What Temp to Set the Attic Fan? [Temperature Setting in Winter & Summer]

What temp to set the attic fan?

There’s no need to over-emphasize the importance of an attic fan and how it can help keep your attic cool and fresh. Smells, mold, mildew, humidity and heat are some of the problems you can encounter in your attic without the right amount of ventilation.

No one wants to return home and be greeted by a terrible, awful smell coming from the attic. Not only can it be troubling, but, it can also be really hard to find the source. Hence, it is best to be proactive and keep an attic fan running in your attic.

While it is true that attic fans are great at removing heat and moisture, you may wonder what temperature you should set on the unit’s thermostat. Should it be high or low? What is the recommended temperature? Should the climate determine the setting? What temperature will you set in winter or in summer?

These are some of the questions we’ll answer in this post, and we’re sure it will help you get the best out of your attic fan.

What Is an Acceptable Attic Temperature?

The ideal requirement is to ensure your attic temperature does not go beyond 10 to 20 degrees above the outdoor temperature in the summer. This means it should not be less than 10 degrees warmer and more than 20 degrees warmer than the temperature outside in the summer.

That said, the acceptable temperature for your attic in the winter should not be less than 60 degrees. Overall, you must ensure that your attic temperature never goes above 130 degrees, or you may just be inviting trouble into your home.

The first concern would be the condition of your roof. When the temperature in your attic gets too high, above 130 degrees, your roof’s integrity is at risk. Another concern is your energy bill.

Your attic fan or whole-house HVAC will have a hard time dealing with the heat and this can trigger a rise in energy bills because you’ll need to keep them running for a long time.

Although that’s the rule of thumb, we advise you to try and keep the temperature under 110° at all times. This can be achieved by using your attic the right way.

What To Set an Attic Fan Thermostat?

The recommended attic fan temperature is between 90° and 110° F. This is best in summer when the outdoor temperature can rise to as high as 95° to 100°.

Setting the unit’s thermostat the right way and at the right temperature is the only way to keep the attic’s temperature in check. This also largely depends on the region or state you live in.

You can’t expect to use your attic fan in Northern Seattle the same way you use it in New Orleans. The temperatures in the two cities are different, which means you must take note of the outdoor temperature and set your attic fan accordingly.

If you set the thermostat too high, the attic fan may not come on or only come on briefly. On the other hand, if it is set too low, you’d need to run the attic fan more often than necessary, sometimes even all day, leading to a waste of energy.

Depending on the type of attic fan you use, adjusting the thermostat can be done in a number of ways. For Wi-Fi-enabled units, you can use your smartphone.

Other forms of control include a small metal control box with dials ranging from 60 to 120 degrees. Although you’d need to open up the box with a screwdriver to access the dials.

What Temp to Set an Attic Fan in Winter?

What Temp to Set an Attic Fan in Winter

It’s best to keep your attic fan setting below freezing point during winter. You’ve been told to keep the attic temperature 10 degrees to 20 degrees above the outdoor temperature in summer, but it doesn’t exactly work the same way in winter.

It’s expected that the outdoor temperature gets colder than the indoor temperature during winter and this can lead to ice build-up on the roof and other parts of the home’s exterior structure. The goal is to prevent this from happening.

Science tells us that when outdoor temperature is lower (colder) than the indoor temperature, there’s bound to be an effect.

Consider when you drive in the rain without your car air conditioner on, you’ll find a buildup of vapor on the windshield which disrupts your view. The reason is that the temperature outside is not the same as the temperature inside.

It’s a similar situation with your attic during winter. What you should do is use your attic fan to remove warm air and replace it with cooler outdoor air.

What Temp Should the Attic Fan Be Set at In Summer?

What Temp Should the Attic Fan Be Set at In Summer?

As earlier said, your attic fan should be set not more than 20 degrees higher than the outdoor temperature. For most people, this is usually between 90 and 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

With an automatic thermostat, you don’t need to bother about how your unit runs as long as you set the thermostat appropriately.

This will trigger the unit to turn on or turn off depending on how hot it gets in the attic. With such a thermostat, it is easier to ensure your attic has the right temperature at all times.

Is It Bad That My Attic Is Hot?

It is certainly bad. Having a hot attic can lead to a number of complications. These include mold and mildew growth, damage to the roof, increased energy bills and overworking your air conditioner.

It is important to ensure your attic doesn’t get too hot. You may ask, when is your attic too hot?

Well, just make sure the temperature doesn’t go beyond 130 degrees at most and you should be fine. Otherwise, you’ll be struggling with a number of issues that can be hard to deal with.

Final Words:

We’re certain this post has been able to answer any questions you may have about what temperature to set your attic fan. It is one thing to own an attic fan, but if you do not know how to use it, it is just as though you don’t have one at all.

For emphasis, it is best to keep the temperature at 90 to 100 degrees in the summer and around 60 degrees in the winter. The goal is to keep the temperature in your attic at a comfortable level, but also in tune with the outdoor temperature.

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