Attic ventilation systems for controlling heat and moisture

Abstract

Attic ventilation systems including an exhaust unit, a sensor, and a control unit. The exhaust unit is configured to mount proximate to an exhaust vent of an attic and includes a fan configured to force air out of the attic through the exhaust vent. The sensor is configured to detect temperature and humidity within the attic. The control unit is controllably coupled to the exhaust unit and is in data communication with the sensor. The sensor is configured to send the control unit current temperature data and current humidity data. The control unit is configured to control the fan to selectively force air out of the attic through the exhaust vent based on the current temperature data and the current humidity data.

1 . An attic ventilation system, comprising:
 an exhaust unit configured to mount proximate to an exhaust vent of an attic and including a fan configured to force air out of the attic through the exhaust vent;   a sensor configured to detect temperature and humidity within the attic; and   a control unit controllably coupled to the exhaust unit and in data communication with the sensor;   wherein:
 the sensor is configured to send the control unit current temperature data corresponding to the temperature detected in the attic by the sensor at a given time; 
 the sensor is configured to send the control unit current humidity data corresponding to the humidity detected in the attic by the sensor at a given time; and 
 the control unit is configured to control the fan to selectively force air out of the attic through the exhaust vent based on the current temperature data and the current humidity data. 
   
     
     
         2 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a power supply operatively connected to the fan. 
     
     
         3 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit includes a bus electrically connecting the power supply to the fan. 
     
     
         4 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the control unit includes a housing; and   the power supply and the bus are disposed inside the housing.   
     
     
         5 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the control unit includes a user interface device;   the housing includes a front wall defining a front window; and   the user interface device is mounted in the front window.   
     
     
         6 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the housing includes an enclosure defining an enclosure opening;   the front wall is pivotally connected to the enclosure to define a door configured to pivot between a closed configuration where the front wall covers the enclosure opening and an open configuration where front wall is pivoted away from the enclosure opening to provide access inside the enclosure; and   the power supply and the bus are mounted to the housing within the enclosure.   
     
     
         7 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the power supply is configured to convert alternating current electricity into 24 volts of direct current electricity; and   the fan is configured to operate with direct current electricity up to 24 volts.   
     
     
         8 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 7 , wherein the bus includes:
 an input terminal electrically connected to the power supply and configured to receive 24-volt direct current electricity; and   an output terminal electrically connected to the fan and configured to output 24-volt direct current electricity to the fan.   
     
     
         9 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the control unit includes a processor executing computer executable instructions; and   the processor is configured to selectively adjust the voltage of the direct current electricity output to the fan via the output terminal between 0 and 24 volts to control the speed of the fan.   
     
     
         10 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit includes a processor configured to execute computer executable instructions, the processor being in data communication with the sensor and controllably coupled to the fan. 
     
     
         11 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions to:
 receive a threshold temperature parameter corresponding to a desired temperature upper limit within the attic;   compare the current temperature data to the threshold temperature parameter; and   selectively connect the fan with power from the power supply when the current temperature data exceeds the threshold temperature parameter.   
     
     
         12 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 11 , wherein the control unit is configured to modify the voltage of the power supplied to the fan to control the speed of the fan based on a magnitude of a difference between the current temperature data and the threshold temperature parameter. 
     
     
         13 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 10 , wherein the computer executable instructions include instructions to:
 receive a threshold humidity parameter corresponding to a desired humidity upper limit within the attic;   compare the current humidity data to the threshold humidity parameter; and   selectively connect the fan with power from the power supply when the current humidity data exceeds the threshold humidity parameter.   
     
     
         14 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the exhaust unit includes a second fan controllably coupled to the control unit; and   the control unit jointly controls the fan and the second fan.   
     
     
         15 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit includes a user interface device configured to enable a user to specify a threshold temperature parameter corresponding to a desired temperature upper limit within the attic. 
     
     
         16 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 15 , wherein the user interface device is further configured to enable a user to specify a threshold humidity parameter corresponding to a desired humidity upper limit within the attic. 
     
     
         17 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 16 , wherein the control unit is configured to control the fan to force air through the exhaust vent when the current temperature data exceeds the threshold temperature parameter or the current humidity data exceeds the threshold humidity parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the exhaust unit includes a mounting plate configured to mount to the attic proximate the exhaust vent; and   the fan is mounted to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         19 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit operates the fan to force air through the exhaust vent at an exhaust rate selected to maintain a draw rate of air into the attic below a maximum flow rate capacity of eave vents defined in the attic to avoid drawing air through penetrations into the attic from living spaces adjacent to the attic. 
     
     
         20 . The attic ventilation system of  claim 19 , wherein the exhaust rate is between 100 and 200 cubic feet of air per minute.