solar attic fan Help

[slicer6666]

We recently are in process of selling our home and the inspection showed the attic solar fan needed to be replaced or fixed it was purchased by previous owner so not sure where they got it We are being told it would be anywhere from 400 to 600 to replace I am wondering would those fans be under warranty and any idea how we could get it fixed at a much more reasonable cost Thanks any help or recommendations would be appreciated

[EdFNJ]

Since you aren't the original owner there would likely be no warranty unless you have the original receipt that says it is. Don't know if it would be "fixable" and you probably just need to have it replaced. Solar-Guys did ours and their warranty states "LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR LEAKS TO ORIGINAL OWNER". Doesn't seem to say what the actual fan warranty is but there are a number of exclusions most notable "original owner." Give 'em a call. You never know (assuming it is their fan they should have records by address).

[dewilson58]

We recently are in process of selling our home and the inspection showed the attic solar fan needed to be replaced or fixed it was purchased by previous owner so not sure where they got it We are being told it would be anywhere from 400 to 600 to replace I am wondering would those fans be under warranty and any idea how we could get it fixed at a much more reasonable cost Thanks any help or recommendations would be appreciated


Such a small item in the scheme of things for a six figure sale. Sell As-Is.

[davem4616]

Such a small item in the scheme of things for a six figure sale. Sell As-Is.


exactly

Just because the buyer's home inspector called it out doesn't mean that you have to fix it.

if the buyer makes a huge issue out of it and that craters the deal, they were looking for a way out

if they get hung up on it, knock a couple hundred off the price, as a concession, that's short money

[retiredguy123]

If it doesn't work, you have to fix it. I would have a handyman see if it is something simple to fix. If not, I would try to negotiate a credit to the buyer, before replacing the fan. But, I wouldn't spend any money unless I had a firm sales contract in place. Home inspectors will always find something that needs to be fixed in a house.

[Toymeister]

Typically repairs found upon inspection that are 1 1/2% of the total purchase price must be repaired.

So, the question is who can repair the fan. Repairs in that location are not practical, just buy a new one.

That said the problem is a bad motor.

[slicer6666]

Thanks I found the number and showed them a picture and it is not one of theirs

[starman215]

I tried to do some biz with Solar Guys and when discussion turned to exactly what some of the terminology meant in the warranty the dancing started. I felt either they didn’t understand their own statements.

[Malsua]

We recently are in process of selling our home and the inspection showed the attic solar fan needed to be replaced or fixed it was purchased by previous owner so not sure where they got it We are being told it would be anywhere from 400 to 600 to replace I am wondering would those fans be under warranty and any idea how we could get it fixed at a much more reasonable cost Thanks any help or recommendations would be appreciated

I would remove the fan entirely and leave it passive.

Studies have shown that attic fans do indeed reduce the temperature in the attic. They do this by pulling air conditioned air out of the conditioned space and in so doing, increase your energy bill, unless it's a solar fan that fail two years later.

A properly vented attic will work just fine without a powered fan.

[mrf6969]

We recently are in process of selling our home and the inspection showed the attic solar fan needed to be replaced or fixed it was purchased by previous owner so not sure where they got it We are being told it would be anywhere from 400 to 600 to replace I am wondering would those fans be under warranty and any idea how we could get it fixed at a much more reasonable cost Thanks any help or recommendations would be appreciated
If a buyer likes and is truly interested in buying your home then I doubt a small item like a attic fan is going to stop them.

[Bellj30]

However it worked fine. Half of these inspectors do not know what they are doing.

[retiredguy123]

The typical sales contract will require the seller to repair or replace the fan. So, removing it or doing nothing are not viable options. I think the best option is to negotiate a credit to the buyer, if that can be done. However, when listing a house for sale, the seller should identify, in the listing, any mechanical or electrical equipment that is non-functional, and any other defects that the seller is not willing to repair. A good real estate agent will ask the seller for this information when preparing the listing offer.

[retiredguy123]

Thanks I found the number and showed them a picture and it is not one of theirs
If these Solar Guys are as great as some people say they are, why can't they send someone over and recommend a solution with a written cost proposal?

[Teedlejo]

We recently are in process of selling our home and the inspection showed the attic solar fan needed to be replaced or fixed it was purchased by previous owner so not sure where they got it We are being told it would be anywhere from 400 to 600 to replace I am wondering would those fans be under warranty and any idea how we could get it fixed at a much more reasonable cost Thanks any help or recommendations would be appreciated
I have a solar fan that I used less than a year. If you are interested, I will sell it to you for $150 but you will need to have someone install.

[theruizs]

I would remove the fan entirely and leave it passive.

Studies have shown that attic fans do indeed reduce the temperature in the attic. They do this by pulling air conditioned air out of the conditioned space and in so doing, increase your energy bill, unless it's a solar fan that fail two years later.

A properly vented attic will work just fine without a powered fan.

Agree. We had two installed and find they are actually counterproductive. Or get a quote from Solar Guys for replacement or removal and then offer a credit for half the cost.

[DecaturFargo]

Last year we paid $900 for 1 attic fan from The Solar Guys.

[Denvercane]

If it doesn't work, you have to fix it. I would have a handyman see if it is something simple to fix. If not, I would try to negotiate a credit to the buyer, before replacing the fan. But, I wouldn't spend any money unless I had a firm sales contract in place. Home inspectors will always find something that needs to be fixed in a house.

You don't HAVE to fix it. They are useless anyway.

[retiredguy123]

You don't HAVE to fix it. They are useless anyway.
The standard sales contract requires the seller to fix defects that do not exceed a specified percentage of the sales price. If you refuse to fix it, you are in breach of the contract, which could cost you a lot more money than a new fan would cost.

[prbradley]

I have a friend whose solar fan stopped working and all it needed was a new battery.

[villagetinker]

OP, I have no idea how handy you are, but a Google search on "solar attic fan replacement parts" yielded several manufacturers and several part vendors, some local. If you know or can find the size (diameter) of the tube, I saw replacement tops ($390). If you are not handy, a local handyman may be able to help, I am sorry, but I do not do roof work, even my own.
Hope this helps.

[Marshaw]

We cut 2 small v vents in garage door and crack the pill down staircase and leave open about 5 inch's. Passive ventilation .cost $40 doesn't draw from an space.

[Malsua]

The standard sales contract requires the seller to fix defects that do not exceed a specified percentage of the sales price. If you refuse to fix it, you are in breach of the contract, which could cost you a lot more money than a new fan would cost.

Even at 1% of the price, you're probably talking at least $2000 if the home sells for 200k. No attic fan costs that much, so even if you have that clause, it's not triggered.

Besides, you can just state in the contract "We're not fixing anything". Take it or leave it.

[retiredguy123]

Even at 1% of the price, you're probably talking at least $2000 if the home sells for 200k. No attic fan costs that much, so even if you have that clause, it's not triggered.

Besides, you can just state in the contract "We're not fixing anything". Take it or leave it.
I think the typical percentage limit is 3 percent, so the OP would need to repair the fan. Yes, you can sell the house "as is", but I don't think that is a good idea in The Villages. Most buyers want a house where everything works. It sounds like it is too late for the OP because he already has a sales contract that will require him to repair the fan. If the deal falls through, he should change the listing to state that the solar fan is inoperable and that the seller will not repair it.

[C. C. Rider]

When all else fails, read the contract. See what it says about seller's responsibility for repairs. I'll bet that it says that the seller is NOT required to do repairs called for in the inspection report, but you can't be sure unless you READ THE CONTRACT. We can't tell you what YOUR contract says.

[slicer6666]

Thank you everyone for all the comments and suggestions The house is sold and we contacted different companies to fix or replace We were kind of hoping the exhaust fan could just be replaced without cutting through the roof again could not find a company to do that they all want to make another hole in roof etc We were thinking it would be a shame to do all that work if the part could be replaced inside the attic We are in Canada so have been relying on good friends and to date have not found anyone to troubleshoot it We contacted the original owner to see where it was purchased and it was skytec and looks like they are no longer in business

[slicer6666]

However it worked fine. Half of these inspectors do not know what they are doing.
Any idea who we could call that would We have sold and that is last thing on list Cannot seem to find anyone that would repair or even look at it It was bought at skytec and they are out of business We are out of country which makes it a bit more difficult Would hate to replace and find out it was something simple