Attic Fan Installation question

[RPMDAD]

Looking for knowledge/opinions here, looked on Google and couldn't find any relative information. The front of our house basically faces south, the rear basically north, so therefore the sides basically face east and west. We have Gable vents on the east and west sides of the house, but no attic fan. Am thinking about installing an attic fan to draw hot air out of the attic. There is already electric in the attic. My question, is there a plus or minus installing the attic fan on one side of the house east/west over the other or does it not matter?? TIA

 

[GWguy]

Doesn't really matter, as long as the fan has sufficient CFM to be useful. If it's under powered, you won't move enough air to make a difference with the sun beating down. Also make sure the soffit vents are clear and allow air into the attic.

Also, assuming it's thermostat controlled, don't put the thermostat too near the fan, or it will cycle on and off more often than it needs to.

 

[RPMDAD]

Thanks GW, i didn't think it would make a difference just wanted to be sure

 

[limblips]

Doesn't really matter, as long as the fan has sufficient CFM to be useful. If it's under powered, you won't move enough air to make a difference with the sun beating down. Also make sure the soffit vents are clear and allow air into the attic.

Also, assuming it's thermostat controlled, don't put the thermostat too near the fan, or it will cycle on and off more often than it needs to.

Good advice! I just want to add that if the attic has both soffit vents and gable vents, the gable vents need to be closed up. If you put an attic fan in and don't close off the gable vents all you do is pull air in through the gables and out the fan. What you want to happen is air comes in the soffit vents and out of the fan.

 

[FED_UP]

Looking for knowledge/opinions here, looked on Google and couldn't find any relative information. The front of our house basically faces south, the rear basically north, so therefore the sides basically face east and west. We have Gable vents on the east and west sides of the house, but no attic fan. Am thinking about installing an attic fan to draw hot air out of the attic. There is already electric in the attic. My question, is there a plus or minus installing the attic fan on one side of the house east/west over the other or does it not matter?? TIA

Off subject a bit, facing east or west just really matters where the most your windows are located given your georgraphical area.

 

[RPMDAD]

Good advice! I just want to add that if the attic has both soffit vents and gable vents, the gable vents need to be closed up. If you put an attic fan in and don't close off the gable vents all you do is pull air in through the gables and out the fan. What you want to happen is air comes in the soffit vents and out of the fan.

limblips, i am a little confused now i was going to install a gable attic fan, i i thought the idea was to push the heated up air out one gable and draw outside air in from the other gable. I am not sure how that would work if i close off the gable vents????

 

[DoWhat]

limblips, i am a little confused now i was going to install a gable attic fan, i i thought the idea was to push the heated up air out one gable and draw outside air in from the other gable. I am not sure how that would work if i close off the gable vents????

Don't worry about it.
I have 2 attic fans with open gable vents along with soffit vents and my attic is nice and cool.


Edit:
You said gable attic fans.

Keep the gable vents open and install a couple attic vents through the roof.
Do you have a ridge vent?

 

[ItalianScallion]

I haven't seen any problems regarding which side of the house the fan is placed on. I put mine on the end closest to the electrical box and it works fine.

I have no ridge vent so I installed the gable fan in the center of the gable vent. I then put insulation around the outside of that fan (to prevent air from being pulled in through that gable vent) and so the air would be pulled in through the gable vent at the other end of the attic.

My only complaint is that those fans only last about 5 years. I've replaced them 3 times but I got smart with the last one. I now make sure I go up and lubricate them every Spring before it gets too hot up there. A few drops on the shaft and a few on the back end of the motor has kept them running for over 8 years...