Attic Vents in S. Florida

[HWTechGuy]

One thing I neglected to mention is that my house is an L-shaped single-story. At each end, there are "whole house" fans mounted in my attic with powered shutters in the ceiling below. If I open a few windows and turn those on I can literally exchange the air in the house in seconds. I have run them a few times when it's not really hot enough to run the AC to keep the house cool.

EDIT: Just found this, it might be a solution for you.

http://www.solarblasterfans.com/products/ridgeblaster/

[alsidw]

Yes, a whole house fan is a good idea and will push the hot air out of the attic quickly but it has limited use here in Florida, on those hot Florida days I need a powered attic vent. Now the only decision is solar or 115v, solar would be less expensive to install for sure. Anyone know a Roofer in PSL?

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by alsidw

I recently moved to S.Florida and my house does not have any active attic ventilation, it does have vents but no powered vents or the type that spin in the breeze. I wonder if there is a reason these active attic vents are not popular, I want to add one to my attic to get rid of the heat. Ideas?

Active air exchange in an attic requires a "mechanical device".
Mechanical means: "it will fail at some point".
Soffit vents, along with either gable vents or ridge vents create passive ventilation. Hot air rises(exiting the gable or ridge vent); it's replaced by cooler outside air through the soffit (lower) vent.

For those parts of FL that fall under Miami-Dade County Code requirements there are options of "those" products that are registered/approved by the MDCC review panel. Of course, all homes that fall within the MDCC today are not built with gable-ends; creating a lessor flat plane of resistance.

I much prefer passive ventilation from the "there's absolutely nothing to do to maintain it" standpoint. But, as a general rule most builders don't install adequate amounts of venting for several reasons that aren't relevant to this thread. There is an equation for determining the correct amount of Intake venting/Exhaust venting. I had it posted in an old-old thread but can't find it- but I hear "Google is your friend" might help find that "equation for attic ventilation".