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If your house has an attic, a gable attic fan is a wise investment. Regardless of what climate you live in, a gable attic fan system offers many benefits. If you live in an area with hot summers, the temperature in your attic can easily reach over 140degrees. Not only can this damage the structural wood, but your air conditioning system will be working overtime trying to cool the hot air. If you live in a wet climate, the humidity in your attic can lead to wood rot and mold. Even in winter your attic benefits from having proper ventilation. Unchecked moisture can freeze causing all sorts of insulation and wood warping issues.
While the benefits in comfort and expense are obvious, it should be noted gable attic fans are slightly more difficult to install than floor mounted exhaust fans. Since gable attic fans are mounted to the attic wall, you will need some carpentry skills to cut an opening for the second set of louvers. But unlike a floor mounted exhaust fan, these fans are much quieter because they are far away from your interior spaces. Another benefit is they work more efficiently. The louvers are designed to fit the fan perfectly in order to create maximum air flow. With the proper selection of fan sizes, your house should cool down to outside temperatures in less than five minutes.
Ideally you would want a thermostat controlled setup with automatic closing louvers. This system keeps your house comfortable with very little interaction. Set the thermostat to 100degrees and let the gable attic fans regulate your rooms and energy bill. Talk to the experts before you install a gable attic fan system for some useful installation tips. Make sure you measure the heights and widths of all the rooms in your house before you talk turkey. With this information, they can help you select the right components for the perfect system. Also, many of these attic fans have built in pull switches. They should be wired into their own circuit and if this above your skill set, please consult a qualified electrician. The money you save on power bills after installation more than makes up for the cost.
Filed under: Gable Fan Guides
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