solar attic fan Help

Closed Thread
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 07-25-2020, 10:22 AM
slicer6666 slicer6666 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default solar attic fan Help

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

Last edited by slicer6666; 07-25-2020 at 10:32 AM. Reason: typo
  #2  
Old 07-25-2020, 11:09 AM
EdFNJ EdFNJ is offline
Sage
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 4,395
Thanks: 1,378
Thanked 3,102 Times in 1,341 Posts
Default

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).
__________________
.
.
"I think the scariest person in the world is the person with no sense of humor."

Michael J. Fox
  #3  
Old 07-25-2020, 11:22 AM
dewilson58's Avatar
dewilson58 dewilson58 is offline
Sage
Join Date: May 2013
Location: South of 466a, if you don't like me.......I live in Orlando.
Posts: 12,705
Thanks: 987
Thanked 10,906 Times in 4,151 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slicer6666 View Post
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.
__________________
Identifying as Mr. Helpful
  #4  
Old 07-25-2020, 01:47 PM
davem4616 davem4616 is offline
Sage
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 2,660
Thanks: 545
Thanked 4,155 Times in 1,328 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by dewilson58 View Post
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
  #5  
Old 07-25-2020, 02:02 PM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 16,972
Thanks: 2,951
Thanked 16,181 Times in 6,359 Posts
Default

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.
  #6  
Old 07-25-2020, 02:40 PM
Toymeister's Avatar
Toymeister Toymeister is offline
Platinum member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 1,765
Thanks: 364
Thanked 2,445 Times in 778 Posts
Default

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.
  #7  
Old 07-25-2020, 10:20 PM
slicer6666 slicer6666 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 6
Thanks: 0
Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post
Default

Thanks I found the number and showed them a picture and it is not one of theirs
  #8  
Old 07-26-2020, 05:17 AM
starman215 starman215 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 20
Thanks: 3
Thanked 14 Times in 9 Posts
Default

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.
  #9  
Old 07-26-2020, 07:19 AM
Malsua Malsua is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Jun 2019
Posts: 699
Thanks: 50
Thanked 933 Times in 340 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slicer6666 View Post
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.
  #10  
Old 07-26-2020, 07:21 AM
mrf6969 mrf6969 is offline
Veteran member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: here full time
Posts: 538
Thanks: 34
Thanked 400 Times in 183 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slicer6666 View Post
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.
  #11  
Old 07-26-2020, 07:46 AM
Bellj30 Bellj30 is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 5
Thanks: 6
Thanked 5 Times in 4 Posts
Default Get a second opinion, we had a inspector telling us the same thing.

However it worked fine. Half of these inspectors do not know what they are doing.
  #12  
Old 07-26-2020, 07:50 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 16,972
Thanks: 2,951
Thanked 16,181 Times in 6,359 Posts
Default

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.
  #13  
Old 07-26-2020, 08:12 AM
retiredguy123 retiredguy123 is online now
Sage
Join Date: Feb 2016
Posts: 16,972
Thanks: 2,951
Thanked 16,181 Times in 6,359 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slicer6666 View Post
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?
  #14  
Old 07-26-2020, 08:25 AM
Teedlejo Teedlejo is offline
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7
Thanks: 5
Thanked 5 Times in 2 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by slicer6666 View Post
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.
  #15  
Old 07-26-2020, 08:36 AM
theruizs
Guest
Posts: n/a
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malsua View Post
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.
Closed Thread

Tags
attic, fan, fixed, solar, warranty


You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. Click here to revert to the old version.

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 03:35 PM.