Photo Album: Wildlife exclusion on roof attic vent fan installed in Ocean Gate

Attic fans (sometimes referred to as ventilation fans or powered attic ventilators) are housed in the slope of the roof or in the gable wall of the attic. They serve an important function: pushing hot humid attic air out of your home during the summer months, and rushing in a flow of cooler outside air. An attic fan in good working condition will help you save on your summer utility bills by reducing the burden of the air conditioner in the home. By decreasing the amount of heat moving from the attic through the roof, it will also extend the life of your asphalt shingles. Finally, by reducing your attic’s humidity levels, you reduce the likelihood of dangerous mold growth. Most of today’s attic fans have built-in thermostats that turn the fans on and off automatically, so you can pretty much set it and forget it.  While attic fans are extremely important, the wildlife technicians at Cowleys often have to deal with one of their downsides: they can be used by wildlife to gain access inside your home. Unfortunately, the “manufacturer’s standard” ceiling fan cover used to deter wildlife from entering when the fan isn’t running is often a fairly flimsy piece of mesh, either metal or some kind of poly-based cloth.