How Much Does It Cost to Install an Attic Fan?
Attic fans are a necessary part of every home. They help air circulate through the attic, removing heat and moisture, and preserving your roof’s lifespan. There are many different types of attic fans, as well as different sizes to accommodate a variety of home needs. This can mean that there is a range of different costs associated with this project.
Installing an attic fan costs, on average, $300 to $600 with the average homeowner spending around $500 on installing a gable mounted 1 electric vent in a 1,000 sq.ft. attic with a thermostat 2.
Attic Fan Installation
| Attic fan installation costs | |
|---|---|
| National average cost | $450 |
| Average range | $300 - $600 |
| Minimum cost | $100 |
| Maximum cost | $1,000 |
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Attic Fan Installation Cost by Project Range
Pros and Cons
Attic fans have a lot of benefits for the user, but they aren’t the only type of attic ventilation that’s available. Therefore, it’s best to weigh the positive and negative attributes of adding a fan to your attic space.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Prevents attics from becoming superheated Stops excess heat from transferring down into the rest of the home Lowers cooling costs in the summer Removes excess moisture from the attic, preventing mold and mildew growth Prolongs the lifespan of the roof Prevents ice dams from forming in the winter | Requires a power source to function Will not cool the rest of the home, only the attic May not be enough ventilation for the roof on its own Requires regular maintenance and potential repairs Some power sources may raise energy bills slightly Some units can be noisy |
Fan Size
Your attic fan should be sized to the square footage of your attic. For example, a 1,000 square foot attic needs to have a fan that can handle at least 460 cubic feet per minute of airflow. If your attic is poorly insulated, or you have problems with excessive moisture, you may need a larger fan to help account for the additional heat and humidity. Determining your attic fan size is done in part through the square footage, the height of the ceiling, the color of your roof, and the type of roof; more steeply sloped roofs can use smaller fans than larger fans. You can visit the Home Ventilating Institute to find out more precisely what size of fan you need for your attic.
Location
Attic fans can be installed in roughly two areas of the attic: the roof, and the gables or walls. Roof vents are usually installed along the ridge of the roof, and are often passive, meaning that they simply allow air to move in and out on its own. They’re relatively inexpensive, but can be more difficult and costly to install, because they may require additional or different types of shingles 3. This type of attic fan is usually installed at the same time as you have your roof reshingled so that the installation is seamless.
Gable or wall fans are generally installed in the same area where your attic likely already has a vent. This makes installation fairly simple and straightforward– you are simply swapping out the existing vent for a fan. Gable fans are designed to actively move air through your attic, pushing the warm air out and circulating it. They, therefore, require a power source, either electricity or solar energy.
In large attics, you may want to combine both a ridge cap vent and an attic fan to help keep the air moving adequately. Because roof fans are usually installed with the roof, however, many people choose to add a gable fan first to keep costs lower.
Fan Type
There are two basic types of fan installations: roof and gable. Roof fans install right through your roof, and are usually installed when you are having work done on the roof to get a good seal. Gable fans are installed in the wall of your attic and can take the place of an attic vent beneath the gable. Both come in several types.
| Fan type | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
Gable mounted 1 passive vent ($9-$15) | DIY Low cost | Only allows the passage of air through the attic |
Ridge roof mounted 1 static vent ($75-$100) | Low cost | Aids in attic ventilation when paired with an active fan Doesn't remove heat by itself |
Roof mounted 1 static vent ($75-$100) | Low cost to purchase | Only allows air passage through roof Doesn’t actively remove heat/humidity from the attic |
Roof mounted 1 wind turbine ($75-$100) | Low cost to purchase and to run | Not as effective at removing heat/humidity from the attic |
Gable mounted 1 electric powered ($100-$300) | Consistently removes heat/humidity Easy to install in existing vents | Most costly to run |
Roof mounted 1 electric powered ($100-$150) | Consistently removes heat and humidity | Difficult to install Costly to run |
Gable mounted 1 solar powered ($266-$350) | Energy efficient Can be installed in existing vents | Not as consistent with short daylight |
Roof mounted 1 solar powered ($315-$400) | Energy efficient Easy to locate for optimum sunlight | Difficult to install Not as consistent on cloudy/short days |
Remember that wind-powered fans will have no additional costs for wiring or electricity, while solar and electric fans will have additional labor costs.
All fans will require cutting through the roof deck or attic wall. This may mean needing additional:
- Shingles 3: $100 for a square of shingles 3
- Siding: up to $100 depending on the size of the hole/repair
- Caulk 4: $4
To seal up the edges of the fan or vent once it is installed. This is why roof vents are usually installed by roofers while work is being down on the roof.
Labor
Passive, gable-mounted vents are able to be installed DIY without much difficulty. However, if you are mounting 1 the vent or fan on your roof, or if you are installing an electric or solar-powered fan you will need to hire a professional installer to do the job.
- Roofers are the most qualified to install attic fans mounted 1 on your roof line. Roofers charge between $45 and $75 per hour.
- If your fan is electric or solar powered, you will also need to hire an electrician to wire the fan to your home’s electric supply, or to properly mount 1 and connect the solar panels. Electricians charge between $40 to $100 an hour.
- If you do not already have a space for the fan in your gables, you may also need to hire a carpenter to install the vent itself for around $70 an hour.
You should count on at least two hours of work to install the fan, and at least one hour to wire it properly.
Whole House vs Attic Fans
While they are both installed in your attic, there are some major differences between whole house fans and attic fans. An attic fan’s job is to keep air circulating through your attic space, removing heat and humidity from the attic so that it does not become superheated.
A whole house fan’s job is to cool your entire house by exchanging warm indoor air for cooler outdoor air. Whole house fans are generally larger and more costly - about $800 - both to purchase and to run. The less expensive models tend to be noisy, while the quieter versions often require you to use several in order to maximize the cooling, which in turn drives up the cost. Many people like to combine whole house fans with air conditioning units to help save on energy costs when it comes to cooling their homes. However, you would not want to run a whole house fan during the winter months, when an attic fan runs year round helping to prevent ice dams and moisture damage during the winter as well.
Enhancement and Improvement Costs
Automatic Shutters
Automatic shutters open and shut by themselves when the fan is running or not, respectively. This provides better ventilation, while helping to seal up the vent to prevent small rodents like bats from entering. They cost between $50 and $80 extra.
Dual-powered Fan
A dual-powered fan can use solar energy when the sun is out and electricity when it isn’t. This can save on energy bills without the drawbacks of solar fans, which may lose power on cloudy days. They cost $400-$600 on average.
Roof Cap
A roof cap is installed over your roof vent or fan, to help protect it from the elements and block animal entry. They cost around $50.
Thermostat
A fan with a thermostat 2 can help you keep better track of attic temperatures, so you know how well the fan is working. Like with regular thermostats, they come in many forms, including manual, programmable, and with apps. They cost between $50 and $100 on average.
Humidistat
A humidistat functions like a thermostat 2, but measures the humidity levels 5 in your attic. If you have had issues with moisture and mold in the past, a humidistat can help you stay on top of the moisture, so you can better control it. They cost from $50-$100.
Additional Considerations and Costs
- Installing a roof-mounted vent will require ridge-cap shingles 3 to be installed over it. This has an added cost of around $50 for the shingles 3.
- Installing a gable fan will also require caulk 4 to seal it in place. This can add $4-$8 for caulking 4 material.
- If you do not already have a vent in your gable that you are replacing with a fan, you will need to have one cut. This will add around $70-$100 to the cost of the installation.
FAQ
- Where should attic fans be placed?
Ideally, your attic should have a passive ridge vent 6 fan in your roof, and an attic fan in your wall or attic gable
- When should you use an attic fan?
Attic fans should be used year-round to remove excess heat from the attic. This will help prevent ice dams in winter, as well as an overheated attic in summer.
- How long should an attic fan last?
A passive fan should last 40-50 years, while an electric attic fan should last at least 10-15.
- Can you run an attic fan with the AC on?
Yes, your attic fan will help move moisture out of your attic and prevent heat from entering the rest of your home, which will mean your AC won’t have to work as hard.
- Does an attic fan need its own circuit?
This depends on many factors, including the size of the fan. Consult your electrician to find out.
- Do attic fans really work?
Yes, they help preserve your roof, remove moisture from the attic, and prevent ice dams from forming.
- Are attic fans cost-effective?
This depends on the type of fan and what you hope to get from the installation. Electric fans can be costly to run, but can extend the life of your roof. Passive and solar fans cost nothing to run.
- Do you run an attic fan in the winter?
Yes, this will help prevent the formation of ice dams on the edge of your roof, and help prevent moisture build-up that can lead 7 to mold or mildew growth.
- Do attic fans use a lot of electricity?
This depends on the size of the fan, but yes, some larger fans that use electricity can use quite a bit and may raise your electricity costs.
- Can you run an attic fan all day?
Yes, you should run the fan continuously to help remove heat and moisture from the attic.
Remodeling Terms Cheat Sheet
Definitions in laymen's terms, cost considerations, pictures and things you need to know.See full cheat sheet.
2 Thermostat: A device that senses and regulates temperature by turning heating and cooling devices on and off
3 Shingles: A smooth, uniform, flat piece of construction material, available in a wide variety of materials and laid in a series of overlapping rows, used to cover the outside of roofs or walls to protect against weather damage and leaks.
4 Caulk: A chemical sealant used to fill in and seal gaps where two materials join, for example, the tub and tile, to create a watertight and airtight seal. The term "caulking" is also used to refer to the process of applying this type of sealant
6 Ridge vent: Ventilation opening in a sloped roof, installed at its pinnacle to remove moisture and warm air from the attic area
7 Lead: A naturally occurring heavy metal that is highly toxic to humans, and has been used in paint, gasoline, piping, and other applications
How much does it cost to install an attic fan in my city?
Cost to install an attic fan varies greatly by region (and even by zip code). To get free estimates from local contractors, please indicate yours.
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