On Tue, 17 Jan 2006 16:28:08 GMT, Amanda Robin
wrote:


3) I've been thinking about getting an attic ventilator in the roof to
decrease temperatures in the summer. Do you think it would have a
measurable positive effect, even considering the leakage through the fan
slats?

You mean a powered ventilator, right? What I calll a roof fan (or
a gable fan.)

Absolutely. I only live in Batlimore, where it is probably cooler
than the mid south, whatever that means (in the mountains, the
piedmont, the savannah?) but since I put in my roof fan it took
probably 40 degrees off the temperature of the attic and 10 degrees
off the temperature of the floor beneath the attic. (the second floor
in my case.)

I don't like to use AC. It costs a lot of money and I have to close
the windows. The first summer, when I got home from work, it was so
hot, I couldn't bear to go upstairs. I ate in the kitchen, slept in
the basement, and went upstairs the next morning to bathe and get new
clothes.

After the fan went in, instead of being 95 upstairs, it was 85 and got
cooler as the evening went on. When the attic was 140 in the day
time, it took all night until the 2nd floor was tolerable.

If you do use AC, it will save a lot of money. If you still have a
leak by the whole house fan, I think that is separate, and unrelated.

It uses a thermostat to turn itself on and off. Starts at about 10 in
the morning on a sunny summer day, and ends about 9 at night. So it
makes no noise when I'm trying to sleep.

I also installed the two suggested switches, one to turn it on when it
wants to be off, and one to turn it off when it wants to be on. I use
the second in the fall and spring, to let the attic get warm in the
day, so it heats my house in the evening and night. I"ve never used
the first switch because it is meant for people who take steamy baths
and showers, and need to exhaust humidity from the attic. I don't
make much steam. But it took almost no effort to put it in so I did
that. I used a double toggle switch that fits in a single gang
box, and it's in the hall directly below the fan for that matter, but
mostly in the hall convenient to my bedroom.

I do have to change the motor, 3 or 4 times in the last 22 years, but
I change it from inside the attic, and I've gotten the time down to
about 20 minutes. Turn off the breaker, remove 2 wires 3 screws and a
set screw to remove the fan blade. Reverse.

I bought my first replacment motor from the fan company, but since
then I just go to Electric Motor Repair, in Baltimore, which has all
kinds of motors in stock.

Originally, I bought the most expensive fan they had for sale, hoping
to decrease mainenance, bu tthere was only about a 10 dollar
difference in price anyhow. Maybe with inflation that would be a 20
dollar difference. I was up on the roof last summer, after 22 years,
and the fan looked as good as new, but I didn't touch the plastic. I
know better than to look for trouble. (I don't know how long the
plastic will last, but since the fan can't be seen from the ground, I
would make my own replacement if it ever cracks and blows off.
Again, it can be measured from the inside of the attic. If they coudl
see the fan, I'd just make the cover pretty.)

Some motors last a long time, one as little as 3 years, I don't know
why. But I don't care, because the fan is great.




Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please let
me know if you have posted also.