Want to keep your home comfortable year-round without but without higher utility bills? A solar roof vent may be just what you’re looking for. This economical, environmental-friendly device can cut energy costs by 30 percent, allowing for hassle-free attic ventilation, and getting the job done year-round. Since it uses energy directly from free and abundant natural sunlight, it can help you save money all year.

How Solar Vents Work

Airflow is essential during cold and hot times of the year, no matter how many square feet of attic space you have. Even in winter, the warm air from your HVAC rises and fills the attic, heating up the roof space. A warm roof will melt snow and turn it into ice dams, leading to leaks and structural damage.

Also, heat buildup in the attic leads to high energy bills. Your air conditioner will run more often than it should when the attic is too hot, leading to higher utility bills. Attic vents come to the rescue. A properly ventilated attic eliminates heat buildup.

Solar roof vents allow the hot air accumulated at the top of the attic to leave and pull the cold air inwards, lowering the temperature and relative humidity in your attic space.

As the name states, a solar roof vent is powered by the sun and uses a solar panel to collect sun photons (light particles). The photons are converted into electric current, which runs the vent. Solar vents are attached to a thermostat, so the fan turns on and off when the attic reaches a specific temperature.

A solar roof vent circulates air more efficiently by providing the pressure needed to force warm air out of the attic. It is more effective than passive roof vents.

Three Benefits of Solar Roof Vents

1. Environmentally-Friendly

In this day and age, we have to do our part to reduce pollution. Getting a solar-powered attic vent is a great way to reduce strain on your HVAC system, and in turn, reduce your reliance on electricity. By harnessing the sun’s power, a solar vent can go a long way toward reducing your carbon footprint and helping you save money in the process.

2. Cost-Effective

Investing in a solar roof vent is good for your wallet. By dispersing heat and cooling off your attic, a solar vent cools off your living space and reduces the energy requirements. The unit runs on solar power, so no extra kWh is added to your utility bill, translating into energy savings every year.

Another money-saving advantage of solar roof vents is the added level of roof protection. Providing good circulation prevents condensation and ice dam problems. Reducing the strain on your HVAC unit also helps improve its lifespan.

3. More Powerful

You only need one solar-powered fan to power your entire attic. These vents can be used all year and work in inclement weather to cool down your attic when you need it the most. They are the most effective on the hottest, hottest days.

Unlike passive ventilation, solar-powered roof fans force air to move through the attic space and escape through the vent. This helps create ideal airflow and solve your home’s energy imbalance. Because they’re so effective, solar roof vents can lower your attic’s temperature by as much as 50 degrees.

Solar Roof Vents Are Worth the Cost

Most solar products have a relatively high investment cost. Solar roof vents are typically expensive to install. However, you need to weigh up the initial setup costs against the maintenance and energy savings you’ll get over the vent’s expected lifespan.

Many solar roof vents come with a 10 to 15-year warranty. If the initial cost of the vent is a big concern, consider buying ones with an extended warranty period to ensure you get many years of energy savings.

Solar roof vents have different prices based on quality and performance. So, look out for the following features when shopping for one:

Product diameter: The ideal diameter for homes is 250-350mm.
Fan blade: This will increase air movement and help improve warm air extraction.
Motors and solar panels: typically, high-quality solar vents come with quality motors and solar panels, which lead to optimum performance.

Accurately sized and properly installed, a solar roof vent can trim your heating and cooling costs by as much as 25%. The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for solar-powered systems. Consider those savings alongside your potential monthly savings.

Switch to a Solar-Powered Vent for Your Attic

Solar roof vents are highly effective and can help cool your attic without installing invasive ducts or dealing with huge electric bills. Bill West Roofing is ready to help you add a solar roof vent to your Lee Summit home. We install Air Vent and Lomanco solar-powered vents, which come with a 40+ watt solar panel that can be remotely mounted for optimum energy collection. Contact us today to learn more about solar roof vents and get a free estimate.