What Is an Attic Fan and What Does an Attic Fan Do?

Last updated: 9/16/2023 and reviewed by our team of HVAC professionals

Do you have an attic fan to help keep your house cool in the summer? If you’re not familiar with this handy house accessory, it’s time to take a look at what you’re missing.

Many homeowners think, “No one uses the attic, why should I buy an attic fan to cool it off?” The answer is because the temperature of your attic can negatively affect the temperature in the rest of your home. If you’re spending money to run your air conditioner but the attic stays scorching hot, your A/C must work overtime.

What Is an Attic Fan?

An attic fan is what it sounds like—it’s a fan installed on the ceiling of your attic. It works by drawing hot, humid air out of your attic and pushing it outside. This provides much-needed ventilation, and is a powerful addition to your HVAC system. Did you know that during the hot summer months, attic temperatures can exceed 160 degrees? Imagine the impact that has on the temperature of your home.

How Does an Attic Fan Work?

The basic principle of an attic fan is that it pushes hot air out of your attic space. An attic fan pulls air into the attic from the outdoors using the soffit vents you should already have installed in the eaves. As the attic fan draws outdoor air into the attic, it vents hot, stale air out through attached dormers. In this way, the attic fan replaces the stifling air with fresh air, cooling the attic and, in turn, your living space below.

What Are the Benefits of an Attic Fan?

If your air conditioner and ceiling fans are not keeping your home cool during the summer months, it’s time to look at an attic fan.

Here are some of the benefits you can get from an attic fan:

• Increased Energy Efficiency
  Attic fans are incredibly efficient. They use a fraction of the electricity your air conditioning system uses. They also decrease your need for air conditioning, which lowers your monthly utility bills.
• Lower Temperatures in Your Home
  By removing the hot air that sits at the top of your house, an attic fan lowers the temperature in the rooms below, which then lowers the temperature throughout your home.
• Extended Life of Your Roof
  If you’ve ever climbed up into your attic during the summer, you know that’s where all the heat and humidity is, which is the number one contributor to mold growth. Your roof will last significantly longer with adequate ventilation and reduced humidity that comes from attic fan use.
• Having a Backup to Your Air Conditioner
  What will you do if your A/C breaks down during the summer? An attic fan can do some of the heavy lifting until a repair or replacement is made. If the unthinkable happens this summer, take a look at this blog for other tips to get by in the interim.

Stay Cool with Help from Aire Serv

No matter where you live, you can take advantage of the benefits of an attic fan to help make your house more comfortable. Aire Serv® can install an efficient attic fan in your home when you’re ready to take advantage of this powerful HVAC add-on.

We’re your go-to source for all the things to help you keep cool this summer. Call or request an appointment online with one of our local experts.