So it might be worth looking at the type of ridge vent that you have.
Attic fan that forces air out of the ridge vent.
Attic ventilation fans whether hard wired or powered by their own solar panels seem like a low cost and effective way to help keep your house cool.
List of the cons of roof ridge vents.
Do not use mechanical means electric attic fans.
Ridge vents do not always provide the proper ventilation in some homes.
However the utility of attic ventilation fans is actually quite a controversial topic.
One of the leading causes for fires.
Ridge vent must me installed per the manufactures instructions.
The certainteed ridge vents the company s called air vent or the brand is called air vent.
More than 50 of the attic fans i see do not work and have current still live to the motor.
When you are deciding between a ridge vent or an attic fan consider the needs of the attic.
Best ventilation is open soffit venting to a open vented ridge vent.
Attic fans can also make a lot of noise.
An attic fan is an active system that actually forces air out.
Electric attic fans however often increase energy consumption and cancel out any savings unless the attic is not insulated at all.
Air leaks by installing more roof vents such as a ridge vent you increase the possibility that most attic air will come from outside says tim carter a residential contractor in cincinnati.
One static vent style is the turbine vent which uses wind to power its enclosed fan all it takes is a light breeze to rotate the blades and suck heat out of the attic view example on the home.
The effect of ridge vents for the roof depends upon the energy efficient nature of the structure.
The downside of attic ventilation fans.
Since your solar vent fan only moves 500 cfm a third to half that of a typical hardwired attic vent fan it probably won t move enough air to reverse the action of the ridge vent.
You ll be able to move air throughout the attic without the use of fans or turbines when enough space is given to this vent design.
Unlike ridge vents attic fans use electricity and need regular maintenance to keep working properly.
Choosing a ridge vent or an attic fan.
Also since the fan is powered by the sun it should turn off when the sky is overcast during a storm which will keep it from drawing rain into the attic.
Fans are needed only when there isn.
Good insulation reduces fan effectiveness.