I am in houston Texas. My attic gets really hot in the summer. Will having a vent fan help my cooling costs?

Question

Other concerns-
-rain water through the vent fan
-What about winter?

Answer 1

You can install two vents on each side of your roof and wire them through your attic. This is not hard to do. All you need is the cord and a sawz all and your in like flint.
Set your thermostat at 100 and when the degree hits the fans come on and suck out that hot air.

Answer 2

Why not insulate the 2nd floor? Something doesn't sound right here. If your attic is well insulated, why is it hot? Is the insulation on roof rafters or on the attic floor between the 2nd-floor ceiling and the attic as it should be? Your house was built before the oil crisis and I'll bet those 2nd floor outside walls could use insulation. Is there any where you can check easily? (like in a closet) You seem to have all kinds of vents in the attic but you're saying, the warm air can't leave because cooler air can't enter. Soffit vents sounds good and you don't have to close the gable vents. You probably need only a few.

Answer 3

Yes, venting the roof does help a lot. Insulation of your attic plus venting will make a very noticeable difference.

Cost-- on the high end is a solar powered automatic vent-- does it by itself--
Next a powered vent fan-- you have to hook it to electricity.
Next a passive (non powered) "spinner"-- which uses the wind and the heat itself to function-- need functional eave soffits for intake of cooler air.
There is a ridge vent that I know nothing about it also is passive.

For the least expense to give some relief-- then you can re-evaluate-- I would check out spinners. As you know, heat rises-- the spinner draws cooler air in the soffit under the eaves, the hot air excapes thru the spinner. The spinners have never caused a water problem for me (40 years). I don't cover mine in the winter-- I've read reports that the coverings don't do much vs climbing on the roof and falling.
Notice-- no installation charges included.

If you can-- good insulation in your attic will make your house so much easier to cool-- and heat--. Check with your power company-- some will evaluate your needs, provide a list of approved venders and come re-check the job after the insulation is blown in ---all for free-- in the name of conservation.

Here in 100 degrees + (for too long this summer)-- I have spinners ( two -large roof), Insulation blown in to 12 inches, Solatubes(2) for passive, no heat interior lighting, and central heat-air. Have A/C set at 78 degrees with ceiling fans in each room that I use depending on the room I'm in. About 2400 sq. ft. and my July electric bill was $133. I'm happy.

I also suggest you make a plan of action for conservation for your home-- Price what you'll need, and set up a plan for installation, while you are budgeting to follow your plan. You'll be more comfortable in the future with power and other energy costs going up. I also believe your home will gain in value for future sales.

If you happen to live in a rental--you'll need to talk to your landlord--
Good luck

Answer 4

Not only will it help with your cooling costs, it will make your roof last longer. (Something that only adding additional insulation won't do.) Ridge vents (they go in under the shingles at the apex of the roof) are great, but unless you're replacing your roof already, they're not the most practical option. And the fans are designed to keep the rain out -- but living in Houston, you might want to make sure you get the "hurricane rated model" ;)

Talk to you local HD or Lowe's -- they're always happy to advise, especially if they think they can sell you something.

As for winter... do you ever HAVE one?

Answer 5

I live 50 miles south of Houston straight down 288. I think you will do better to add addiitional insulation to your attic. I added a single layer of 12 inch fiberglass bats, and it lowered my indoor ceiling temperature by 5 degrees in hottest part of the day. I'm thinking of adding an additional layer to keep it even cooler. I also have a programmable thermostat that raises the setpoint during the day when I'm at work. But with the additional insulation, I find that the inside temperature still stays resonably comfortable.

I would try extra insulation first....it's a lot cheaper and much easier to do.

Answer 6

I would consider putting in a ridge vent on your roof if you dont have one already this will help with the heat in the summer. The ridge vent allows built up heat to escape from your roof also. But on top of that I would install a vent fan to help circulate the heat and push it through the ridge vent. When both are used together it helps with the heat.

Answer 7

The vent is slatted downward so that rain won't come in....and in winter it just doesnt run. It is operated by thermostat: when the attic gets to a certain degree, the fan turns on. I think you also need to vent your soffits as well.....ask the electrician or builder who might put this in for you. We have one and it helps ALOT.

Answer 8

Yes it will, but keep in mind that you also need enough intake space to let the air move through, so you may need more vents if their are not enough.
Most vent fans have their own thermostat so they automatically turn on and off and have louvers to keep the rain out and the thermostat just doesn't turn them on in the winter.

Answer 9

Lived by 6 & 288 and agree with Alva. Also, when it came time to replace the roof shingles, I found that white ( or light-colored) shingles make a world of difference as far as attic heat-gain is concerned. WHAT winter (Live in Mich. now........)?

Answer 10

It will help with your cooling costs, Those fans are covered to keep rain out and most people cover them in the winter to keep in heat.