Attic Fan Use In Winter

Uniformly distribute insulation on the attic floor minimum 12 inches r 38.

Attic fan use in winter. The winter months can spell conditions such as wood rot insulation damage fungus and mold growth as well as leaks coming into your home. Make sure the fan is operational. Attic fans come with different models. A whole house fan is usually installed on the attic floor near the center of your house.

Routinely checking your attic fan for obstructions such as bird nests sticks or leaves is a good practice year round. Some can have manual switches while others use a thermostat to turn them on and off automatically. With proper placement an attic fan enhances the air circulation and brings the attic temperature to within 10 degrees of the outside temperature. It circulates the air and prevents the moisture from building up.

To combat moisture buildup a fan in the attic is essential. Ceiling fan direction in the winter should be clockwise and the fan should run at the lowest speed. The warm air from exhaust fans doing laundry and even washing dishes rises up into the attic. The attic fans are fitted with thermostats that will switch on and off the fan depending on the homeowner s preference.

The main work of an attic fan is to regulate the heat level of the attic by removing hot air out of the attic and pushing it outside providing needed ventilation. Seal all seam joints at the ducts in the attic space and insulate the. In such doing the attic fan will reduce the temperature in the attic space that in turn cools down the whole house. There are three important steps to ensure the effectiveness of attic fans.

Seal air leaks between the living spaces and the attic to prevent air movement between the spaces during summer and winter. However even in winter ceiling fans can be used to help manage the interior climate. Prevents condensation the warm from the heat isn t the only air that collects in your attic during the winter months. Attic ventilation fans offer mechanical ventilation using a fan to draw in cool outside air and force out warm moist air.

Air is drawn in through the attic fan and air is expelled through the roof vent system to keep your attic cooler and drier preventing ice and moisture issues throughout the winter. Small attic vents located below the roof peaks provide sufficient ventilation to let the moisture created by heat rising into the. This pulls cool air up toward the ceiling which in turn displaces the warm air that rises and collects near the ceiling. Thankfully an attic fan is designed to both reduce summer heat as well as reducing winter moisture issues.

If you find any obstructions during your winter check up remove them. In the late evening or early morning the fan is turned on to exhaust hot air from the house. Open your windows before you turn on the fan. An attic fan works by drawing in cool air to the attic space that pushes out the hot air through vents.