Are Attic Fans Necessary With Central Air

Rooftop fans and gable fans.

Are attic fans necessary with central air.

By installing more roof vents such as a ridge vent you increase the possibility that most attic air will come from outside says tim carter a residential contractor in cincinnati. Quietcool attic fans work almost everywhere almost anytime. The attic coffin you mention which is used to air seal and insulate pull down stairs scuttle hole or a whole house fan is good in theory but in practice is cumbersome to install. Oh an attic fan will do that.

In a properly designed passive system air enters through the soffit. Even though a manufactured cover costs more it is far easier to install. Ventilation fans or powered attic ventilators are designed to cool the attic pushing out the hot attic air and rushing in a flow of cool outside air. Because typically attic fans are so strong that not only do they take the hot air out of the attic but they reach down into your house and take the cool air out of the house as well.

If you have few vents in your attic most of the air will be drawn from inside the house. With an attic fan you can cool the attic to the same temperature as it is outside greatly reducing the house from heating as quickly. Now if you did have central air conditioning i would tell you not to install an attic fan and here s why. Building codes often require about 1 foot of attic ventilation for every 750 cfm airflow.

Attic ventilation works on the principle that heated air naturally rises primarily utilizing two types of vents. Some homes cannot accommodate the amount of attic ventilation that the older traditional style whole house fans require. This prevents hot air from seeping into your home and driving up the temperature in the living space which reduces the load on your air conditioner. A fan may actually suck air conditioned air from your home into the attic.

It also requires no assembly. Attic ventilation fans help cool air your attic by pushing out the stifling hot air from inside the attic and bringing in cool air from outside. Intake vents located at the lowest part of the roof under the eaves allow cool. But you can install attic fans which will continuously replace the stagnant air with fresh outdoor air preventing your attic from turning into an oven.

Powered attic ventilators are housed in the. There are two basic types of attic fans.