How to Install an Attic Fan

No place in a house gets hotter during the summer than your attic. Heat becomes trapped and can get transferred through the ceiling to the rest of the house. This raises the temperature and makes it tougher to cool the house with a swamp cooler or air conditioner.

Installing an attic fan is a perfect way to cool the whole house. It brings in cooler outside air and vents hot air from the attic. It can lower your attic temperature up to 30 degrees and will significantly lower utility bills.

Preparing Your Attic

Before purchasing an attic fan, check out the existing ventilation in your attic. At a minimum, a venting system needs one square foot of roof vent area for every 300 square feet of attic space. Check existing vents for branches, leaves and other debris. An attic fan will not work properly unless your vents are cleaned out.

You can choose from two types of attic fans. One type is designed for roof installation. The other is designed to be mounted on a gable wall. Gable fans are recommended if you have an older home.

Installing an Attic Fan

Mounting an attic fan on your roof begins when you drill a starter hole and use a reciprocating saw to cut a circle matching the fan's diameter. Then insert the flange on the fan housing under the shingles above the hole and seal it to protect against water leaks. Once the flange is secure, nail down all four corners and coat each nail with tar.

With the fan in place, remove the regulator cover and mount the regulator to a stud or rafter inside the attic. Thread the power supply cable through the knockout hole. Strip the wires and attach the fan wires to the regulator wires based on manufacturer specifications. After making the connections, reinstall the cover and set the temperature control to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. This setting cools your attic without compromising energy efficiency.

Installing an attic fan is a perfect way to cool the whole house

by John Coon, Home & Garden writer