"solar fans can help too, but placement and sizing are critical."
Couldn't agree more on this. I've seen folks slap a solar fan smack in the middle of their roof thinking it'll magically fix everything, only to find out later it's barely making a dent. Best bet is to first map out your attic's airflow—figure out where the hot spots are, then position the fan accordingly. And don't skimp on size either... undersized fans just spin their wheels (literally). A bit of planning upfront saves headaches down the road.
Totally hear you on this one. A couple summers back, I helped my brother-in-law install his solar fan, and he was convinced dead-center placement was the way to go—"symmetry," he said. Well, symmetry doesn't cool your attic, airflow does. We ended up moving it closer to the sunny side where heat was building up the most, and the difference was night and day.
"Best bet is to first map out your attic's airflow—figure out where the hot spots are..."
Exactly. Spend a hot afternoon up there (bring water!) and you'll quickly find the trouble spots. Also, double-check your soffit vents while you're at it. If they're blocked or insufficient, even a perfectly placed solar fan won't help much. Learned that one the hard way myself...
You're spot-on about the soffit vents—seen way too many attics with blocked or painted-over vents that choke airflow. Even the best solar fan won't do much if air can't circulate properly. And yeah, symmetry might look nice from the outside, but inside it's all about function. Good call on spending time up there figuring out where heat actually builds up—attics can be tricky spaces, but sounds like you've got it handled pretty well.
"Even the best solar fan won't do much if air can't circulate properly."
Exactly this. Reminds me of a property I managed a few years back—tenants kept complaining about the upstairs rooms being unbearably hot in summer. Turns out, previous owners had installed nice-looking soffit vents but never actually cut holes behind them... purely decorative! Once we opened those up, airflow improved dramatically. Sometimes it's the little things you don't immediately notice that make all the difference. Glad you're taking the time to really dig into it.
"Turns out, previous owners had installed nice-looking soffit vents but never actually cut holes behind them... purely decorative!"
Haha, I've seen that exact thing before—it's surprisingly common. Another overlooked issue is insulation blocking airflow from soffit vents into the attic. If you're installing a solar attic fan, double-check that insulation isn't jammed up against the eaves. Installing some simple baffles can help keep that airway clear and let the fan do its job properly. Small detail, big difference.
