An attic fan provides an affordable way to draw fresh air through your attic, extending the life of your roof and preventing moisture buildup.
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Roof-mount fans are installed from the exterior of the roof. Because they can be seen from the curb, we like the Master Flow ERV5 power roof-mount vent’s sleek profile. Available in a range of colors, it’s easy to make it blend in with your roof. It moves 1,250 CFM, and according to the manufacturer uses up to 55 percent less electricity than other comparable models.
Installation on asphalt or wood shingles will be relatively straightforward, but materials like slate or ceramic tile will make things more difficult. You might consider a gable-mount fan instead.
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A solar-powered attic fan moves air without flipping a switch or changing batteries. The Remington Solar 30-watt attic fan is a standalone unit with a solar panel directly mounted to the top of the fan.
As long as the unit is in direct sunlight, it will run as needed, pumping air out of your attic space. Remington also sells an optional 110-volt adapter so the fan can run at night and on overcast days. The fan vents up to 2,000 square feet of attic space and comes with a lifetime limited warranty.
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If your top priority is durability, look for a fan that’s well-built without extra features that may malfunction. We think the Master Flow EGV5 gable-mount fan checks all those boxes.
This no-frills, 1,450 CFM gable-mount fan comes with a thermostat … and that’s it. There’s no WiFi or Bluetooth to crash. The galvanized steel frame and fan blades offer an industrial appearance that suggests this fan will still be running long after the zombie apocalypse has come and gone.
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If you have a small attic, don’t install a fan that creates too much negative pressure and draws air from your living space. The Active Ventilation RBSF-8-GR pulls 365 CFM, a good match for smaller attics. This roof-mount, solar-powered fan has a five-year warranty. We wish the fan blades weren’t plastic, but we can live with it given the low price (less than $55).
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You don’t want more fan than you need. But what if you have a huge attic? Check out the iLiving ILG8SF30S, an absolute beast of a fan that moves up to a whopping 5,088 CFM.
This 50-pound, gable-mount fan is recommended for around 7,500 square feet of space. That much draw would cause problems in almost any normal attic. But if you have a structure like a pole barn that needs ventilation, it may be the fan for you.
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Do you prefer an independently powered solution to your attic venting issues? Consider a wind-driven fan, also known as a turbine.
Note that rooftop turbines, like the Lomanco 12-inch Whirlybird, technically aren’t fans. A turbine catches air that’s already in motion. However, fan and turbine vents create a vacuum to draw air out of the attic. So we felt the turbine option is worth considering.
The lack of electronics makes turbines affordable, but their dependence on wind means they can’t always move as much air as a fan that can run in any conditions. But if you live in an area with consistent wind, a turbine is a great choice.
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