Why It’s Important to Use Attic Fans in Cold Climates

While you might think of purchasing an attic fan, chances are you probably only think you’ll benefit from one in the summer months. However, it’s a good thing to note — attic fans are also important in cold climates during the winter as well.

In the summertime, you do need an attic fan to help push out hot air to prevent the accumulation of heat that can overheat your home. But, in the winter months, moisture can also accumulate because of the different temperature variations and you might find this can be just as damaging to your home as the heat in the summer. Winter can bring with it things like:

Mold and fungus growth
Insulation damage
Wood rot
Leaks that come into your home
And more

Not only this, but in the snowy, cold climates, another common concern is ice dams.

What are Ice Dams?
Ice dams occur when the hot air rises into your attic, melting the snow on the roof. The water flows down into your eaves and gutters and then refreezes. Over a few days, it can accumulate into an ice pile which creates a blockage, preventing water from properly draining. Then, the water can get under your shingles, causing damage to your roof, insulation, walls and ceilings.

How an Attic Fan Can Help
There are various ways an attic fan can help during the winter and in cold climates, including:

1. Prevents Ice Damming
   If heat isn’t allowed to build up in your attic, the chances of ice dams forming aren’t as high. A well-ventilated, well-insulated attic can help prevent this build-up of heat and therefore prevent ice dams.

   Attic ventilation is an essential thing you can do for your house and the best way of ventilating that space and keeping it cool is by using an attic fan, even in the winter.

2. Prevents Condensation
   In the winter months, the warmth of the heat isn’t the only air collecting in your attic. Warm air from doing laundry, from exhaust fans and even from washing dishes can rise up into your attic.

   When it hits the cooler surfaces of your attic’s structures, the warm air’s moisture can collect on these surfaces as water droplets and turn into frost. The condensation then drips onto and collects in the insulation, damaging the insulation and making it less effective. And, ineffective insulation can severely affect your home’s efficiency which can lead to higher energy bills.

   Attic fans will equalize outdoor and indoor temperatures and prevent condensation build-up. It’s also more affordable to purchase an attic fan than it is to pay for higher home repair bills that result from not doing anything to protect your house in the wintertime.

3. Prevents Moisture Buildup
   In the wintertime, the heat is continually running into your home. Because it rises, it can become trapped in your attic causing moisture buildup from the hot air. The outdoor cold temperatures make your roof’s underside cold, making attic conditions even moister. When this moisture builds up, it could lead to severe damage to your roof and provide mildew and mold a place to thrive.

   An attic fan can help combat moisture buildup. It circulates the air, preventing the moisture from being able to build up.

4. Preserves the Roof to Extend Its Life
   As your home’s warm air rises into your attic in the winter, the space underneath your shingles heats up. This can eventually cause your shingles to become brittle and cause them to become ineffective which can shorten your roof’s lifespan.

   An attic fan can help tackle these and other problems you face in the cold winter months. To learn more about the importance of attic fans, contact a professional.

Attic Fans from WholeHouseFan.com

Here at WholeHouseFan, we have several attic fans for you to choose from:
SmartAttic Roof Mount Fan SMT 2.0 2116 CFM
QuietCool Smart Attic Gable Fan – 2830 CFM
Attic Gable Fan QuietCool AFG PRO-3.0 3013 CFM

Contact us today at 1-888-229-5757 if you have any questions about these attic fans or any of our other products.