Exhaust Fan
Posted by: Adam Fuson @ 2006.08.19.1859

Returning from Callahan Wednesday was one of the hottest days in recent memory. Allen Morris was at RBO and had called to make sure I was coming to the weekly ride. Since there was very little time between work at Callahan and the ride at Reser's, I knew I had to get ready quickly. Of course, once I was at decavirate I didn't want to drive to the shop just for the ride, so I decided to take a computer to the shop, which I had been working on for several days. Simultaneously I was distracted by the unusually high temperatures outside and inside the house despite the air conditioning. I decided that before I delivered the computer and attended the ride, I would install an exhaust fan in the attic to ease the cooling load of the air conditioner.

Running downstairs I found a few angle brackets in the basement and a spare furnace fan in the garage. I carried this to the attic and descended again for some wood screws, wire nuts, electrical tape and zip-ties. Once in the attic I was instantly drenched with sweat in the 100-degree+ air. Hastily, I mounted 2 angle brackets, where the top of the furnace fan would sit. Then I ran the zip ties through the fan casing and the angle brackets. Pulling the ties tight held the fan in place against the attic vent. Next I used some electrical tape and wire nuts to secure a cord to the fan and plugged it in.

I could barely hear the fan running evening in the attic, but it was pushing a considerable amount of hot air out of the attic. Though temperatures climbed during the next 2 days outside, the temperature in the house actually decreased a few degrees. Obviously, this is a common addition to any house, and is usually accompanied by a thermostatic switch. I highly recommend this improvement, as I didn't expect it to produce such a dramatic result and for so little cost.

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