A hot and poorly ventilated attic can increase your energy bills and could harm the material that holds your roof together. Did you realize that?

So, how about adding an attic fan? This is one of the best ways to save money while simultaneously decreasing the temperature of your attic.

A Thorough Guide

Step 1: Start by switching off the electricity in your attic. Then, use the main fuse box or circuit breaker box to turn it off. Please don’t try to install an attic fan on your roof with the electricity on. It’s also a good idea to switch off any attic wall switches.

Step 2: Drill a pilot hole right through the roof at the desired place for your fan. You’ll know exactly where to create the pilot hole when you climb up on the roof later. The pilot hole should be at the center of the hole. Make sure the hole you’re making is situated between two rafters so the fan can fit.

Step 3: On the roof, draw a circle the same size as your fan. The hole you drilled should be in the middle of the circle. To calculate the diameter of your fan, use the manufacturer’s specifications or use a tape measure. Then, climb to the roof and draw a circle around the pilot hole using chalk.

When working on the roof, please make sure you are using a hard helmet and traction-enhancing gear. Make sure you have someone with you on the roof in case you need help with anything. If your roof is wet, avoid getting on it since you may slip.

Step 4: Cut the circle using a reciprocating saw. A reciprocating saw is a small electric saw with a blade that swiftly cuts into and out of a surface. Use the previously drilled pilot hole as a starting point for the saw. Continue to cut along the saw line you drew until the hole is finished. Remove and discard the cut-out section of the wall or roofing from the hole.

Step 5: Loosen the shingles around the hole using a pry bar. The shingles must be removed in order for the attic fan’s flange (the flat rim that extends from the body of the fan) to fit right in between the shingles and the roof below them. Get rid of any nails or staples that you come encounter when prying the shingles away.

Simply pry open the two corners of each shingle nearest to the aperture. Remove only a portion of the shingles.

Step 6: Insert the attic fan into the hole, ensuring that the flange is behind the shingles. Place the fan flat on the roof, just below the hole, and gradually raise it. As you move it up, the flange should slip beneath the tiles you unfastened. Only the lowest two corners of the flange should be visible. When you’re finished, the fan’s center should be directly over the hole you created.

The open vent of the fan should face down into your attic, and the closed-off top should face up.

Step 7: Drill the flange’s bottom two corners into the roof. On the bottom corners of the fan’s flange, two screw holes should be drilled. Screwing the flange to your roof will secure the attic fan. Before screwing it down, ensure sure the flange’s bottom edge is square with the shingles.

Step 8: Reattach the loose shingles with roofing glue. Roofing adhesives are thick, glue-like substances that may be used to join items. Loosen the shingles and apply a generous amount of roofing adhesive to the shingles and fan flange. Push the shingles firmly into the glue to re-join them to the roof.

Apply a dab of roofing adhesive to the screws on the flange to protect them from water damage. You may buy roofing adhesive online or at your local home improvement store.

Step 9: Mount the fan thermostat on a nearby rafter in your attic. The thermostat is the device that allows you to control the attic fan. When you’re back in your attic, locate a rafter near your fan and attach the thermostat to it using the screws that came with the fan.

Step 10: Wire your attic fan according to the manufacturer’s directions. Look up your local electrical codes online, and arrange to get your wiring inspected by a codes official after you’re finished. Wiring your attic fan on your own will be risky and can result in serious injury. If you don’t know how to wire an attic fan, get a professional electrician to do it for you.