Attic Fan Thermostat – Effective Cooling Solutions

Today we are going to be talking about attic fan thermostat units. We are going to be discussing why you should look at getting one for your property, and then going over some of the advantages and features to look out for.

After that, we will be having a look at some of the more popular thermostats currently on the market, so you can skip right onto the bottom of the page if you want to see that.
Hopefully we can help you find the right thermostat for your attic. Lets start off by talking about why you would need one in the first place.

Why should you use a thermostat with your attic fan?

Having a thermostat attached to your attic fan is quite commonplace these days, and most newer attic fans are sold as a complete attic fan and thermostat unit. Older attic fans were operated by a manual switch which was quite wasteful, but some of these older standalone models can be upgraded with the addition of a thermostat. This allows your attic fan to only be used when necessary, which is much more cost effective in the long term.

What are the advantages of a thermostat controlled fan?

There are many advantages to using a attic fan thermostat. The first major advantage is the decreased energy consumption. Having set your desired temperature on the thermostat, the fan will only kick in once the temperature has gone above this threshold. This means less energy consumption, and a lower electricity bill. There are of course other advantages to this setup, so lets talk about those below.

Having a properly regulated temperature in the attic is very important for several other reasons. Temperatures in the attic can influence the rooms directly below them. In fact the temperature in the attic can change the temperature of the rooms below by up to ten degrees! This is most noticeable in the hot summer months since the heat travels upwards and tends to get trapped in the attic. This causes a buildup of heat in the rooms below since the hot air takes a while to dissipate.

A decent attic fan thermostat is the best way to remove the heat in a faster manner. If you have air conditioning, then this trapped heat can also have an effect. The extra heat will have to make the air conditioner work harder, thus decreasing its lifespan. A air conditioner tends to use quite a bit of electricity when it is in full operational mode, so this would save you quite a bit of cash in the long run.

It isn’t only for your comfort that you need to get rid of the hot air, there are other factors to consider. Most major household components such as plumbing, wiring, roofing supports and insulation are all housed in the attic, and very high temperatures will decrease the lifespan of these items too.

Why is the attic fan running in winter?

Many attic fan with thermostats also have a built in humidity gauge. This is quite important, especially during the winter months. During these colder months, it tends to get more humid in the attic since water from baths or showers, cooking and humidifiers tends to build up a little in the attic. Since the air is too cold for the heat to dissipate, it tends to settle in the attic. If you store goods in the attic, then this could cause some major issues. The extra humidity can also cause wood to rot over time, which can lead to long term problems with the roofing.
Most attic thermostats will kick in around 70% humidity, and will start drawing air in no matter what the temperature is. This will help to protect your attic, and all the components housed within it.

What is a firestat?

Some thermostats come with what is called a firestat. This is to aid your house in the event that a fire breaks out. If the temperature reaches a set point (normally around 180F), then the fan will automatically shut off. This prevents additional oxygen from being drawn into the house and fueling the flames. We’re not sure how effective this would be if the house is already engulfed in flames, but it has been said to be a respectable safety measure to think about.
These are some of the features to check out, now lets have a look at some of the better models you can currently get on the market..

Ventamatic XXFirestat

Ventamatic XXDuostat

Cool Attic CX1600