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Using attic heat to help heat house
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Posted by echo2400 (My Page) on Wed, Nov 18, 09 at 22:52
| What about using an attic fan in reverse to draw hot air out of the attic and into the house? If you had a thermostat in the house and in the attic so that it would only run when you need heat and the attic is hot. It would need a damper to keep from losing heat when not in use. What do you think? |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Using attic heat to help heat house
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When do you plan to use the heat from your attic?
It's only hot when it's hot outside.
when it's cold outside your attic if properly insulated is cold. The attic would never be warm enough to heat your home when you actually need heat. |
RE: Using attic heat to help heat house
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Several years ago, I read in a magazine, (Popular Mechanics,I think), of a homeowner who installed just such
a system. In certain parts of the country, usually in
spring and in autumn, there are days when the morning
sun, shining on a dark roof soon makes the air in the
attic warmer than the air in the house. A sensor then turns on a fan and blows the warm air down into the house to 'take the chill out' in the morning. |
RE: Using attic heat to help heat house
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| If your attic is vented (most likely is), then when the fan runs in reverse, you'll be pulling in outside air to replace the attic (warm) air. In the off chance that the attic is sealed, then you would need to provide a return of household air. In either case, you'll be pulling in particles of fiberglass or other insulating material. Nice. V |
RE: Using attic heat to help heat house
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sounds too good to be true?
because it is.
you would be introducing all the elements
from the attic into the living space.
particulate matter (insulation particles, dust,
any droppings from mice rats and birds just to name a few)
introducing the ambient humdidty would cause relative humdidty inside the house to increase also.
I remember as a kid growing up in houses with attic fans,
but now home dynamics have changed with forced air systems
like central systems.
you don't say what part of the country you live in,
but like stated above..when it is cold outside it is cold
in the attic, warm outside, hot in attic.
best of luck. |
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