdoors and man-made humidity from meal preparation to hot showers and other sources in the daily living spaces below.

If this humidity collects in the attic and has nowhere outlet, mold, and mildew growth can become a major concern for your home for several reasons. Depending on what type of insulation material you have on your attic floor, mold spores could potentially destroy your valuable insulation and create a health risk, and even the framework can suffer if humidity levels are high.

Upstate Home Maintenance Service provides evaluations to ensure these issues are not present in your home’s attic, and we repair and replace ventilation systems, or install them if you are lacking a system in place.

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Attic Fan and Ventilation frequently asked questions

What is an Attic Fan?
An attic fan is a ventilation system that works to regulate the temperature in an attic by displacing hot air with cold air from outside. The fan itself can be mounted on the roof or under the house’s gables. Most modern attic fans come equipped with a thermostat, which activates the fan when the attic temperature exceeds a certain level.
How do attic fans cool the house?
During the summer, the attic space of a house can reach temperatures in excess of 120°F. The insulation in the attic space will conserve this heat long after the sun has gone down. The heat in the attic is then conducted through the frame of the house into the downstairs living space. An attic fan works to shift this hot air from the attic as a means of cooling the rest of the house. Whole-house fan systems are similar to attic fans, except that they feature ceiling vents that are designed to ventilate the whole house, not just the attic
Can I install an attic fan myself?
In most cases, it is unwise to attempt an attic fan installation on your own. The procedure requires cutting away a section of the roof or gables. If you do not have the right knowledge, skills, or tools, you can end up doing serious damage to the structure of your roof.

If you would like to have an attic fan installed in your building, it is always best to call in an experienced HVAC contractor to do a professional job.

How much power does an attic fan use?
The amount of power an attic fan uses will depend on its size, it’s energy-efficiency rating, and the number of vents in the attic (more vents = less power required). On average, however, an attic fan draws fewer than 300 watts.

Whole-house fans use considerably more energy, with the average model using around 700 watts.

How can I tell if my attic fan is broken?

The most common sign that an attic fan has an issue is if it starts making unusual noises. If you begin to hear humming, rattling, or whining, it is probably a sign that you need to change the bearings in the fan.

Installing new bearings in a fan is a cheap and straightforward procedure that can often be carried out by an amateur.

Do I need more venting?
The majority of houses are built with around 1-3 feet of ventilation as standard. This represents enough ventilation for only the smallest attic fans. A regular attic fan will need two or three vents of this size to function effectively. If not, they will struggle to draw in enough cool air to lower the temperature in the attic.
How do I determine the right size for my attic?”
To determine the size of fan that you need, you will first need to work out the area of your attic in square feet. Once you have this figure, you should multiply it by 0.7 to get the minimum number of cubic feet per minute (CFM) that the fan will need to be powerful enough to displace.

Attic fans come with a CFM rating. Choose one that fits with your own CFM calculation. If you have a steep roof, it is advisable to add 20 percent to your CFM calculation.

What is the difference between an attic fan and a whole-house fan?
The main difference between an attic fan and a whole-house fan is that the former is designed to ventilate an attic space, whereas the latter is designed to ventilate the whole house.

An attic fan ventilates a whole house by drawing air through a purpose-built vent(s) installed in the upstairs ceiling(s) of a building. As it draws warm air out of the attic, the displaced air sucks air from the downstairs part of the house into the attic through the vent. In doing so, fresh, cold air enters the home through doors and windows.

A whole-house fan will usually be larger than an attic fan, which only has to displace air from the attic space.

How much does it cost to fix an attic fan?
The average price for repairing an attic fan is around $300. While the price for fixing an attic fan will not likely come to more than $400, the cost for repairing a whole-house fan can sometimes reach as high as $600.
Should you run an attic fan when the AC is on?
The answer to this question depends on whether you have an attic fan or a whole-house fan.

If you have an attic fan, there is nothing to stop you from running the AC simultaneously. However, running both together when you have a whole-house fan is a bad idea as it will only serve to extract the conditioned air from your house and expel it through the fan exhaust. This will mean that your AC will have to condition new air continuously and will result in high energy usage

How noisy are attic fans?
Attic fans do generate some noise when they are running. However, if you choose a good model and keep it well-lubricated, the amount of extra noise that you will hear will be minimal.
Do I need to insulate my attic fan in winter?
If your fan comes equipped with a good shutter, it will prevent heat and cold air from entering the attic space. Nonetheless, if you want to add extra insulation during the winter to improve your home’s energy efficiency, you can always plug the gap with a slice of insulation foam cut to size.
How much maintenance does an attic fan require?
The great thing about attic fans is that they require very little maintenance. All you will have to do is keep the vents clear and lubricate the oil ports every few years. You may occasionally have to change the bearings on the fan if the fan starts to make a lot of noise when running.