Keeping a home well ventilated and cool in rural areas can mean dealing with unreliable access to electricity. In these environments, solar attic fans excel as a viable alternative to relying on electrified ventilation.
Even in developed nations, reliable access to electricity can be a challenge outside of urban centres. Rural electrical infrastructure can be old and poorly maintained, as a result of the massive costs of maintaining a grid that transmits electricity over vast distances. The problem is even more pronounced in developing nations, where blackouts can be an extremely frequent occurrence. This can be very problematic for homeowners who rely on traditional, electrified home ventilation solutions to keep air moving indoors.
Because they are not connected to the local grid, solar attic fans like iSolar Solutions’ popular 20W-106-FLEX have emerged as a revolutionary game changer in the world of home ventilation. Communities in Lagos, for instance, have begun adopting solar fans in droves as a home ventilation solution since blackouts are a near daily occurrence. Even in developed nations where access to electricity is more reliable, many homeowners have adopted solar attic fans to augment the existing, hardwired ventilation systems in their homes. These fans switch on automatically when a home does not have adequate ventilation, giving a much needed airflow boost.
SOLAR ATTIC FANS: A GAME CHANGER FOR HOME VENTILATION
Solar attic fans can protect your home’s building materials and your health, regardless of how reliable your local electrical grid is. In colder climates, one common problem homes face is the buildup of heat indoors during the winter months.
Unless ventilated, this hot air would typically warm the roof’s shingles, causing falling snow to melt upon contact. The resulting runoff typically refreezes in the eaves. In turn, this causes dangerous ice dams that cause water to seep back underneath the shingles and into the attic. Over time, this can lead to costly damage due to rot and mildew. The buildup of moisture can also cause mold growth, endangering the health of everyone inside.
Solar attic fans can keep your attic cool and dry during the winter by constantly pushing hot air outside. This prevents snow from melting on contact with the roof, preventing ice dams from forming. Of note, ice dams are the leading cause of home insurance claims for homes in cold climates.
In the summer months, solar attic fans are a proven way to keep your home’s interior cool when the local electrical grid is unreliable. Studies have shown that even without access to air conditioning, a solar attic fan can reduce indoor temperatures by as much as 10C. Though most modern homes are equipped with passive vents, these lack the moving parts necessary to achieve proper ventilation. Instead, they usually rely on differences between indoor and outdoor pressure to move out hot air that builds up indoors.
In contrast, solar attic fans switch on automatically when needed, giving a home a much-needed boost in ventilation. This drastically reduces a home’s electricity bills in the summer. It also reduces wear and tear on a home’s air conditioning system.
IS IT HARD TO INSTALL ONE?
Because they lack complicated wiring, solar attic fans can often be installed in as little as 15 minutes by general home contractors. There is no need to hire an electrician. All iSolar Solutions products come with a limited 20-year warranty for added peace of mind. Additionally, iSolar Solutions maintains a network of trusted installation partners who thoroughly understand the science of proper building ventilation.
To learn more about how a solar attic fan can prolong the life of your home’s air conditioner, please contact one of our knowledgeable sales staff at 1-844-684-7723, or by email at info@isolarsolutions.com.
