Importance of Airtightness and Ventilation
Roof ventilation is essential for maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home, especially in Australia’s hot and varied climate. Proper roof ventilation helps to manage both heat and moisture, preventing heat buildup in summer and reducing the risk of condensation in winter. Solar-powered roof ventilation systems offer a modern, eco-friendly solution, harnessing renewable energy to keep homes cool and fresh without increasing energy costs.

How Does a Solar Powered Roof Vent Work?

A solar-powered roof vent uses solar energy to power a fan that actively extracts hot air from your roof space. The fan is connected to a solar panel, typically mounted on the roof, which captures sunlight and drives the fan to extract hot air out of the roof space. Unlike traditional wind-powered vents, solar roof vents work consistently throughout the day, even when there is no wind, providing continuous airflow to remove heat and moisture from your roof cavity.

Why Solar Powered Roof Ventilation?

  • Energy Efficiency: Solar-powered roof vents operate using clean, renewable energy from the sun. This not only reduces reliance on traditional energy sources but also helps lower household energy consumption. Since the system doesn’t use electricity from the grid, there are no ongoing energy costs, making it a highly efficient and cost-effective solution for roof ventilation.
  • Year-Round Benefits: Solar roof ventilation is not just for summer. While it’s excellent at keeping your home cooler during the scorching Australian summers, it also helps in the cooler months by controlling moisture levels. By removing excess moisture from the roof space, solar vents prevent issues like mould growth and structural damage caused by condensation.
  • Environmental Impact: Solar-powered roof vents are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional ventilation systems. They help homeowners reduce their carbon footprint by utilising renewable energy and minimising reliance on fossil fuels. With a solar vent system, you can lower your home’s energy use while contributing to a more sustainable environment.

How to Choose the Best Solar Roof Vents?

Selecting the right solar roof vent for your home involves considering several key factors:

  • Cost: While cheaper models might be tempting, it’s crucial to consider long-term performance and efficiency. Low-quality vents may not provide the desired airflow and could require frequent repairs or replacements. Customers should expect to pay between $500 and $900 for a solar roof ventilation product that will last. When compared to the recommended 2-4 quality whirlybirds (@200 each for a quality whirlybird) for a standard home, a single solar roof vent is very worthwhile.
  • Home Size: The size of your home or roof space will influence the type and number of solar vents you need. Larger homes may require multiple units to ensure adequate ventilation.
  • Climate: Consider your local climate when selecting a solar roof vent. In hot, dry areas, you’ll need a system with high airflow to handle intense summer heat, while in more temperate or coastal regions, moisture control may be a higher priority.
  • Roof Design: The design and pitch of your roof will impact the installation process and the effectiveness of the solar vent. Ensure the system you choose is compatible with your roof type.
  • Performance: Look for high-performance models that offer consistent airflow and durability. A strong fan, high-quality solar panel, and efficient motor are essential for optimal performance.
  • Warranty: A comprehensive warranty is a good indicator of the product’s reliability. Be sure to choose a solar roof vent that comes with a solid warranty to cover any potential defects or issues. While it’s standard to offer 10-15 years warranty on a solar panel, ensure you read the fine print. Most will exclude components, usually offering 1-3 years on the motor.
  • Installation: With many imports being shipped directly from overseas, consumers need to be careful selecting product for harsh environments such as Australia. A single, one-size-fits-all flashing creates similar issues with leaking as in traditional low-quality skylights. Consumers should always look for roof flashings that are tailored to the contours of their roof. Professional installation ensures that your solar vent operates at peak performance. Choose a manufacturer that offers certified and trained installers.
  • Reputation of the Manufacturer: opt for reputable brands with a proven track record. Trusted manufacturers are more likely to provide high-quality products that perform well in real-world conditions. There are many imported products that are making false airflow claims in the marketplace. Any airflow performance should be tested by a NATA approved testing house to ISO5801. Any performance claims that cannot provide clarification of this testing should be regarded as false.

What Is the Best Solar Roof Ventilation Product in Australia?

When it comes to choosing the best solar roof ventilation system in Australia, Solatube’s Solar Star stands out as the top performer. Unlike low-quality, cheaper options on the market, Solatube’ s solar-powered vents are designed to handle Australia’s extreme climate, ensuring effective ventilation throughout the year. Solatube’ s Solar Star units offer high airflow efficiency and are built with durable materials, ensuring they can withstand the harsh Australian sun and high temperatures. With a reputation for quality and performance, Solatube provides a comprehensive warranty and offers certified, highly trained dealers across the country to ensure smooth installation.

Key Features of Solatube’s Roof Ventilation

  • High Airflow Efficiency: Solar Star roof vents provide powerful airflow, ensuring faster heat and moisture extraction compared to traditional whirlybirds or passive vents. This helps regulate temperatures in your home more effectively, keeping it cooler in the summer and drier in the winter.
  • Silent Operation: Unlike whirlybirds, which can be noisy, Solar Star operates silently, providing ventilation without disturbing the peace and quiet of your home.
  • Solar-Powered Technology: Solar Star units are powered entirely by the sun, meaning they don’t add to your energy bills. They work independently of the grid, providing continuous ventilation without consuming electricity.

In conclusion, Solatube’s Solar Star is the best solar roof ventilation system for Australian homes, offering superior performance, energy efficiency, and durability. If you’re looking for a reliable and eco-friendly way to cool your home and manage moisture, the Solar Star is the clear choice over traditional whirlybirds. Call us on 131619 or fill in the contact form to request a quote from us. We have certified roof vents installers across Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

By how much will roof ventilation reduce the temperature in my home.

This is a question that is almost impossible to answer, as there are many variables such as; insulation and roof material, tiles with sarking and colour bond roof materials will hold in more heat. Tiles without sarking will allow more cross flow ventilation. They best way to check how ventilation will work for you, is to put your head up into the roof cavity and feel the temperature. Your roof cavity can easily reach 60deg+ so exchanging this air with cooler air from outside, will have a major impact.

How many eave vents do I need?

There are many recommendations but variables such as sarking or no sarking on a tiled roof can have an impact. The best way to tell is by opening the man hole in the ceiling. If you are still feeling substantial air being drawn through the man hole after the ventilation is installed, you probably need more eave vents.

Do they run at night?

Most operate exactly like a whirlybird but instead of operating with the wind, they operate with the sun. A whirlybird will not operate on a hot and still summer day, and a solar roof ventilator does not motorise at night. A wind vent has similar performance to a static cap and like a static cap, a solar roof ventilator will still allow natural air convention at night.
Battery backup – these are often requested by customers, but you should be aware of the pit falls and weigh up the extra costs.

  • Batteries often only have a 1-year warranty. Depending on the quality, these should be checked and replaced every 1-2 years.
  • Batteries do not often deal with extreme temperatures – in fact there have been many recalls for roof space battery operated products due to fire hazards.
  • You divert a lot of sun energy to charging rather than ventilation

How does Solatube’s roof ventilation work over cast and rainy days?

The Solar Star will still operate enough to pull moisture from your roof cavity but there is little need for it to run at full capacity. Roof ventilators draw air from outside, the conditions of the outside air will determine the impact on your home.

What solar roof vent product should I choose if I have a limited budget ($100-$250 per unit)?

When looking for any solar powered product, be prepared to spend extra for a quality system. Budget solar powered roof vents achieve low prices through poor quality motors and solar panels. Both of these lead to very poor performance, offering little to no benefit over a standard wind vent and often have a warranty no longer than a year. If you have only allowed for this in your budget you should stick to a quality whirlybird.

43 thoughts on “What Is the Best Solar Roof Ventilation System in Australia?”

  1. Interesting, seems it should be powered by 240 volts using existing solar panels and activated by temperature differential switches.. I am interested in the technology.

    Reply

    1. Hi Trevor

      You can call us on 13 16 19 and we can put you intouch with the local Premier Dealer in your area to discuss further

      Reply

    1. Hi Rodney

      If you can provide your postcode we can pass your email details to the local Premier Dealer in your area, as to provide an accurate price, they will need to understand your specific home requirements

      Reply

    1. Hi Shane

      Yes these are cyclone rated, best idea is to call the local Premier Dealer, on 13 16 19 and type in your postcode they can discuss about the installation process for this.

      Reply

    1. Amanda, its approximately 1000 cbm/hr but we do not publish flow rates due to the number of false claims in the market. Unless a product has been tested to ISO 5801 the air flow rate it likely to be a completely false claim. This is the reason we have written the article above as product with the same wattage motor, same diameter, and same motor RPM are claiming double the air flow performance which Is physically impossible.

      Reply

  6. Hi does the cell solar panel rust ? and what is the warranty like . I read you have 5 years warranty for the solar star. What happens if say in year 4 it stopped working?

    Reply

    1. Hi Jack,

      Hi Jack
      The Solar Star’s metal body is warranted for 10 years and this covers eventuality of rust. We do suggest caution if your property is in close proximity to the coast, as additional installation precautions and regular maintenance (fresh water rinses) may be required to extend the life of the product. Otherwise, if the Solar Star ceases to work within a 4 year period it will be covered under warranty and will be fixed or replaced. We recommend purchasing and installing the Solar Star through a Solatube Premier Dealership in your area to ensure correct installation and ease of warranty servicing should it be required. For further warranty information, please refer to our Product Ownership and Care document under this link on our website: https://solatube.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/warranty_au_2013.pdf

      Reply

  7. Do you have any photos or video of the installation of your Solatube product. My roof is the same as Monier cement tiles. Do you have any installation products which can help to install Solatube so it’s waterproof (no rainwater leakage down into the ceiling cavity). Thank you.

    Reply

    1. Hi Dave
      It’d about 500 to 1000 cbm/hr but the enviromax is a plugged in power solution. The enviromax is a 250mm diameter fan product while the solar star is a 350mm diameter fan

      Reply

  9. – how many unit for 200m2 house?
    – do you sell eave vents?
    – does unit come with battery setup?
    – does it have temperature sensor? I mean does it stop work when teach a certain of heat.
    Many thanks

    Reply

    1. Hi Duy
      Size of home – 186m2 – 1 x RM1600, 223m2 – 2 x RM1600
      We have a thermal switch available, it will stop the SolarStar working during the colder months when the temperature in the attic falls below 18°C and will turn on the SolarStar when the temperature in the attic is greater than 29°C. In some cases it may be more beneficial to allow the SolarStar to work through winter.
      Has no battery back up, as it works on solar and passive vents at night just like a wind vent.
      I would suggest you type in your postcode on the website which will provide information on the local Premier Dealer for further information

      Reply

  10. Hi, how does your product compare to the SolarKing Ventilation System performance and reliability wise? Also, how noisy is your system when mounted on a colorbond roof? I want to install a system to remove the hot air from the roof space above my two young kids’ bedrooms. Many thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Graham

      To get a true comparison of air flow performance the product needs to be test to ISO 5801. As Solar King have not had their product tested to this standards there is no way to verify their performance claims. In house testing show that product with the same dia, performs within 20% of each other.

      Our product carries the longest solar ventilator warranty available and our product is far quieter than other systems on the market.

      Another major difference that most people do not take into consideration is the flashing type, we tailor our roof fixing components to each roof profile while other companies offer a 1 size fits all so they can offer a cheaper generic product. Unfortunately, this often cost more in the long run. One size fits all roof profile fixings are the reason skylights and ventilation have a bad name for leaking.

      Reply

      1. I can not find a specification on the noise for the unit. Is there one specified? Without that how do I know how much noise it generates?

        Reply

        1. Hi Tommy

          The Solar Star has not been tested for noise. A standard installation will mean there is no noise inside the home and you’ll need to open up the manhole and look inside the roof cavity to hear it , the brushless motor itself is very quiet under solar power and most of the noise is from air rushing through the unit. We recommend to view and listen to a Solar Star on display at one of the Premier Dealer Showrooms.

          Reply

  12. Hi. I’m getting a new roof as an insurance job following hail and looking into solar roof ventilators. Can you advise how many I would need for a 350m2 house with a 27 degree pitch please. It’s a big home on acreage in southeast Queensland. Thank you 😊

    Reply

  13. Hi we’re looking for a quotation for your solar roof ventilation systems. In nsw 2753. Also installation cost.

    Reply

  17. Hi, I am interested in installing solar ventilation system. postcode 2153 and I have 2 roofs
    I have called and emailed 2 other companies with no reply.

    Reply

  18. I was originally assured that 2 x RM1600s would fit on my roof (after sending pictures through). When the installer came out he said they wouldn’t fit and then he advised that 4 x RM1200s would instead be appropriate because of the available space. Then I was quoted for 4 x V-Aero 250s without any information why this was changed yet again from the revised suggestion (4 x RM1200s) and what the difference between the different solar fans were. This is not very good customer service.

    Reply

    1. Hi Michael,

      Thank you for your feedback, we have passed on your comments to the Dealership and will ensure that their training is improved to ensure customers are fully aware of the various product offerings. Kind regards

      Reply

  19. Hi,
    I’m a little unclear regarding these solar vents as there is much referred to for summer and heat. But during winter, if they Draw hot air out of the house, that would initially drop the heat temperatures, no?
    Is it recommended to have a thermostat, as In winter steam build up from hot water will also enter the roof during the winter?

    Reply

    1. Hi Kevin,

      You raise some important points. Most customers choose a SolarStar fan to minimise excessive heat build-up during summer, and these fans do this very efficiently. However, good roof ventilation is equally important in winter when condensation is a lot more prevalent. Good ventilation will prevent ceiling insulation getting damp and will go a long way in keeping the roof space dry and healthy. Older homes with poor insulation may benefit from having a thermostat installed to keep some of the warmer air in the roof – we do offer a thermostat option – however you may find that you will get more value from the fan by having it run through the entire year.

      Reply

  20. I have had insulation put in our roof and it is still getting hot is some rooms.

    I bought a remote thermometer and noted that the ceiling space often gets to 50C degrees and up to 60C. I am considering a ceiling ventilation system.

    We have 90 sq meters on the first and 60 sq meters on the ground floor. The roof is a pitched tiled one. No sarking.

    You say your units cost in the $500 – $900 range. What sort of cost are we looking at for installation?

    I was also wondering if we should put in a vent to allow air into the ceiling or just allow seepage through the tiles. What sort of cost would the vents be?

    With thanks.

    Reply

    1. Hi Mike

      Installation costs range from $200 – $450 the best idea is to speak with the local Dealer, they can provide a quotation. If you type in your postcode to this link will take you to the dealer in your area. https://solatube.com.au/solatube-premier-dealers/ It is recommended to have eave vents to expel the hot air. Eave vents are not a Solatube product, so you would need to source yourself.

      Reply

  21. Great insights on solar roof ventilation systems! It’s really helpful to compare different options available in Australia. I appreciate the detailed explanations and the emphasis on energy efficiency. Looking forward to implementing some of these tips in my own home!

    Reply

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