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wrote:
I have a 1700 sq. foot house without A/C, I installed (2)whirly-bird
ventilators last year, I counted 12 -- 4 X16 soffit vents. My house
has many ceiling fans but it does warm up in the afternoon if the
outside temp. reaches 80F and above, my attic temp. reaches about
110-120F on those warm/hot days. Would a power attic fan (roof
mounted) be better or a whole house fan work with my current vents??
Home is in Southern California, warm 80F-90F days and 65-75F nights....
Thanks.

A ridge vent will lower the attic temps better than the powered roof fan
and at no operating cost. I don't currently have a ridge vent here in NY
just because I am too lazy to climb on the roof and put one in. I do
have a ridge vent on our 12' x 16' cathedral ceiling pool house and I
insulated between the 2" x 6" rafters with insulation made for 2" x 4"
walls, allowing 2" of airway from the soffit to the ridge vent. Even
though I have black shingles on the roof, it is always cooler inside
than outside. In my house, I do have continuous soffit vents and a
thermostatically powered gable fan, a whole house fan and Central AC.
I prefer the whole house fan for a number of reasons.
Used sparingly, it can replace all the air in a house, whether it is hot
air, smoky air (burned food), bad smells (spilled chemicals, dog came in
with skunk smell, etc.) and, if I have to go into the attic in the
summer, it will blow all the hot air from the attic, so I can work in
reasonable comfort. They are noisy though, especially when located near
bedrooms when you are trying to sleep.

--
Bill
In Hamptonburgh, NY
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