Attic fan repair costs $300 on average, but ranges between $204 and $437 depending on the type.
If you notice your HVAC unit is struggling to keep up, and both your utility bill and the upper level of your home are becoming increasingly uncomfortable, your attic fan may be on the fritz. To repair an attic fan, you can expect to pay about $300, with an average range of between $204 and $437. Learn about all the factors that affect attic fan repair costs.
You install attic fans into the rooftop or the wall of your attic space. They work by pushing hot air out and drawing fresh air in through roof vents in your attic. If your attic fan no longer works, heat in the summer and moisture in winter can build up and cause damage to your house and any stored items. To repair an attic fan near you, you can pay between $200 and $430, with an average price of about $300.
Whole house fans are mounted to the attic floor above a grill in the ceiling of a centrally located hallway. A whole house fan works by pulling air into your house through open windows and pushing it out through your attic. The system dissipates warm air out of your home and draws in cooler air through open windows. You turn on your system when the outdoor temperature cools down.
To repair a whole house fan, you’re looking at spending between $250 and $350, with some repairs costing up to $650. Replacing a broken motor will cost about $125 for an attic fan and $50 and $100 for a whole-house model. Professional installation will run an added $80 to $100 per hour.
Some pros will charge you a disposal fee to get rid of the broken fan. An average is about $25, but it may cost more or less depending on where you live.
The national average to repair an attic fan is about $300. Professional installation can run between $80 to $100 per hour, depending on where you live. Attic fan costs also vary.
Here are the costs to repair an attic fan in several major metropolitan areas:
Chicago: $300 on average. Low end: $100. High-end: $600
Pittsburgh, Pa: $300. Low-end: $100. High-end: $900
Miami: $270. Low-end: $260. High-end: $280
New Orleans: $330. Low-end: $150. High-end: $460
Dallas: $260. Low-end: $100. High-end: $580
Los Angeles: $270. Low-end: $100. High-end: $550
Portland, Ore: $280. Low-end: $200. High-end: $380
Even in some of the country's most expensive areas, repairing an attic fan is quite affordable versus replacing damaged items or repairing moisture damage to walls.
Labor costs can vary quite a bit. Labor costs will vary by location, but the price of parts will remain fairly constant.
Doing the work yourself can save you between $80 and $100 per hour for labor if you feel confident and qualified to do the work. If you're not an experienced electrician, you’ll want to find a local licensed electrician or HVAC technician to help you out.
While it’s best to figure out exactly what it is that’s not working before jumping in, you may run into other factors that influence the final cost to repair your attic fan.
See if the circuit breaker for the fan has tripped. If so, the motor may have shorted out.
Check to see if the fan’s motor that’s broken. If it’s a broken motor, it will not rotate the fan blades and you might hear a humming or squealing sound when turned on. If the motor is burned out, it may only cost a bit more to replace the whole fan unit.
Check to see if a faulty thermostat or a broken belt are the issues. Just like a car fan belt, you will likely see damage or a rip or tear in the belt. If the thermostat is broken, a small light that tells you it’s on won’t light up.
Check for frayed or faulty wiring at the outlet box or electrical junction.
In addition to the fan, you'll also need a few other items for installation that will add to your overall cost but shouldn’t blow your budget.
Fans range widely in price and your costs will depend on the type of fan you choose and the size you need for your attic space. Depending on what is wrong with the attic fan, some or all of these costs would apply:
Attic fan: $80–$400
Fan motor: $100
Multi (voltage) meter: $22
Fuses: $7
Pliers: $8
Screwdriver: $15 for a set
Wrenches: $30
Wire nuts: $0.01 each
Ladder: $120
Belts: $10–$12
Bearings: $12–$25
Electrical switch to the fan: $3–$7
Caulking: about $4 to seal the unit
Wire cutter/Stripper: $15
There are three types of attic fans: roof vent, gable and solar-powered. Measured in cubic feet per minute or CFM, some fan models are larger and move more air than others. Solar fans have roof-mounted solar panels, which affects the price, as does location—if they are installed on a gable or through the attic roof.
Roof or ridge-mounted models are somewhat easier to mount than other types of fans. They range in price from $75 to more than $400. Your price will depend on airflow (CFM) needs and the size of the fan.
Gable-mounted attic fans cost between $75 and $300. Again, the price will depend on airflow and the size of the fan.These fans come in larger sizes than roof vent fans, making them the best choice for larger species.
Solar-powered systems in your attic can cost $200 to $500 or more. However, because they use the power of the sun, they cost next to nothing once installed. These fans are a bit more expensive upfront, but you may qualify for a federal tax credit if the unit is Energy Star-rated, meaning they meet certain energy efficiency criteria.
Whole house fans range in price from $300 to $1,400 or more. But you’ll want to choose the correct size for your home to reap the benefits. Whole house units are more cost-effective to operate and energy-efficient, and easier to install than some other attic fans. They also can cool more quickly than a central AC unit when the air outside is cooler than the air inside your home.
Several factors influence what you’ll pay to repair your attic fan.
If your attic fan is difficult to find or hard to access, it might cost more to repair. If it’s stuck behind a beam or another immovable structure, you may pay in labor. If the fan has to be removed completely to make repairs, hourly labor rates will increase. In this case, you might want to consider asking your pro for an estimate prior to performing the work.
Attic fans are measured in terms of CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute). If the fan needs to circulate air in a large area, or your home has a very steep roof or dark shingles, you may need a larger fan. Some homes may need two fans placed at each end of the attic, which would also add to your cost. The standard formula requires 1 square foot of net free ventilation area for every 300 square feet of attic floor area.
An electrical problem could be as easy as replacing a fuse or a bad connection. Check to see if there’s a tripped circuit in your electrical box. You may be able to simply flip the breaker for a no-cost fix.
Keep in mind that if your fan is very old, you may not be able to find parts. Some local pros may be able to source parts for you, but often, it may be just as easy to replace the whole unit.
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Attic fans don’t need much maintenance. Whole house fans that have oil ports may need to be lubricated every few years. You can get one quart of lubricating oil for about $4.
Cleaning the shutters and fan blades helps keep your fan running smoothly, but for the most part, attic fans are essentially maintenance-free if installed correctly.
Fan power is measured by CFM, or cubic feet per minute. For every 1,000 feet of square footage in your attic, you need a minimum of 700 CFM. Steeper roofs may need larger fans or about 840 CFM. You can figure the size of attic fan you need by multiplying the square footage of your attic floor by 0.7. (multiply by 1.2 for a steep roof and 1.15 for a dark roof). That number is the CFM required for your fan to run efficiently.
If you give your attic fan a bit of TLC every once in a while, like cleaning the fan blades and shutters and checking for moisture, it can last up to 15 years. You can also have a local HVAC technician come to your house to clean and oil the fan and inspect the unit for potential problems.
