5 Must-Know Tips That Helps You Install Your Solar
Powered Roof Vents
With Ease
Yep. With these 5 tips, the installation of your your solar powered roof vents
will be as easy as putting mustard on a hot dog.
Tip #1. For Proper Ventilation, Make Sure You Select The Right Number Of Solar Powered Roof Vents
Properly installed, an adequate number of solar roof vents can result in savings of up to 30% on air conditioning costs in the summer.
Selecting the right size and the right number of solar roof vents for proper solar attic ventilation is depend on:
- Your attic size, and
- How many times per hour you want the air exchanged
- Ten times is a common value to use.
There are a number of websites, such as solar-attic-fan-info.com that have calculators into which you type your attic's measurements to get an estimate of how many cubic feet per minute of air have to be moved to provide enough ventilation to provide adequate solar attic ventilation.
Tip #2. Size And Placement Of Solar Powered Roof Vents Impact Your Solar Roof Vent's Effectiveness
Size matters insofar as it contributes to moving enough cubic feet of air per minute to make a difference to your attic's temperature.
- Most roofs will require multiple solar roof vents for good solar attic ventilation.
- The only roofs where solar attic fans are not appropriate would be on north facing roofs or roofs that are completely shaded.
- On other roofs, the placement of the solar roof vents will depend upon where the roof receives the most strong sunlight for the longest time.
Electric-powered attic fans can be installed on parts of the roof that do not receive enough sunlight for solar roof vents to work well.
Tip #3. There Are Three Major Ways To Mount Your Solar Roof Vent
- In many, if not most cases, solar roof vents can be flush mounted with the roof line so as not to adversely affect the aesthetics of the house.
- Curb-mounted solar roof vents are available for homes with tile, shake, or flat roofs, and there are even gable mounted vents that have wires running to solar collectors on the roof.
- Roof-mounted solar roof vents can often be installed with only a 12 inch diameter cutout between roof joists necessary.
- For a skilled installer, the process only takes an hour or two.
Tip #4. Solar Powered Roof Vents Can Be Built Into New Construction Homes
For new construction, roofers can easily incorporate solar roof vents into the roof installation for solar attic ventilation right from the start.
- They do not require the services of an electrician in most cases.
Retrofits can be installed by a reasonably experienced DIYers using conventional tools and construction techniques.
Tip #5. In The U.S. Solar Powered Roof Vents Must Meet Residential Code
In the U.S., solar attic ventilation must meet Section R806.2 of the International Residential Code requirements in new homes.
Those building new homes can cut down on the solar attic ventilation required by installing ceiling vapor barriers.
- Powered ventilation units are not required.
In some areas, such as Dade County, Florida, equipment for solar attic ventilation must be approved by codes inspectors.
- The reason behind this is the concern over high wind zones during hurricanes and fear that solar roof vents or roof penetrations of any sort can affect a home's hurricane readiness.
Here's to finding a way to bring more solar power into your family!
P.S. Here's a few more tips to help your solar power projects go smoothly...
Why The Solar Attic Fan Is Your Answer To Lowering Your Summer Electricity Bills |
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