Attic fans w/o putting holes in the roof

Is there anyway to use existing vents for attic fans or is taking a big chunk out of the roof the only real option?

Reply to
Kurt Ullman
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what type of roof? Hip, Standard peaked?

Reply to
HarryB

If you have a reasonable size gable vent, there are fans made to fit up against them. Or you can cut out the existing one and put in one that comes with external shutters.

Have you considered a ridge vent, which is pretty easy to install, effective and uses no power?

Reply to
trader4

There are square shaped fans that mount to the inside of the dormer at either end of the roof.

Reply to
Al Moran

See:

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Reply to
Al Moran

I did. I used a thermostatically controlled fan mounted in the north gable vent. I profiled the vent, cut a triangle out of 3/4 plywood and mounted the exhaust fan in that. My logic was; the south wind is dominant so working with it seemed the proper thing to do, in the winter the wind becomes northerly so having the vent partially blocked again seemed prudent. I seems to work well, though it runs more than I'd prefer. I also have a south gable vent an east facing dormer vent, and ridge vent but no soffit vents as the design is open joist rather than soffit and facial. I plan on converting it to soffit and fascia, at which time I will drill the covers between the rafters and install some sort of soffit vents

Reply to
Eric in North TX

FYI, in this situation, you can provide the equivalent of soffit vents by putting vents in the "bird blocking" between the joists.

Cheers, Wayne

Reply to
Wayne Whitney

First let's make sure we are talking about the same thing. There are fans designed to vent just the attic space and there are whole house fans, usually mounted in the central hall way ceiling, that vent the whole house.

Assuming just the attic, I would suggest that 90% if the time you are better off not having an powered fan. The included both electric and those turbine things.

The make noise and vibration. In most cases they contribute very little or nothing to cooling your home or protecting the roof. At best they tend to cool the attic space somewhat, but that does not contribute much to the living area assuming the attic is properly insulated.

If the area is properly ventilated using passive vents, that is the way to go.

You really did not describe what kind of venting you have now, nor the amount nor the reason you desire to change it. That information could be helpful.

Reply to
Joseph Meehan

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