Attic Exhaust Fan Installation

When do you need an attic exhaust fan?

Here are some signs you might need an attic exhaust fan:

• Your home has a hot upper floor.
• You have unusually high cooling bills.
• You notice signs of moisture or mold in your attic.
• Your attic gets extremely hot in the summer – much hotter than the temperature outside.
• The attic smells stale or musty.
• You often get ice dams.
• Your attic lacks other ventilation: soffit vents, gable vents, a ridge vent, or open windows.

Those issues usually indicate poor ventilation. Without adequate airflow, attic heat can reach extreme temperatures, which contributes to the premature aging and deterioration of roofing materials. An attic fan helps keep temperatures in check, extending the lifespan of your roof by preventing warping, cracking, and other heat-related damage.

Moisture buildup can turn a poorly ventilated attic into a petri dish. Aspergillus, Cladosporium, and Stachybotrys (Black Mold) grow on wood, sheetrock, insulation, and in HVAC systems. Attic fans help reduce moisture levels, which can limit the conditions that allow mold to grow, helping to protect your home from potential health hazards.

Stale, hot air trapped in your attic can potentially affect your living areas, lowering indoor air quality. An attic fan helps to expel this air, promoting better airflow and contributing to a healthier living environment.

By lowering attic temperatures and reducing the workload on your HVAC system, an attic fan can improve your home’s energy efficiency. This can lead to savings on your energy bills.

Attic exhaust fans for finished attics vs. unfinished attics

Because they are designed for continual use, finished attics usually have built-in ventilation systems that keep the internal temperature at a reasonable level. An exhaust fan may not be needed for a finished attic, because the living space typically will have far less insulation (which keeps heat IN during the summer), and because it will need to be connected to the central air system or have windows that can accommodate window A/Cs.

Unfinished attics typically need exhaust fans, because people rarely visit them and therefore pay little attention to how hot (or cold) the attic is. Unfinished attics tend to store unused items long-term, often including valuables. Without an exhaust fan, these items can be exposed to extreme heat, leading to damage over time. Installing an attic fan helps keep the space cooler, protecting your stored belongings from getting cooked.

Do larger homes need multiple attic exhaust fans?

Larger homes or those with complicated rooflines or many valleys may need more than one attic exhaust fan for effective ventilation. Typically, one fan is needed for every 300 to 400 square feet of attic space. If your attic is larger or has multiple sections, installing more fans creates consistent airflow, helping to cool the entire attic.

Will a cooler attic attract more pests?

You might be wondering whether bugs, birds, rodents, and other pests also will consider a cooler attic to be an upgrade.  What if that 130F attic has actually helped keep pests away?

A cooler attic is not likely to attract more pests, because most animals seek out attics for shelter and nesting opportunities, rather than temperature. Your attic won’t be extremely hot for most of the year, so pests can always set up camp when it’s pleasant and leave when it’s too hot.

Also, proper attic ventilation can help deter pests by reducing moisture and creating a drier environment, which is less appealing to them. Maintaining your attic with regular inspections and sealing entry points will further reduce the risk of pests, regardless of temperature changes.

Live in southern Michigan? We can install your attic exhaust fan.

If you’re ready to improve your home’s energy efficiency and extend the life of your home and what’s in it, contact CS Roofing Company today for a free consultation and professional attic exhaust fan installation.