How To Tell Attic Fan Is Going Bad

The downside of attic ventilation fans.

How to tell attic fan is going bad. If the attic fan isn t turning on it could be an electrical issue a problem with the thermostat or the motor of the fan that s not working. Just like a bathroom exhaust fan attic fans direct accumulated hot air out while bringing in cool air from outside. Step 1 test the fan motor. If you suspect the fan motor is bad the first thing you should check is the power to.

Turn the attic fan off and unplug the motor from the thermostat. Let s discuss the primary concern homeowners have about attic fan installation. Attic ventilation fans whether hard wired or powered by their own solar panels seem like a low cost and effective way to help keep your house cool. Good insulation reduces fan effectiveness.

Click here for a video tutorial. Once done test that the motor still works by plugging the motor into an extension cord that is connected to an outlet. Many homeowners hear about attic fans installed by friends and neighbors and want to know if an attic fan is a good idea or just a waste of money. Before you start make sure the thermostat is set to cool and that the temperature setting is as low as it will go.

There is an automatic monitoring mechanism for the attic fan that switches it on or off according to the internal temperature. Your attic fan may not be turning on because of an electrical problem like a tripped circuit breaker a blown fuse or a bad connection. Three years ago i wrote an article titled don t let your attic suck power attic ventilators are a bad idea nearly a hundred thousand page views and 93 comments later it s still generating lots of heat. If the fan turns on the motor is still good.

To test the fan motor on your air conditioner you ll have to do a continuity test. However the utility of attic ventilation fans is actually quite a controversial topic. And since the roof must be penetrated for some attic fan installations there is concern about that it may lead to water damage. They are more powerful than bathroom exhaust fans and clear out a greater volume of air.