As sky-high housing prices drive more people to consider eco-friendly prefabricated homes, it is important to understand that these buildings can come with unique moisture control problems. Solar attic fans can help keep these structures both green and dry.
Modular homes are typically pitched as a low-cost and efficient solution where housing shortages are a pressing problem. In recent years, the eco-friendly nature of these buildings has also been recognized as a major selling point. Unlike traditional homes that are assembled on site, modular homes are made part-by-part on assembly lines. This creates less physical waste, and up to 40 per cent fewer emissions. Thorough testing under factory conditions can ensure pieces fit tightly together, sealing out moisture.
However, these strict manufacturing tolerances don’t prevent moisture originating inside from accumulating. A study from the Manufactured Housing Research Alliance notes that moisture from indoor bathrooms, kitchen areas and other sources can seep through ceiling cracks or gaps. These gaps typically appear around light fixtures, fans, vents, and other places where wires or pipes pass through the ceiling. If your modular home has an attic, this is where moisture becomes trapped. Without proper ventilation, this pent-up moisture can lead to mold and mildew growth. These in turn can cause serious health problems for everyone inside.
Because modular homes can be much smaller than traditional homes, they can trap moisture much more readily. The smaller a home is, the more important proper ventilation becomes!
How A Solar Attic Fan Can Keep Your Modular Home Both Green And Dry
Solar attic fans are an ideal solution for keeping your eco-friendly modular home healthy, green and dry. Like traditional homes, most modular homes have some ventilation systems. However, these are often passive vents that rely on differences between indoor and outdoor air pressure to circulate air. While these may be enough to satisfy local building codes, they are often not powerful enough to properly push out all the moisture that builds up in an attic.
That’s where solar attic fans, like iSolar Solutions’ bestselling FLEX line, come in. Powered solely by the sun, they switch on automatically when an attic’s built-in ventilation systems aren’t doing enough. By pushing out pent-up moisture, they proactively prevent mold and mildew from forming.
Solar attic fans also do more than keep a modular home’s attic dry. They can also do the same for crawl spaces. Because owners of modular homes are often responsible for assembling their own home, it is not uncommon for these structures to lack a proper foundation. Instead, many sit atop support columns on the ground, creating “crawl spaces” where moisture readily builds up. Since our fans are modular, they can easily be installed to ventilate these tight spaces too.
IS INSTALLING ONE IN MODULAR HOME HARD?
Ease of installation is one of the biggest benefits of the fans we offer. Our products lack complicated wiring, meaning you don’t have to hire an electrician. Most general home contractors are roofers that can handle the job. Our fans fit in most existing roof holes, eliminating the need for costly modifications to your modular home.
Solar attic fans add nothing to your electrical bill since they aren’t connected to the local grid. They can also help homes drastically cut down on air conditioning usage. Even without air conditioning, studies have shown solar attic fans can lower indoor temperatures by as much as 10F (5C).
For added peace of mind, iSolar Solutions also maintains a network of trusted installation partners who understand the principles of proper ventilation. Additionally, all our products come with a limited 20-year warranty.
To learn more about how a solar attic fan can keep your eco-friendly modular home both green and dry, please contact one of our knowledgeable sales staff at 1-844-684-7723, or by email at [email protected].
