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Gable Power Vents - Cheap Cooling Solution
Harmful Heat
The air in the attic of your home can reach temperatures exceeding 130° F (54° C).
When excessive heat accumulates in the attic it not only makes the rest of the
house uncomfortably hot, it degrades the composition of roofing shingles and could
lead to expensive repairs or even premature replacement of the entire roof.
By reducing the temperature of attic air to within 10° F of the outside temperature
you preserve the integrity of the roof, increase the comfort level of rooms below,
and minimize potential mold and moisture problems.
If your home has central A/C, a gable fan reduces the heat load on the air
conditioner which results in better cooling for less money.
Gable Fan Sizing
Power gable vents are rated in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This number represents
the cubic feet of air moved per minute; the higher the CFM, the more powerful the
ventilator.
According to the Home Ventilating Institute, to determine the correct CFM rating
needed, multiply attic square footage by 0.7. For example, a 1500 square foot attic
x 0.7 would require a gable fan with a minimum rating of 1050 CFM.
Most manufacturers offer different models to accommodate the most common attic
sizes. If your attic square footage falls between available fan sizes, pick the next
largest size. If your attic is very large you’ll probably need a fan at each end of the
attic.
When using power gable vents make sure sufficient attic intake ventilation is
available to match the exhaust capacity of the fan. To determine this, divide the CFM
by 300 for the number of square feet of intake needed. Because most vents are
rated in inches instead of feet, simply multiply the number of square feet by 144 to
calculate the net free area (NFA) of intake needed.
Using the example above, a fan rated at 1050 CFM would need 3.5 sq. ft., or 504
square inches, of net free area. Net free area also includes the air intake capacity of
soffit and ridge vents so this shouldn’t be a problem for most homes as long as the
fan is sized properly. If you’re not sure about the NFA contact your heating or air
conditioning tech for help.
Installation
The installation of a gable power vent should be an easy task for any experienced
home owner. Building a simple box to house the fan is recommended to reduce
vibration and noise and eliminate negative pressure around the fan.
You could also affix the fan to two horizontal cross members as long as you covered
any open areas around the fan.
Gable power vents must be hard wired, so depending on your wiring experience
and/or local building codes you may need the assistance of a licensed electrician.
There are many good makes and models of gable fans to choose from. The fans
shown below are thermostatically controlled and get good reviews from actual
users for ease of installation, customer satisfaction, and over all value.
The air in the attic of your home can reach temperatures exceeding 130° F (54° C).
When excessive heat accumulates in the attic it not only makes the rest of the
house uncomfortably hot, it degrades the composition of roofing shingles and could
lead to expensive repairs or even premature replacement of the entire roof.
By reducing the temperature of attic air to within 10° F of the outside temperature
you preserve the integrity of the roof, increase the comfort level of rooms below,
and minimize potential mold and moisture problems.
If your home has central A/C, a gable fan reduces the heat load on the air
conditioner which results in better cooling for less money.
Gable Fan Sizing
Power gable vents are rated in cubic feet per minute (CFM). This number represents
the cubic feet of air moved per minute; the higher the CFM, the more powerful the
ventilator.
According to the Home Ventilating Institute, to determine the correct CFM rating
needed, multiply attic square footage by 0.7. For example, a 1500 square foot attic
x 0.7 would require a gable fan with a minimum rating of 1050 CFM.
Most manufacturers offer different models to accommodate the most common attic
sizes. If your attic square footage falls between available fan sizes, pick the next
largest size. If your attic is very large you’ll probably need a fan at each end of the
attic.
When using power gable vents make sure sufficient attic intake ventilation is
available to match the exhaust capacity of the fan. To determine this, divide the CFM
by 300 for the number of square feet of intake needed. Because most vents are
rated in inches instead of feet, simply multiply the number of square feet by 144 to
calculate the net free area (NFA) of intake needed.
Using the example above, a fan rated at 1050 CFM would need 3.5 sq. ft., or 504
square inches, of net free area. Net free area also includes the air intake capacity of
soffit and ridge vents so this shouldn’t be a problem for most homes as long as the
fan is sized properly. If you’re not sure about the NFA contact your heating or air
conditioning tech for help.
Installation
The installation of a gable power vent should be an easy task for any experienced
home owner. Building a simple box to house the fan is recommended to reduce
vibration and noise and eliminate negative pressure around the fan.
You could also affix the fan to two horizontal cross members as long as you covered
any open areas around the fan.
Gable power vents must be hard wired, so depending on your wiring experience
and/or local building codes you may need the assistance of a licensed electrician.
There are many good makes and models of gable fans to choose from. The fans
shown below are thermostatically controlled and get good reviews from actual
users for ease of installation, customer satisfaction, and over all value.
The gable power vent fan is an
effective and inexpensive alternative
to roof mounted and whole house
attic fans.
If you get nervous at the thought of
cutting a hole in the roof, or don’t
want to spend hundreds of dollars
on a whole house fan, a gable fan
offers excellent exhaust air flow and
easy installation at a bargain price.
Gable power vent fans are also
inexpensive to operate. A typical 2.6
amp fan costs 3 1/2¢ per hour to
operate at 12¢ per kilowatt hour.
effective and inexpensive alternative
to roof mounted and whole house
attic fans.
If you get nervous at the thought of
cutting a hole in the roof, or don’t
want to spend hundreds of dollars
on a whole house fan, a gable fan
offers excellent exhaust air flow and
easy installation at a bargain price.
Gable power vent fans are also
inexpensive to operate. A typical 2.6
amp fan costs 3 1/2¢ per hour to
operate at 12¢ per kilowatt hour.
Ventamatic CX1500 $48.60
Vents up to 1850 sq ft (1,350)
Vents up to 1850 sq ft (1,350)
- This best selling gable fan is a good fit for most
attics.
- 2.6 Amp 115-Volt 60 Hz thermally protected
motor
- Adjustable thermostat enables fan to run only
when needed.
Cool Attic CX2500 $83.44
Vents up to 2,500 sq ft (1,650 CFM)
Vents up to 2,500 sq ft (1,650 CFM)
- Energy efficient 2.1 Amp 115 Volt 60 Hz motor.
- Adjustable thermostat with built in safety
features.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
