April2017

ATTIC FANS... from page 70.

the capability of doing. While this may address condensation related issues, the fans that do have this capability and do not always turn on as required to prevent ice dam formations from occurring. Furthermore, lower ventilation is still required and the location and number of attic fans serving the attic must be carefully considered to ensure that there is an even air flow distribu- tion throughout the attic. Consideration must also be given to the design and location of combustion appliances to ensure that there is no back drafting of exhaust gases into the home. It is also strongly recommended that if an active attic fan system in place that the ceiling assembly below the attic be air sealed to prevent conditioned air from being pulled into the attic space. More often than not, attic fan installations do not consider all of the above, causing the home to experience one or more of the above issues. Because of this, attic fan installations often have more drawbacks than benefits. On the other hand, passive venti- lation systems are far easier to install correctly, have fewer intangibles to consider and the benefits of this system far outweigh any potential drawbacks. It is for all of the above reasons that I recommend a properly designed passive ventilation system over an active system powered by an attic fan. As an Architect, and even more importantly, as a father of three children whom I adore, it says a lot that if given the choice, I would prefer to have a passive ventilation system installed in my own home. Q

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