What Are the Different Types of Attic Ceiling Fans?

The different types of attic ceiling fans include roof ventilators, gable fans, and whole home cooling systems. These units may be non-powered, electric, or rely on solar energy to operate. Their purpose is to move hot air, which naturally rises to the uppermost peaks of a home, outside through open areas in or near the roof of a house.

One classification of attic ceiling fans is known as ventilators. These units are installed directly into the roof of the home, and are designed to vent hot air and moisture outside. This prevents a buildup of heat and humidity inside the upper areas of the house, which can increase energy bills during warm months and cause damage to any exposed structural supports and insulation.

Non-powered attic ventilators are small, rounded vents that sit above the roof line of the house and feature internal fans. These fans circulate based on the temperature differences between the air in the attic and the air outside the home. Hot air is naturally sucked out into pockets of cool air. The number of ventilators required for an attic is usually determined by the amount of exposed square footage. These vents can typically be closed during winter months when it is more desirable to keep warm air inside the home.

Powered attic ventilators operate automatically once switched on, and pull hot air outside of the attic more efficiently than their non-powered counterparts. These devices are mounted directly into the ceiling and present a short, rounded cap just above the roof line. Units are generally sold based on the square footage of attic space that will be cooled. Homeowners who are concerned about the added costs to their utility bills by installing a powered ventilator can choose instead to purchase a solar panel operated unit.

Gable attic ceiling fans perform work similar to that of the ventilators, but require less assembly. These fans are available in non-powered, powered, and solar operating units. In this type of assembly, a large, cylindrical fan is mounted into the already existing gable of the attic, and pulls hot air outside of the home. A wired screening frame that opens and closes manually may be mounted over the gable fan to prevent small animals from entering this warm space when the fan is not operational.

Whole home cooling systems similarly rely on the use of attic ceiling fans to circulate air more efficiently. These systems install tunneled vents into the ceilings of upstairs rooms in addition to using powered ventilators within the roof. Each tunneled vent opens into any available attic space, carrying hot air away from the living quarters of the house. These vented ends are then placed strategically close to powered roof ventilators which work to circulate hot air constantly outside of the home.