Powered attic fans are great at venting heat and helping regulate attic temperatures during the warmer months. Unfortunately, they can also become an inconspicuous open door on your roof. Let’s learn about attic fan guard installation to provide a solution!
Most powered attic fans include only a small factory screen underneath the canopy, and that screen is often surprisingly weak. It doesn’t take much for determined wildlife like raccoons or squirrels to tear through it or push their way inside. In the picture above we demonstrate how easy this screen deflects. Once that happens, the fan housing becomes a convenient entry point directly into the attic.
We see this fairly often during wildlife inspections.
On this particular home, there were eight powered attic fans installed on the roof, which is far more than typical. Most homes only have one attic fan, so having eight of them meant eight potential wildlife entry points.
To solve the problem, we installed XclusionPro XL powder-coated steel attic fan guards from AAC Distributing over each fan. These guards are constructed from heavy-duty expanded steel and finished with a black powder coating to resist rust and blend in with the roofline.
The result is a simple and durable solution that:
- Keeps raccoons, squirrels, and other wildlife out
- Allows the attic fans to continue venting heat normally
- Protects the vulnerable factory screens underneath
- Provides long-term protection without affecting airflow
Attic ventilation is important, but it shouldn’t come at the cost of allowing wildlife easy access into your home.
If you have powered attic fans on your roof and have concerns about wildlife entry, installing proper guards can prevent costly attic damage before it starts.
This powered attic fan guard installation was recently completed by the Trifecta Wildlife Services team in Lexington, Kentucky, helping prevent racoons, squirrels, and other wildlife species from entering through these vulnerable roof vents.
