The 5 Best Solar Attic Fans
What are Solar Attic Fans?
Solar Attic fans are an environmentally friendly alternative to a traditional attic fan that uses solar panels and therefore reduces energy usage in removing hot air (adding cool air) and effectively ventilating your home’s attic.
They save you money on your utility bills as well as being a federal tax credit incentive (depending on state tax laws), time, and most importantly, peace of mind. While roof types and designs plus living spaces may vary from house to house, they make any home’s attic better and improve one’s comfort level!
The Top 5 Solar Attic Fans
1. Solaro Attic Fans
Product Details
- Solar attic fans allow you the opportunity to choose from many different varieties.
- They are effectively powered by 20 Watts with 900 CFM. (CFM = cubic feet per minute)
- They have three different functions, let alone versatile solar components, including a polymer fan blade, a brushless DC motor, and a 24-inch base.
- Have limited lifetime warranty – 25 years on average.
Pros
- Quality, versatility, and efficient ventilation system for airflow
- Many varieties
- Can be installed on many roof structures
Cons
- Higher installation cost
- Not easy to install without expertise; requires a certified installer
- Noisy
Solar Attic fans are USA-made and known for the pristine quality, versatility, and efficiency of their solar attic fan system on the marketplace. They offer gable mounted fans, roof-mounted fans, as well as tilt designs and models that allow for efficient sun exposure with a 25-year warranty!
2. Remington Solar Attic Fan
Product Details
- A roof-mounted style solar attic fan
- Includes lifetime warranty
- It is effectively powered by 20 to 40 Watts at 1,280 to 2,340 CFM with the unique opportunity to alternate between different power levels.
Pros
- Lifetime Warranty
- Effective temperature regulation
- Hybrid electric capabilities
- Adjustable power levels
Cons
- Higher installation cost
- Not easy to install without expertise; requires a certified installer
- Not all in one package; must purchase a power adapter
Remington Solar Attic fans play an integral role in keeping your attic cool with a lifetime warranty, especially during the summer months with their usage of a thermostat and humidistat to regulate attic temperature in the attic. It can also save energy by using solar power when sun exposure and switching to electricity when there’s no proper attic ventilation all year round.
3. US Sunlight
Product Details
- A roof-mounted style solar attic fan
- It has a material composition made up of galvanized steel
- Effectively powered by 25 wats on average and can ventilate up to 3,600 cubic feet.
Pros
- Effective at absorbing sunlight due to design
- Can cover larger CFM than most models
- Durable material composition
Cons
- It does not have hybrid electric capabilities in case there is no sun exposure
- Only suitable to roofs that have ONLY shingles!
- Not ideal for/in areas without much sunlight.
The US Sunlight attic fans are roof-mounted solar attic fans that offer a tilted model that absorbs sunlight effectively and has a ventilation system that can cover a larger area than most on the market today. In addition, it is made up of galvanized steel, making it exceptionally durable during severe weather conditions.
4. Broan-NuTone
Product Details
- A roof-mounted style solar attic fan
- It has a material composition made up of plastic
- A 6-year warranty on average
- Effectively powered by 28 Watts to 537 CFM on average
Pros
- Affordability
- Can lower air conditioning costs in the summer and ice damming in the winter months
- Easy installation
Cons
- Inefficient ventilation system, low CFM
- It does not have hybrid electric capabilities year-round without sun, humidistat, or thermostat to regulate hot attic temperatures to make it cooler.
- Quick fix, not long term solution
- Very limited lifetime warranty
A Broan-Nutone is a very cost-effective solar-powered attic fan that can give your home proper ventilation at a price that can meet any budget. In addition, its plastic material composition makes it easy to install and repair, which creates lower installation costs in the grand scheme of things.
5. Air Vent
Product Details
- A 20-year warranty on average
- Effectively powered by 10-25 Watts to 800-1820 CFM on average
- A roof or gable mounted style solar attic fan
Pros
- Long warranty
- Very flexible Watts and CFM rate
- Multiple Varieties
Cons
- It does not have hybrid electric capabilities
- It can only be installed on a roof with shingles ONLY!
- Require expertise for installation to adjust to home’s needs
The Air vent solar attic fan provides excellent flexibility to your home’s ventilation needs by offering a wider range of Watts usage and CFM with a long-standing warranty to address other factors like the size of attic space as a whole.
Key Features to Look for in Solar Attic Fans
Pros of Solar Attic Fans:
Saves Energy!
Solar attic fans give your home’s attic an alternative, eco-friendly, renewable source of energy, sunlight, that helps cut back on the unnecessary use of electricity, which means more money in your pocket by gradually reducing utility bills. In addition to lowering energy bills, the best solar attic fan properly and automatically conserves potential energy for future use by having hybrid electric capacities. No more waste!
Take’s care of your roof!
During the summer months, heat and humidity are huge problems that can build up in your attic and wreak havoc on the interior foundation of your roof, such as the spawning of mold mildew and as well as damaging your AC.
The same happens in winter with ice damming and excess moisture build-up. Solar attic fans take out excess attic heat and moisture and help regulate temperatures inside your attic, allowing it to stay cool and at optimal temperatures.
Durability
Solar attic fans have a unique edge, allowing them to withstand harsh weather conditions such as high wind, hurricanes, and so forth. The solar attic fan with pre-drilled mounting holes with mounting screws to keep them in place, roof-mounted versions, in particular, are the toughest version and provide the necessary support for the long term.
The difference between Solar Powered Attic Fans & Solar Panels:
Solar-powered attic fans and solar panels both use direct sunlight to build potential energy reserves that can be distributed to the house, adding value in return, and without it would hinder operations. However, solar attic fans take up far less space than solar panels and focus more on properly ventilating and regulating temps in the attic.
On the flip side, solar panels are large and must take up a specific house location, and are a holistic approach to alternative energy use rather than a focused one. Much more installation costs are complex due to the needed expertise and size of the project.
The Verdict on Solar Fans:
When people think of their attic, there are usually two reasons:
- They have to climb up there to find some Christmas decorations or old records
- There is an issue with some external weather causing concern in the attic
In many cases, most of us don’t spend a lot of time considering replacing our existing attic fan, and in the off chance you do, it is time to think solar.
Solar attic fans are highly efficient, and with updated technology, they are easy to install and mount on most roofs.
In addition, with many solar attic fans offering great warranties and effectively helping with energy consumption, you can find a professional roofing contractor or solar panel company in your area for a potential free consultation to help you install your new solar attic fan!
