Is A Solar Attic Fan Worth It? Ask The Electrician

02 Sep.,2024

 

Is A Solar Attic Fan Worth It? Ask The Electrician

Is A Solar Attic Fan Worth It? Ask The Electrician

Link to BEBEST

KB Electric LLC installs quite a few attic fans each year. If you need more information about the importance of attic fans and the role they play in cooling your home, you can learn more here and here. The market for everything solar-powered is expanding. From pathway lights to deck lighting, the solar sector of the electrical industry is on the rise, and has been for quite some time. Today we want to highlight some disadvantages we see with solar-powered attic fans so you can make a sound decision on your new attic fan purchase. You may be asking yourself: Is a solar attic fan worth it? Should I stick with a standard electric attic fan? These questions may be stirring the mind when choosing your new attic fan, so let&#;s dive deeper into why KB Electric LLC recommends electric-powered attic fans vs solar attic fans.

 

What Is A Solar Attic Fan?

A solar attic fan is a fan used in an attic that is powered by the sun. Plain and simple! No electric required, just the pure power of God&#;s sunny rays. 

 

Is A Solar Attic Fan Worth It?

Obviously you would think an electrician wouldn&#;t recommend an attic fan powered by the sun because we as electricians wire and install standard electric-powered attic fans for a living. But there are different reasons we would say no, a solar attic fan is not worth it right now during this time. Maybe a few years, or 10 years down the road technology will look a little different for solar-powered attic fans. But today, we as electricians would not recommend them for a few different reasons:

  • Solar attic fans have NOT been around long enough to prove themselves worthy of purchase and reliability.

Just like with anything &#;new&#; to the market, it&#;s best to hold off on the purchase of a solar attic fan until the kinks are worked out by the manufacturers, and the technology improves for such a product. Initially, solar and hybrid solar attic fans are more expensive to purchase and to install. In addition, they cannot compare to your standard electric-powered attic fan simply due to the other points mentioned below&#;

  • Most solar attic fans don&#;t draw nearly as much power as your regular electric-powered attic fan. 

Upon research, there are a few solar attic fans out there that have high CFM (air flow output) like your regular electric-powered attic fans, but in general most do not come close to what an electric-powered attic fan can do. You&#;ll want a high CFM dependent upon how big your attic space is, and for that reason, the electric-powered attic fan is the way to go right now.

  • Solar attic fans CANNOT be turned to an OFF position.

If you want control over your attic fan, solar is not the way to go. There are hybrid models (mentioned below) that can be controlled because they are both electric and solar, but a pure solar attic fan has no ON/OFF switch, so it will run as long as the sun is beating down on it. Which brings us to our next point&#;

  • Any switches/thermostats added to most solar attic fans voids the manufacturer warranty on the unit.

If you wanted a licensed and insured electrician to install a switch or thermostat for your solar attic fan to control the temperature so that it isn&#;t constantly running during the daytime, you are out of luck in most cases. We found that one of the brands of solar attic fans (Natural Light Energy Systems) clearly states on their website that if you do not have a thermostat for one of their particular models, the fan will run all of the time. It cannot be turned off unless with an ON/OFF switch, but if an electrician does install one, it would VOID the entire warranty of their solar fan. Gee, thanks.

  • Most solar attic fans work less efficiently on cloudy and overcast days.

If you have a lot of trees surrounding your home and the sun isn&#;t always beating down on your roof, your solar attic fan will not run. Cloudy and overcast days will not run your attic fan efficiently either, which will keep your attic hot, humid, and stuffy. The point of an attic fan is to draw out the hot air to preserve the integrity of your roofing structure, shingles, and to keep your second floor cooler. If the solar attic fan isn&#;t continuously working on an overcast day but it&#;s still hot enough in there to fry an egg, than what&#;s the point of the solar fan?

  • Solar and hybrid models (both solar and electric) would be more expensive to install than your standard electric-power fan.

Hybrid model attic fans are nice because they come with an AC/DC inverter that will turn ON the attic fan at night with electric. The cost of these fans are initially higher to purchase compared to your standard electric attic fan (more than double), and they will be more expensive to install by a licensed and insured electrician.

 

Call A Licensed and Insured Electrician For Attic Fan Installation

Are you a homeowner in need of an attic fan? KB Electric LLC recommends installing an electric-powered attic fan not only to protect the integrity of your roof and to cool your upstairs, but also because they are reliable, easy to maintain by swapping out the motor when it&#;s time for replacement, they draw out a lot of hot air (high CFM capacity), and they can be easily be turned ON/OFF with a flip of a switch and controlled with a thermostat. Plus, the initial cost of the product and installation are much lower than the solar option.

Just because we don&#;t recommend solar attic fans doesn&#;t mean we can&#;t help you install them (disclaimer: we can&#;t warranty the solar fan or provide it for you). If you love the solar aspect and want to try a hybrid model (which we recommend over a solar-only attic fan), KB Electric LLC can help with the installation. We know the ins and outs of wiring, and the most up-to-date NEC (National Electrical Code) for safety and compliance. Whether it&#;s a solar, hybrid, or electric attic fan, trust us for your new attic fan installation today! (267) 467-

 

What Are Solar Fans? Are They Worth Buying?

Renewable sources of energy are helping people find a feasible solution to the climate crisis and environmental pollution. One of the latest solar-powered gadgets on the market is a solar fan. 

Solar-powered fans utilise solar energy to provide cooling. Many people have switched to using these fans since they reduce electricity bills. 

A Solar fan, owing to its numerous advantages, has started replacing electrical fans. It&#;s helping people use solar energy to keep their homes comfortable during the summer months. 

Let&#;s find out more about these fans!

What is a Solar Fan?

A solar fan is also known as a solar attic fan. It runs on solar energy, unlike regular fans that run on electrical energy from fuel. 

Solar attic fans are powered by a solar panel. On a sunny day, a solar fan for home will not need any additional power sources and will provide optimum cooling. 

Contact us to discuss your requirements of rechargeable solar powered fan exporter. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

The main function of this fan is to circulate attic air. Therefore, solar energy fans are ideal for residential and commercial buildings. 

How Does A Solar Fan Work?

These fans run on solar power. They replace hot air inside the room or attic with cooler air. It reduces the burden on your home&#;s ventilation, heating, and air conditioning systems. 

Solar attic fans work by pulling cool air from the undersides of the room. They also push hot air from the room outside. 

Typically, hot air rests at the top, and cool air is at the bottom. A solar energy fan utilizes this concept to cool a room. 

These fans create a regular circulation of hot and cold air in a room by causing air exchange. Experts recommend keeping your room well-ventilated to allow the air exchange to take place efficiently. 

Types of Solar Fans Available in the Market

There are two types of solar attic fans available on the market

  • &#; Roof Mounted- Roof-mounted solar fans help remove heat from the attic. You can install these fans on the ceiling to pull out the hot air and replace it with cool air. They help reduce electricity costs and extend the life of shingle rooftops. 
  • &#; Gable Mounted&#; Gable-mounted solar fans follow the same working mechanism as the roof-mounted ones. However, the installation process between the two is different. Besides, these fans are more suitable for areas where there&#;s lots of moisture and hot air, like garages, barns, small cabins, and intake grills. If there is more sunlight, the fans will work efficiently to circulate more cool air and remove the moisture. 

How Do Solar Fans Generate Power?

Photovoltaic power is the cleanest source of power in the world at the moment. It does not lead to pollution of any kind.  

Using solar energy to run fans is another example of putting to use the photovoltaic effect. 

Solar cells transform energy from the sun into electrical energy. A solar attic fan converts this energy into electricity by using wafer-based silicon. 

What Is The Pricing of a Solar Fan For Home?

The average price of a solar energy fan is expected to fall around $575-$775. The installation costs of solar energy fans will depend on the types of solar fans: gable-mounted or rooftop-mounted.  

The initial price and installation costs of solar energy fans may seem like a big investment. However, it is completely beneficial in the long term. 

The long-term benefits of installing a solar energy fan for the home outweigh the installation and cost price of the fan. 

Advantages And Disadvantages of Using Solar Fans

If you do not pay heed, the heat difference between the attic and the roof can damage the shingles. Using a solar attic fan helps reduce the distortion risks of shingles and also helps keep the electricity costs to a minimum. 

Here are some more advantages of using a solar energy fan.

  1. Solar Energy is Clean Energy- Solar energy is renewable. Since solar attic fans use solar energy, they do not lead to extravagant electricity bills. Owners can save up on electricity costs and reduce their carbon footprints too. 
  1. Energy Savings&#; Using a solar fan to cool the attic will help reduce the energy needs for cooling the entire house. Cooling the attic helps keep the entire house cool and does not create any pressure on the HVAC system. 
  1. Cost-Efficient- A solar energy fan is easy to install and costs less in the long run than electrical fans and air conditioners. 

Disadvantages of Solar Fans

  1. Expensive- Solar attic fans have a higher upfront cost than electrical fans. Since they are new in the market, manufacturers have been unable to reduce the costs of assembling and producing them. However, the cost gets recovered in many ways post the installation.  
  1. Less reliability-A solar fan will work most effectively only if the sun is bright and shining. On a humid cloudy day, a solar energy fan might even fail to function.  

Why Is Solar Energy Less Popular?

Renewable sources of energy are better for the environment than non-renewable sources. They are also called clean sources of energy. They do not cause any pollution or harm to the environment. 

Solar energy is the most popular and efficient form of clean energy. However, despite these advantages, it has failed to gain the popularity and recognition that it should. The reasons for this are as follows.

  • &#; Intermittent, not Continuous&#; The biggest drawback of solar energy is that it can only be generated during the day and when there&#;s enough sunlight. This means that during a cloudy day and at night, the supply of energy might get disrupted. 
  • &#; Lack of materials&#; Most solar-powered devices like solar energy fans need new and rarer materials for their production. It proves to be a problem for many manufacturers. 

Conclusion:

With the ever-increasing threat of climate change and carbon emissions, many countries are looking to adopt cleaner and greener energy sources. 

Solar attic fans are the most recent energy alternative available to consumers in India. A solar fan is the best way to save money and reduce pollution. 

FAQs

Q. Does a solar fan for home make noise while operating?

No, solar energy fans make no noise while operating. The fan&#;s motor is highly efficient. It does not vibrate or cause noise in the attic.

Q. Can I install a solar energy fan by myself?

Depending on the type of fan you have bought and the installation location, you can either install it yourself or contact a professional. 

However, it&#;s not recommended to do it on your own. It&#;s better to let professionals do the job. 

Q. How does a solar fan help save money?

Solar attic fans are powered by sunlight and help remove heat from the attic. This consequently helps in putting less pressure on the HVAC system of your house; thereby, lowering the electricity bills. 

Are you interested in learning more about 9v solar panel solution? Contact us today to secure an expert consultation!