Solar Attic Fans FAQ’s

1. What is a solar powered attic fan and what does it do?
2. Does a solar attic fan qualify for a federal tax credit?
3. Does a solar attic fan qualify for a state tax credit?
4. How do I know if solar panels will work on my home?
5. Does the solar attic fan shut off during winter months?
6. How are ridge vents, turbine vents, or gable vents different from a solar attic fan?
7. Why would I want to cool off my attic?
8. How long will a solar attic fan last?
9. Are these solar attic fans very loud when operating?
10. Is any wiring required to install your solar attic fans?
11. What maintenance is needed?

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1. What is a solar powered attic fan and what does it do?

A solar powered attic fan is an attic ventilation fan which runs solely off solar power, where outside air is forced through the attic and powered by daylight to the outside through the vent. This method of attic ventilation is many times more effective than passive (natural) ventilation since the air inside the attic is exchanged many more times per hour with a powered vent than with a passive vent.

2. Does a solar attic fan qualify for a federal tax credit?

YES! Both the Purchase Price AND Installation Cost of a solar attic fan qualify for a 30% federal tax credit. The credit applies to equipment placed in service between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2016. IRS Form # 5695 (Download pdf here) is needed to apply for this credit. Enter the installed cost on line 1 of the form.

3. Does a solar attic fan qualify for a state tax credit?

State tax incentives vary from state to state. Please check http://www.dsireusa.org/ to see what offers and incentives are available.

4. Does the solar attic fan shut off during winter months?

The Attik Solar Exhaust® is one of the few fans that include a thermostat that only allows the fan to run when the attic temperature reaches 80 degrees. Running the fan only when the attic is hotter than 80 degrees, extends the life of the fan motor and keeps heat balance in the attic in winter, without drawing colder air inside the attic making home heating more efficient.

5. What are the cost benefits of installing a solar attic fan?

How much money you will save is greatly dependent on the price of electricity in your area, the amount of attic space in your home, the efficiency of your attic insulation, and the amount of ventilation your solar attic fan is able to provide. In our experience, a typical installation will usually pay for itself in savings within 2- 4 summers of use.

6. How are ridge vents, turbine vents, or gable vents different from a solar attic fan?

Ridge vents, gables vents, and turbine vents work by passive (natural) draft air convection. This means that as hot air rises in your attic, it should flow out from these vents creating a natural draft through the attic. However, as you have probably noticed, they are not very effective at reducing the temperature of your attic.

Turbine vents are designed to pull hot air out of your attic when the wind blows. These vents are equally ineffective at removing attic heat due to frequent mechanical problems, low air moving capability, and a dependence on wind to supply the power needed to induce a draft through the attic.

Solar attic fans operate on the principle of active (forced) draft air convection. Our fans create an air draft through your attic many times more powerful than that of natural draft air convection. By inducing a greater air draft through the attic, the solar attic fans can effectively minimize excessive heat buildup in your attic and moderate it cooler throughout the day.

7. Why would I want to cool off my attic?

During the summer, as the sun radiates heat onto your roof, your roof’s shingles or tile becomes very hot. This heat is transferred through the roof and in turn heats up the air inside your attic. If the hot air stays inside your attic, the heat from this air will eventually enter your home.

While attic insulation slows this process, it does not eliminate the heat transfer process entirely. If your attic is not very well insulated, it will do very little to stop the heat with moisture from getting through.

By removing excess hot air and moisture from your attic, the process of heat transfer into your home is minimized. The less attic heat that seeps into your home, the less your air conditioner will need to cycle, saving you energy and money.

8. How long will a solar attic fan last?

Solar attic fans are designed to provide many years of trouble free operation. The length of manufacturers’ warranties are a good indicator of the high standards these fans were designed with. Attik Solar Exhaust™ includes a lifetime warranty on all components.

9. Are these solar attic fans very loud when operating?

No. You can barely hear them running when you’re standing right next to one. The fan blade design used in our solar attic fans are designed for whisper quiet operation.

10. Is any wiring required to install your solar attic fans?

No, our solar attic fans ship completely assembled and ready for use, whether you install them yourself or we provide you the installation, they are packaged for a turn key installation.

11. What maintenance is needed?

Attik Solar Exhaust® requires no maintenance! The unit has been engineered to be leak proof when installed properly. It also has a protective stainless steel screen that keeps out debris and rodents.