We looked into solar attic fans a couple years back when we replaced our roof—similar situation, low pitch and poor airflow. I was initially skeptical about the upfront costs too, but after chatting with a neighbor who swears by theirs, we decided to give it a shot. Honestly, I think it's been worth it. Our attic temp dropped noticeably during summer afternoons, and our AC isn't working nearly as hard as before. Plus, the install itself was pretty straightforward—no wiring headaches or anything.
That said, if your roof doesn't get consistent sun exposure or you have lots of shade from trees nearby, it might not perform as well as you'd hope. I guess the real question is how quickly it'll pay itself off compared to a traditional electric fan. For us, comfort and convenience outweighed the cost difference...but your mileage may vary.
We installed solar attic fans on a recent build with similar conditions—low pitch, limited airflow, and initially skeptical homeowners. The results were pretty impressive overall. Noticeable drop in attic temps, less strain on the AC, and the install was straightforward enough. But you're right about shade—one client had heavy tree coverage, and their results weren't nearly as dramatic. I'd say it's worth considering your specific roof exposure carefully before committing to solar.
Good points about the shade factor—seen that myself. Another thing to consider is attic insulation and ventilation setup before adding solar fans. I've found that addressing insulation gaps or improving soffit vents first can sometimes give you more bang for your buck. Did you guys do any insulation upgrades alongside the solar install, or was it strictly fans? Curious how much difference that might've made in your results...
Totally agree on insulation being key—seen plenty of cases where folks jumped straight to solar fans without addressing insulation first, and the results were pretty underwhelming. Curious if anyone's measured actual temp differences after upgrading insulation vs. just adding fans...might be eye-opening.
I've actually seen measurable differences firsthand. A neighbor upgraded insulation first and saw attic temps drop around 15 degrees on hot days, while another friend jumped straight to solar fans without insulation improvements and barely noticed a 5-degree change. Fans can help move air, sure, but if your insulation isn't solid, you're basically fighting a losing battle. I'd prioritize insulation every time—fans are more like the icing on the cake once you've addressed the real issue.
