How To: Install an attic fan

No matter how hot it gets in your home this summer, you can bet that it's even hotter in your attic. All that heat in your attic gets transferred to the ceiling below, which will in turn heat the interior of your house.

One way to solve this problem is to cool your attic with an attic fan. An attic fan pulls in outside air through the roof vents and forces hot attic air out through the fan. On a hot day, the outside air can be 15 to 30 degrees cooler than attic air, even if your attic is well vented. This exchange of air can make quite a difference in keeping your attic and your house cool in the summer even if your attic is insulated or you have air conditioning.

Choosing a fan is a relatively simple process. Decide how you will mount the fan by reading the steps below, and then choose the appropriate model. You can mount the fan to vent either through the roof or through the gable. Next, choose the correct size fan by comparing the manufacturer's specifications to the square footage of your attic space. If you have a large house, or will encounter problems mounting a large fan, consider two smaller fans that together will meet the manufacturer's recommendations for your attic. For complete, step-by-step instructions for this DIY project, watch this friendly and straightforward video tutorial.