Attic Fan Vs Wind Turbine

Two types of attic ventilation vents compared turbine vents roof with turbine attic vent.

Attic fan vs wind turbine.

Turbine vents use outside wind to power the spinning vent and allow airflow into and out of the attic. A solar fan is able to actively pull more air into your attic than a turbine can. The wind rotates the fan blade causing air movement in the attic as air is pulled out through the. All things being equal wind driven turbine vents also known as a whirlybird roof vent do move more air than flat vents but only when the wind blows.

A solar fan doesn t rely on the wind and it actually has a more powerful motor in it so it keeps the temperature of your attic regulated regardless of wind conditions. The wind spins the turbine which is linked to a fan blade that pulls hot air up and out the same vented turbine. A ridge vent runs across the top of the roof s peak. It is costing you to run the attic fans.

A turbine has a series of vanes that spin as wind passes through them. Turbine fans have angled slits cut into a capped cylinder which create a continuous fan blade. If a cloud blocks the sunlight the fans slow or stop. Turbine vents are those ice cream cone looking vents that turn in the wind using a series of vanes like a weather vane allowing warm moist air to escape at the top of your roof.

These raised vents are often seen spinning at the top of neighborhood homes and are very efficient. A turbine is installed directly on the top of a roof and uses wind power to suck hot and humid air out of the attic. You would probably benefit more with the wind driven turbines than the attic fans. Flat roof vents have no moving parts to break or squeak but don t vent as much air as wind driven vents.

For the attic fans to work at peak efficiency they need to be on a south facing roof slope if you live in the northern hemisphere. The sun does that. Ridge vents power fans traditional electric and solar powered wind turbines gable louvers and roof louvers. Unlike turbines this venting style does not have any moving parts.

In general there are five types or categories of exhaust vents. Solar fans don t require any electricity wind or attic pressure to spin. Wind driven roof vents will pull more air from the attic but only when the wind is blowing. These types of vents move more hot air and moisture out of your attic than box vents of course this is only when the wind is blowing.