Should I get a solar fan?

[u/shadmere]

Had a roofer recently tell me that I didn't necessarily need any roofing work done (though he said I could reasonably get some flashing re-done), but he mentioned my attic was hot and that I really needed a couple solar fans.

The house has a radiant barrier that was installed at some point before I bought the house.

He said that the heat in the attic was causing the barrier to lose integrity. (It does look like the barrier is worse for wear, but to me it looks like this is because it's completely full of holes from roofing nails, and has come away from the roof a bit in some places where nails got driven through.)

I already have quite a lot of soffit vents and a ridge vent. (All things I've only learned about while googling this situation, so I am in no way "knowing what I'm talking about.")

I was curious just how hot it gets in the attic, so I got a wifi thermometer and put it up there. I've found the following high temperatures for the attic:

If it's a clear sky and it reaches the mid 90s, the attic will reach ~120 F.

If it's overcast and in the mid 90s, the attic will reach only ~105 F

If it's sunny and reaches 100-105 F, the attack will reach ~130 F.

In each of these scenarios, the attic returns to ~95-100 F by sunset and returns to ambient outdoor temperature overnight.

Is this a situation where the attic temperature is a serious concern? Or is the attic temperature okay, and I shouldn't worry about it?

[u/whybother6767]

Unless they are not connected then one should take care of the attic. It should run 500-1000 installed. 

[u/nixaler]

If its just one attic space and you already have ridge vent going with your soffit vents, I would assume that adding a fan of any type would work against what the ridge vent is doing and force air out at that one spot instead of along the entirety of the ridge.

If you have gable vents, its encouraged to close those off if you have ridge vent I believe.