My 2yo electric attic fan stopped working and I'm thinking of replacing it with a solar powered fan. Anyone have personal experience with these?

Watching this thread curiously.

I have a lot of experience with attic fans burning out after 2-3 years. The last time I had the roof replaced due to hail damage, they removed the fans and installed ridge vents. Attic stays cooler now.

https://www.kennedyskylights.com/solar-attic-fan-roof-mount.html#lowpro

I've had these on my house for 5 years and installed hundreds. I had 1 that had a bad blade and kennedy sent me new parts. Easy to repair. Highly recommend.

The only downfall of these is they do not pull air without sunlight, so in the a shaded area or if you want heat pulled after the sun goes down I would recommend a power attic fan. Perfect area is for a solar attic fan is a west facing slope so it gets the afternoon sun.

I have owned them and have always liked them a lot. The SOBs start and stop on their own though so don’t be sticking and tools in the blades unless you want to bend up a screwdriver unexpectedly

Several years ago, I had a vent that was leaking. Roofing company recommended I replace it with a solar fan. Said they were great at reducing attic temps. Seems like it comes on around 80?

I couldn’t tell you if it works or was worth it. I stay out of the attic. Especially in the summer.

Jimmy

I have 2 on my house, still working 8 years later.

Anyone install one and then take measurements afterwards?
That would be the real test if you want to know if they are worth it.


I have ridge vents but interested in anything that is better.
I would remind anyone who might change to a solar roof fan that to increase flow you probably need to also increase the soffit vent area to complete the deal.

Went with the solar on last shingle replacement. Now I find out there is no battery envolved; so they don't work when the sun goes down. The atic is hot all night and causes the air conditioners to run all night because of the hot atic. Wish I had the Whirley Birds back. I have a company coming next week to fix the problem.
- My house does not have a Gable end. If it did I would go with the fan and louver system. They last a long time if you don't go CHEAP.
- Fan on one end and louvers that open on the other.

Solatube power vents are fantastic
If you have soffit vents
Lomanco 750 vents are great
For many reasons

This.

On most houses, you will need to add more soffit vents in order to make a fan work properly. Newer houses may have enough, but anything built prior to about 2011 or so probably needs additional intake. Adding a fan without enough intake through the soffit is like hitting the gas and the brakes at the same time.

Actually power vents were designed to work without soffit vents
The fan circulates the air

Attic fans work well when working! Issue is the constant on and off and overworking in TX heat. If you don’t go in the attic you don’t know if fan is still working or not. From my experience you are lucky to get 6-7 years before they burn up the motors and then they don’t do hardly anything to help keep attic cooler. I much prefer soffit and roof ventilation as it’s always helping to cool attic day or not when properly done.