FAQs

What is a solar powered attic fan and what does it do?
A solar powered attic fan is an attic ventilation fan which runs solely off solar power. These ventilators fall into the category of active (powered) attic ventilation, where outside air is forced through the attic and out the vent to effectively cool the attic space. This method of attic ventilation is many times more effective than passive (natural) ventilation since the air inside the attic is exchanged more times per hour with a powered vent than with passive ventilation (ridge vents, turbine vents, dormer vents and gable vents). In most cases you want to exchange the air 8 - 10 times per hour.

Why would I want to cool off my attic?
During the summer, as the sun radiates heat onto your roof, your roof's shingles or tile become very hot. This heat is transferred through the roof and in turn heats up the air inside your attic. If the hot air stays inside your attic, the heat from this air will eventually enter your home. While attic insulation slows this process, it does not eliminate the transfer of heat entirely. If your attic is not very well insulated, it will do very little to stop the heat from getting through. Additionally, a hot attic stays hot long after the sun goes down, so the process of heat transfer into your home can extend well into the evening.By removing the hot air from your attic, the process of heat transfer into your home is minimized. The less attic heat that is transferred into your home, the less your air conditioner will need to work. If your air conditioner unit doesn't need to run as much to keep your home cool, you save energy and money.

Attic Temperature can exceed 160°F in the hot Texas summer. The excessive heat can reduce the life of the shingles and mechanical equipment, super heat your ducting, heating up your house and forces your air conditioner to work harder. The Natural Light solar powered attic fan can reduce the temperature to near the ambient outside temperature. By lowering the temperature you not only protect your roof and mechanical systems but reduce the transfer of heat to the inside of the home making it more comfortable.

What about extreme weather conditions?
The high quality materials used in all of Natural Light products have been selected to withstand severe weather including hail. See our extreme weather accounts and photographs here.

I have different vents on my roof now. Aren't they good enough?
Ridge vents, gables vents, and dormer vents work by passive (natural) draft air convection. This means that as hot air rises in your attic, it should flow out from these vents creating a natural draft through the attic. However, as you have probably noticed if you currently have any of these vents installed on your home, they are not very effective at reducing the temperature of your attic.Turbine vents are designed to pull hot air out of your attic when the wind blows. These vents are equally ineffective at removing attic heat due to frequent mechanical problems, low air moving capability, and a dependence on the wind to supply the power needed to induce a draft through the attic.

Solar powered attic fans operate on the principle of active (forced) draft air convection. Natural Light fans create an air draft through your attic many times more powerful than that of natural draft air convection techniques. By inducing a greater air daft through the attic, our solar attic vents can effectively cool your entire attic and keep it cool throughout the day.

What are the cost benefits of installing a solar attic fan?
How much money you will save is greatly dependent on the price of electricity in your area, the amount of attic space in your home, the efficiency of your attic insulation, the amount of tax credit and rebates available in your area and the amount of ventilation your solar attic vent is able to provide. In our experience, a typical installation will usually pay for itself within 1-3 summers of use. Solar Attic Fans cost nothing to run while Power Attic Fans can cost up to $35 per month to operate.

Are tax credits available for installing a solar powered attic fan?
Absolutely. The fan qualifies for up to 30% in Federal tax credit through 2009. There may be additional energy rebates or tax credits available through your local utility. You can obtain an IRS Form 5695 through the Internet or visit our website at www.soloarfanatics.com for details and rebate information.

My current electric fan is noisy and can be heard from inside the home. Is the solar attic fan noisy?
The solar powered attic fan is extremely quiet. The solar cell provides power to a super-quiet DC motor. There is no harmonic hum that is common with AC motors.

What is the life expectancy of the solar panel?
The Solar Powered Attic Fan has the latest state-of-the-art solar panel designed to last for more than 25 years. In fact, the Natural Light solar panel has a 25 year warranty - the longest warranty in the industry! A standard solar panel can last 5 years or less….

Are there differences in solar power attic fans available in the market?
Yes! It is no different than buying any other large ticket item. The Natural Light Solar Powered Attic Fans have the best technology available at the best price to assure you have a fan that will last for years to come.

• Our roof mount systems have a rotating shroud and specially mounted solar panel that tilts so that you can maximize the unit's performance. By maximizing the solar panel's orientation to the sun you gain up to 25% more power.
• The special brackets also allow you remote mount and tilt the panel so you can optimize the locations of the panel and fan.
• We offer a 25 year warranty on the solar attic fan, the BEST in the industry.

Will the solar powered attic fan continue to run after dark?
No. The solar panel depends on the sun to power the fan motor. However, once the sun goes down, air temperature drops and the need for ventilation decreases.