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Attic Fan Repair Cost by Problem

Attic fans can last up to 15 years, but as they get older they can lose their efficiency or stop working altogether. When that happens, it's usually either an electrical problem or an issue with a specific part inside your fan. However, there are a lot of reasons why a fan may malfunction, with the most common ones being noises coming from the fan, blades not working, a blown fuse, broken thermostat, unstable mount, or the unit not working altogether.

Attic Fan Humming Noise

If your ceiling fan has only a few blades and is set to run at a high speed, it may start producing a humming noise. To get rid of this noise, you either need to run the unit at a low speed or replace it with a new one with more blades. Installing a new attic fan costs between $300 and $600 on average. If you go with this option, test it at the store before buying it to make sure it won’t make the same humming noise when it’s run at high speeds.

Unstable Mount

Sometimes, your attic fan may malfunction or not function properly because it wasn’t mounted properly. If the mount is loose, the blades won’t be able to circulate the air properly and do the job it was installed for. A loose mount can also make the whole unit unstable, which comes with other potential risks for the people in the room. To repair this, a handyman would need to tighten the mount which costs between $100 and $300.

Broken Thermostat

If your attic fan’s thermostat is not working properly, the unit won’t turn on at the right temperature. To check if this is the case, try turning it on manually. If it works, the issue is most likely within the thermostat which means it needs to be replaced. Replacing a thermostat with a new one costs between $20 and $400 depending on the type of thermostat you want to install (whether it’s a manual or smart one), with the added cost of installing the thermostat that can range between $80 to $200.

Motor running but Blades Won’t Spin

In some instances, you may turn on your attic fan and hear the motor running but the blades won't start spinning. This problem may be caused by the belt, so if you encounter this issue, make sure to take the outer casing of the fan and check if the belt is showing signs of wear and tear. If the belt is sagging, worn out, cracked, or broken, it would need to be replaced with a new one. This would cost anywhere between $10 to $25, with the added cost of hiring a handyman to replace it which would be around $100.

Blown Fuse

One of the reasons why an attic fan won’t turn on may be because of a blown fuse within the circuit breaker, which is one of the smaller problems this type of unit may have with the electricity. To check if this is the case, open the check the circuit breaker that controls the unit. If a fuse is blown, it can be fixed easily by replacing it with a new one for a cost of around $95 to $125.

Attic Fan not Working

If your attic fan has stopped working and doesn’t want to turn on, it could have some electrical issue or a problem with the thermostat or the motor. If there is an electrical issue, you can diagnose it by plugging the fan into a different power outlet. If the unit works on another outlet, it means that the problem is in the electricity which would require a professional inspection. The most common reason for this is a blown fuse which costs $95 to $125 to replace along with a cost of $40 to $100 per hour to hire an electrician to replace it (shouldn’t take more than an hour).

If the issue is in the thermostat, the cost to repair it will depend on the cause of the malfunction, but in some instances, replacing it would cost less than repairing it, between $100 and $200 to be exact. However, if the reason for the attic fan not working is the motor, you would need to replace either the motor or the whole unit. Replacing the motor of the fan is the most expensive repair that can cost up to $250 for a solar fan motor and $120 for an electric one. In addition to the motor cost, you would have to pay a handyman to mount it, which typically costs between $100 to $300, and an electrician to connect the installation for a cost of $40 to $100 per hour.

Attic Fan Repair Cost by Solution

Sometimes, the cost to repair your unit doesn’t depend on the problem, but rather the solution for the problem. Below, you'll find some of the most common problems people find with these types of units. Attic fans can face a wide range of issues, from electrical problems to specific part problems. Some of these issues are more easily repaired than others, which is why prices can vary.

Attic Fan Thermostat Replacement

To check if the problem with your attic fan is in the thermostat, you can try to turn it on and off manually. If it turns on, the problem is most likely that the thermostat doesn’t detect the current temperature in the room, so it doesn’t automatically start rotating. Replacing a thermostat with a new one costs between $20 and $400 depending if you want to install a manual or a smart thermostat and $80 to $200 for installation costs.

Attic Fan Belt Replacement

If you turn on your attic fan and hear the motor running, but the blades won’t turn, the issue is probably in the fan’s belt. To diagnose this, you can open the outer casting and inspect the belt yourself or hire a handyman to do it for you. If the belt looks damaged or is torn, you would need to buy a new one which can be found for as low as $10 to $25 and have it replaced for a flat rate of around $100 or less.

Attic Fan Cover Replacement

As its name suggests, the cover is placed on the outer surface of the fan. It’s used to protect the fan from outside damage, to prevent the cold air from entering the home during colder months or for aesthetic purposes. However, as any other part, it can start loosening up or deteriorating over time, which means that it’s time to get it replaced with a new one. This typically costs between $22 and $45 depending on the material of the cover and the provider you’re buying it from, as well as the labor cost which is typically $100 to $200.

Attic Fan Replacement Blade

If the blades stop working and are rusty, they would need to be replaced. They are replaced by unscrewing the old set of blades from the unit and tightening the new ones on the motor shaft as previously. Attic fan replacement blade kits can be found for a cost of $22 to $38 depending on the material of the blades. You can either replace them yourself or hire a handyman to do it for a cost of $100 to $300 depending on the type of unit you have and how difficult it is to access it.

Fuse Replacement

A blown fuse is one of the smaller, but common issues electric attic fans can have. If a fuse is blown, the unit won’t turn on, which would require inspecting the circuit breaker and replacing it with a new one. While you can do it yourself, it’s highly recommended that you hire a professional electrician to do the job for you, which would cost between $95 and $125 for the fuse, and $40 to $100 per hour for an electrician to replace it, although it shouldn’t take more than an hour.

Attic Fan Motor Replacement Cost

Attic fan motors typically have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, although some may break down after 5 years. When the motor dies, replacing it is inevitable, but in a lot of cases, motors are so expensive that homeowners opt to replace the whole fan overall. Depending on the type of fan you currently have, the cost to replace the motor can range between $120 for an electric fan motor and up to $250 for a solar fan motor.

Besides paying for the motor cost, you would also need to pay a handyman to mount it on the fan, which is typically $100 to $300 per project, and an electrician to connect the installation for $40 to $100 per hour.

Attic Fan Motor Repair

At times, the fan motor may stop working. This is one of the bigger and more complex issues you may experience with your fan and it’s not rare that the only solution recommended by professionals is to replace the whole motor overall instead of repairing it. Replacing an attic fan motor can cost anywhere between $120 and $250 depending on the unit type you have (if it’s an electric or solar fan).

After you buy the motor, a handyman needs to install it which would cost between $100 and $300 depending on the difficulty of the task. Then, an electrician would need to connect the installation, for which they charge $40 to $100 per hour. The installation shouldn’t last more than an hour.

Attic Fan Repair Cost by Type

The type of fan you have will have a big impact on the overall repair and maintenance costs. While some parts cost more or less the same, there’s often a big cost difference between the repair of an electric and a solar fan, so it’s important to know how each one works and how much it costs to repair it. Below is a table showing the cost of each type of attic fan and an explanation of their common repairs along with their cost.

Electric Attic Fan Repair

As they run on electric power, electric fans cost more to run than solar fans. In addition to this, they can also have some issues with electricity, which is not the case with solar fans. The problems can range from blown fuses that cost between $135 and $225 to replace an electric fan motor that costs around $120, plus $140-$400 installation costs. However, electric fans are more efficient to cool the air off than solar fans and in some cases, can extend the life of your roof.

Solar Attic Fan Repair

Solar fans are, overall, more expensive to replace than electric fans. While electric attic fans cost around $100-$600, solar ones cost between $260 and $700. While replacing a belt can cost the same (around $110 to $125) to replace in both electric and solar fans, other replacement parts can be fairly expensive. For instance, while solar fans don’t have electricity and can’t have electricity issues because of it and the utility bills are lower as well. However, if there is a problem with the motor it can cost up to $250 for a motor replacement along with $140 to $400 labor costs, double what it would cost to replace an electric fan motor.

Cost to Repair an Attic Fan

Generally speaking, the cost of the repair depends on which parts need replacing or repairing, but the cost for materials only typically ranges between $10 and $75 for smaller parts and between $120 and $250 for bigger parts. When doing the job, it’s always recommended to hire a professional than to attempt troubleshooting attic fan issues by yourself. If you try the DIY approach, you could put your safety at risk and spending too much time in your attic could expose you to extreme temperatures, so it’s always recommended to hire a professional.

Calling a trained professional will also save you a lot of time. A professional electrician or handyman won’t have to research or second-guess their approach. They already have the training and experience they need, so they can get the job done quickly. Labor costs will depend on who you hire for the job. Handymen usually charge between $100 and $300 per project depending on the difficulty, while electricians usually charge $40-$100 per hour. If you’re installing a new unit, you may opt to hire a roofer to do the job as they are the most qualified workers for this type of job. Roofers typically charge between $45 and $75 per hour to install an attic fan. During the installation, you may also need to hire a carpenter if there is no space for the fan in your gables, which costs around $70 per hour.

Overall, the average cost a homeowner pays to repair an attic fan is between $150 and $300, with the materials costing between $50 and $150, while labor costs are typically between $100 and $150.

Attic Fan Replacement Cost

Sometimes a replacement is the best option for your broken attic fan. You can consider several factors here. First of all, consider the extent of the repairs that your fan needs. If your fan has just one or two problems, then the repair process may be simple and relatively inexpensive. However, if the fan has multiple broken parts, replacement may be the most cost-effective option.

In addition to this, changing a single part can sometimes be tricky for the worker. For instance, replacing the mount of a fan can be a challenge because it’s easy to open the fan and replace some parts, but the physical mount itself is attached to the parts that hold the blades of the fan. This means that if the mount suffers any damage, the attic fan wouldn’t function properly anymore, which would again require a replacement.

Next, ask your repair specialist about the specific parts of your fan that need to be repaired. If any of those parts are hard to find, then they could make your repair process more expensive. If your repair professional has to shop for parts, the process will also take longer. In that case, you may want to think about replacing the entire fan.

Finally, consider the age of your attic fan. Maybe the warranty has run out or a part or two has been discontinued. If so, replacement is probably the better choice. Likewise, if you want to change the type of fan you use (e.g. switching to a solar model), then you can use this time to replace the fan. Installation costs come at an average of around $300, though solar fan installation can cost up to $1,000. A handyman can remove the old unit and install the new one for a flat rate of between $100 to $300 depending on the condition of the fan and how easy it is to access it, and an electrician would need to rewire the new unit which costs $40 to $100 per hour and takes no more than an hour to do.

Attic Fan Maintenance

Regular maintenance can prevent the need for a lot of repairs. Maintenance is simple enough that some homeowners choose to do it themselves. If you take the DIY maintenance route, focus on cleaning and lubrication.

First of all, check your fan for debris about once a year. Your attic fan pushes air outside and pulls air inside, so it's normal for it to pick up dirt, twigs, and other debris. Check your fan, especially the intake and exhaust portions, and remove debris regularly with a mild cleaning solution. While you're checking for debris, it's a good idea to make sure that your fan's motor is properly lubricated. Poor lubrication can make your fan's motor wear down quickly. You can find motor oil at a hardware store for $2 to $5. During your regular maintenance, make sure that you unplug or disconnect the fan for your safety. Otherwise, you risk electric shock or injury from the blades. All of that said, you can also ask your repair specialist about professional maintenance. A professional may notice details and potential problems that the untrained eye won’t spot.

Attic Fan Repair Cost Factors

You'll find a lot of variation in attic fan repair costs, but you can get a better idea of how much you'll pay by looking at certain cost factors. Projects with simple requirements and a minimum amount of labor will ultimately cost you much less than projects that require a lot of labor and expensive parts. You can get an estimate from a local repair specialist to get the most accurate idea of pricing.

One thing you should consider is the brand of attic fan you have. Some brands are more expensive to repair than others because they come with more expensive parts. Remington Solar and QuietCool, for example, are both expensive brands with expensive parts.

The next thing that may influence the cost is the type of repair itself. The simplest electrical problems may cost less than fans that need a part replacement or have multiple problems at the same time. But when a fan does need replacement parts, the nature of those parts will also impact how much you pay for your service. A new fan belt, for instance, may only cost $10 on top of labor costs, but an entire replacement motor could cost up to $250 if you have a solar attic fan. For older fan models, it may be more difficult to find replacement parts.

In addition to all of this, different professionals will charge different amounts for their labor. If you live in an area with more than one attic fan repair service, you can always get estimates from all of your options to find the least expensive choice. The unit itself can be repaired by either a handyman or an electrician depending on the issue it has. Handymen usually charge $100-$300 per project, while electricians usually charge $40-$100 per hour with the repair usually taking between 1 to 3 hours to complete.

Some repair specialists charge extra for work outside of their usual service area. When the professional comes to repair your attic fan, how easy or difficult it is to access it will also impact the overall cost. The harder your fan is to access, the longer it will take to repair. If your fan is mounted at a particularly high or difficult angle, for example, it may take longer for your repair specialist to access it.