How To Seal An Attic Fan For Winter

The whole house fan is installed inside the attic between the living space and ceiling.

How to seal an attic fan for winter.

Tape cardboard around the fan to cover large gaps. Seal nail penetrations and around electrical hvac and chimney penetrations. The velcro seal on the ceiling would be a good supplement to this solution. When you turn the fan on high the house will be pressurized like an inflated balloon.

The hinge allows to lid to be blown open by the fan when operating which means you won t have to crawl in the attic over the blown in insulation to open close the lid seasonally. Another way to seal off an attic fan is to use thick plastic and insulation. And just as you can feel the air from a leaky balloon you ll be able to confirm leaks in the attic by feeling the draft with your hand. Insulation can help reduce this heat exchange keeping your energy bills lower in winter.

Build a box that goes over the whole fan on the attic side in the winter time. In addition to the attic ventilation solutions above there are more steps you can take to prevent moisture issues in your attic and help maintain proper attic ventilation throughout the winter. Turn off the electricity to attic fan by unplugging or by disconnecting the hard wire from the junction box. 1 measure the widest part of the whole house fan working inside the room where the fan is located and not.

You are not trying to shove foam down the wall but rather make an air tight cap on top. Checking the seal once a week will ensure continual protection against losing heat through your attic fan. How to close an attic vent during the winter. Whole house fans work on the principle of removing the hot and humid air out of the house.

Set the grate aside. When using plastic make sure the attic fan is properly sealed on all edges. Find electrical wires that are penetrating the ceiling. Seal penetrations in the attic to stop free air flow.

Find the lighting electrical box for each room and cover it with a dose of spray foam. A hard wire runs directly from the. Measure the height and width of the. Duct board foil stiff fiberglass foil is probably the best material if you can find it use aluminum foil duct tape for the joints.

Remove the grate from the attic fan. It helps to cool your home temperatures and the attic by approximately 30 degrees. Stick the spray foam nozzle in the hole with it and give it a quick squirt. This is also my preferred approach to the attic stairs that don t seal worth a darn.