The choice between attic fans and turbines often depends on various factors, including your roofing needs and preferences. Aceline Roofing, a trusted roofing company, can provide valuable insights into this decision. Attic fans are electrical devices that actively remove hot air from the attic space, helping to regulate temperature and reduce the strain on your HVAC system. They can be more efficient in hot and humid climates, where consistent ventilation is crucial. Turbine vents, on the other hand, rely on wind power to create a natural airflow, making them a cost-effective and energy-efficient option.
A solar fan can actively draw more air to your attic than a turbine. A solar fan is not dependent on the wind and, in fact, has a more powerful motor, so it keeps the attic temperature regulated regardless of wind conditions. Turbine fans use only the wind that blows to the outside to turn. These fans are usually installed along or near the peak of the roof, which is called a ridge.
Turbine fans have angled slots cut into a capped cylinder, which create a continuous fan blade. The wind turns the fan blades, causing air movement in the attic as the air exits through the turbine and is replaced by outside air. Turbine fans have no more power than wind, so when the wind doesn't blow, the turbine doesn't turn. The benefits of turbine ventilation include its lower installation cost and the active nature of the ventilation it provides.
However, because the turbine depends on the wind, it is much less effective at ventilating the roof when there is no breeze. However, when the wind blows, a turbine can move large amounts of air. In fact, the turbine can move more air when there is a constant breeze than any other type of ventilation. Because the turbines protrude noticeably above the roof line, they are quite visible.
If the presence of a turbine were considered a nuisance, another type of ventilation might be more appropriate. Eventually, turbines can get noisy as they age, as rust can cause them to whistle, squeal and groan in a strong breeze. Compared to the main alternative vents, this type of ventilation is considerably easier to install, which means that the installation is less disruptive and more economical than ridge vents. There are also no electrical components in the ventilation of a turbine, since they are powered directly by the wind.
This means you won't need a qualified electrician to come in to wire the vents once they're installed, giving them an edge over alternatives like ventilation grilles when it comes to installation. Under the right conditions, a swirl can move considerably more air than a vent. A turbine vent will spin even with a small wind that sucks air out of the attic. The stronger the wind, the more powerful your ventilation will be.
Since the warmer air in your attic rises upwards, thermodynamics drive you to vent from the attic at the highest point, which is the ridge. Because proper ventilation of your attic is critical to energy efficiency and roof integrity, it's worth deliberating on the right choice of attic ventilation. Because the warmer attic air will be closer to your roof surface, the turbine can draw the warmer air out of the attic space with the help of the breeze.
