- On common, whole-house followers value between $900 and $2,400, together with set up.
- Bigger houses require whole-house followers with larger cubic ft per minute (CFM) rankings.
- These techniques are finest in low-humidity climates with nighttime temperatures beneath 67°F.
Complete-house followers value between $900 and $2,400 on common — a fraction of the price of most air conditioner replacements. The full set up value is dependent upon the kind of fan, the house’s measurement, air flow wants, and native labor prices. Sensible options and required native permits can even enhance the worth.
Complete-house followers cool your house by drawing outdoors air in via open home windows whereas pushing hotter air out via attic or roof vents. They’re energy-efficient alternate options to different kinds of HVAC items, however owners usually pair them with air conditioners to ship all-day cooling. Nonetheless, they’re much less excellent in high-humidity places and work finest when the nighttime temperature is beneath 67°F.
“Complete-house followers are excellent for individuals who prefer to run their AC with the home windows cracked for contemporary air,” mentioned Mitch Rosa, proprietor of Hudson Valley HVAC in Orange County, New York. “If it’s 65°F to 70°F, it’s not an AC day. The fan will get air via the home, displaces scorching air within the attic, and brings in a pleasant breeze. They value rather a lot lower than operating AC on days once you don’t actually need the AC,” Rosa added.
On this information, we’ll stroll you thru the fundamentals of whole-house followers, together with prices, system sorts, advantages, and downsides, that can assist you decide if it’s the precise addition to your house.
Price knowledge on this article is sourced from contractor estimates utilized by Angi and HomeAdvisor.
HVAC Set up
Usually, you’ll pay between $5,540 and $10,980 for an HVAC unit, set up prices, and removing of your outdated unit.
Furnace Alternative
You may anticipate to pay between $4,000 and $7,000, together with set up, outdated furnace removing, and labor.
Warmth Pump Set up
You’ll probably pay between $3,000 and $35,000, however most owners spend between $5,800 and $7,500.
What Is a Complete-Home Fan?
Complete-house followers present air circulation and cooling by pulling cool out of doors air into the house via open home windows and pushing scorching indoor air out via attic and roof vents. Householders shouldn’t use them similtaneously air conditioners, however they will cut back total AC utilization and associated vitality prices.
Complete-house followers work nicely in numerous climates, however analysis has discovered that they’re best in areas the place nighttime temperatures common beneath 67°F and daytime excessive and nighttime low temperatures differ by 25°F or much less. For instance, Division of Vitality (DOE) whole-house fan modeling research have proven houses in Sacramento, California, can save 20% on cooling vitality, whereas these in Burlington, Vermont, might save 34%.
Execs of Complete-Home Followers
Complete-house followers are extraordinarily energy-efficient and reasonably priced to run, however they’ve just a few different benefits:
- Quick cooling within the night: Since whole-house followers work finest beneath sure temperatures, they will rapidly attract colder air and funky the house at evening.
- Extends AC life: The extra you utilize your AC, the sooner it breaks down. Complete-house followers cut back your reliance on the HVAC unit, thereby extending its lifespan.
- Improves indoor air circulation: These items always flow into air all through your house, eradicating stale air whereas bringing in contemporary outdoors air.
- Decrease upfront value: Complete-house followers are considerably extra reasonably priced than many different kinds of AC techniques, which usually vary from $5,000 to $14,000.
Cons of Complete-Home Followers
Whereas you should use a whole-house fan in each local weather, they’re not all the time excellent in areas with excessive humidity. In contrast to air conditioners, the followers don’t dehumidify the air — as an alternative, they will carry outdoors moisture in, making it uncomfortable for occupants. In consequence, they’re best in Worldwide Vitality Conservation Code (IECC) local weather zones 3B, 4B, and 5B, adopted by 2B, 3C, 4C, and 6B.
Nonetheless, even should you don’t dwell in one of many beneficial zones, you may not wish to rule out the system solely. Some whole-house followers include humidistats that enable you to monitor indoor humidity ranges. If the house turns into too humid, the fan turns off. Seek the advice of with an HVAC skilled to study your choices.
One other drawback of whole-house followers is that they don’t have filters. They’ll carry outdoors pollution, together with pollen and smoke, into the house, which might have an effect on these with allergic reactions. They are often noisy, particularly you probably have a large-capacity fan, however most newer fashions are quieter. You need to use rubber or felt gaskets, or set the pace to a decrease setting to scale back noise.
Rosa additionally defined that you’ll want to seal your whole-house fan within the winter. “There are well-insulated packing containers so chilly air doesn’t fall via the followers. You may as well use magnetic sheets that you simply put over the face.”
Common Complete-Home Fan Prices
Complete-house followers usually vary from $900 to $2,400, with the typical value being round $1,700 for most owners. The scale of your house, fan sort, and different components influence the whole value.
The desk beneath highlights the typical prices for numerous whole-house fan techniques, together with labor:
| Fan Sort | Unit Price | Finest For |
|---|---|---|
| Wall-mounted | $1,600 | Homes with restricted attic or roof entry |
| Direct-mounted | $1,700 | Bigger houses and attics |
| Ducted | $2,000 | When noise is a priority |
| Roof-mounted | $2,000 | Houses with restricted attic house and flat or low-pitched roofs |
What Impacts the Price of a Complete-Home Fan?
General, extra highly effective whole-house followers are costlier, and sure components, akin to air flow necessities and native labor prices, can enhance the worth.
House Dimension
Every whole-house fan has a cubic ft per minute (CFM) ranking, which signifies the quantity of air it strikes. A bigger house requires a whole-house fan with the next CFM ranking, which will increase set up complexity and the whole value.
Typically, you need a CFM ranking that’s two to a few instances your house’s sq. footage, however HVAC professionals may also account on your local weather, your house’s ceiling top, and different components to advocate the very best measurement for you.
For instance, a home-owner with a 1,500-square-foot house wants a 6,000 CFM whole-house fan and might anticipate to pay $800–$1,800. A 3,000-square-foot house requires a 12,000 CFM ranking, which averages between $1,100 and $2,400.
Air flow Necessities
Your whole-house fan wants enough exhaust vents to launch scorching air. You’ll should pay for his or her set up should you don’t have sufficient. Gable vents are the least costly, at $60–$150 on common with set up, however they’re finest for much less intricate gable roofs. Ridge vents vary from $300 to $650, whereas soffit vents usually value between $315 and $465.
Labor
Job complexity will increase the whole value of putting in a whole-house fan. For instance, it’s a lot simpler and safer to put in the system in a single-story house than in a two-story house with a good attic. Anticipate to pay between $50 and $100 per hour for labor or about $300 to $1,000 for your entire set up.
In the present day’s House owner Tip
Some installations additionally name for carpenters and electricians. You could want a carpenter should you’re relocating joints for a direct-mounted fan and an electrician for any wiring work or panel connections.
Extra Elements
Another components can influence your whole-house fan set up invoice, together with:
- Sensible options: Superior whole-house followers come outfitted with good instruments, together with timers, adjustable speeds, thermostats, and hygrometers.
- Permits: Some set up initiatives require native permits, which vary from $10 to $500.
- Attic fan cowl: Within the winter, you want an air-tight cowl to maintain the chilly out. They usually vary from $30 to $85.
- Fan shutters: These usually value $40–$200. They preserve air out when the fan isn’t in operation.
How A lot Does It Price To Run a Complete-Home Fan?
Complete-house followers are rather more energy-efficient and more cost effective to run than central AC items. Complete-house followers use simply 120 to 600 watts per hour, in comparison with central AC’s 3,000 to five,000 watts per hour.
Even should you run the fan constantly for twenty-four hours, you’d solely spend $0.50–$2.51 per day or $15.08–$75.40 per 30 days. For a similar time interval, a central AC would run you $12.56–$20.94 per day or $377.92–$628.20 per 30 days.
You may calculate how a lot you stand to avoid wasting by taking the unit’s kilowattage and multiplying it by the variety of hours you anticipate it to run. Then, multiply it by the typical hourly value of electrical energy. As of April 2025, the common nationwide value is 17 cents per kilowatt-hour.
You need to use these formulation:
Watts x utilization hours = watt-hours
Watthours/1,000 = kilowatt-hours
Kilowatt-hours x 0.1745 = value
Subsequent Steps
In the precise climates, whole-house followers are an reasonably priced and efficient cooling various to always operating air conditioners. When used correctly, you stand to avoid wasting 1000’s of {dollars} in the long term.
Rosa recommends going with a whole-house fan should you love contemporary air. “We’ve one in our house with a humidistat and variable speeds. We open the home windows, run it full blast, and it brings in a lot of contemporary air.” He additionally famous one other profit — if somebody is frying fish, the fan rapidly removes the scent from the home.
When you’d like to put in a whole-house fan, first decide in case your area’s local weather is appropriate by checking your location towards the IECC local weather zone map. Measure your house’s sq. footage to estimate the required CFM ranking and value. Then, request quotes from a minimum of three licensed HVAC installers who will help you establish the very best sort of whole-house fan on your wants and residential.
FAQs About Complete-Home Fan Price
Can I set up a whole-house fan myself?
When you can technically DIY a whole-house fan set up, we extremely advocate working with an HVAC firm. The set up requires structural adjustments to your house and electrical work that’s finest left to skilled professionals. You additionally want permits. Professionals perceive the kinds of permits and licenses required to finish the set up and might get hold of them for you.
Even with some handyperson expertise, trying to put in the fan your self may end up in harm to your house or damage. Improper set up can result in water harm in your roof or in your attic, air leaks, electrical points, or extreme noise.
Do whole-house followers qualify for rebates?
Complete-house followers are eligible for rebates via sure utility firms. Every enterprise has its personal necessities, so double-check obtainable rebates together with your utility firm earlier than making your buy. For instance, in response to the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Effectivity (DSIRE), Hawaii Vitality affords $100 rebates on whole-house fan installations.
On their very own, whole-house followers don’t qualify for federal tax credit, however some sorts could be eligible if they’re half of a bigger HVAC system that does meet IRS standards.
How lengthy does a whole-house fan final?
Complete-house followers are likely to final 5 to fifteen years, relying on the model and mannequin. Firms usually supply warranties with their items that cowl the anticipated lifespan, although phrases and protection insurance policies differ.
You could want to switch your fan if it has turn out to be considerably louder otherwise you’re often repairing it. In case your whole-house fan is comparatively new, sudden noise can point out set up points fairly than mechanical failure. Seek the advice of an HVAC skilled to find out the following steps.
When is the very best time to run a whole-house fan?
The perfect instances to run the whole-house fan are within the night, within the morning, and through the evening. Nonetheless, it’s best to solely flip it on if the surface temperature is decrease than the inside temperature. Regulate the humidity and pollen ranges to keep away from drawing humid air or allergens into your house.
Earlier than turning your whole-house fan on, open your home windows and ensure your air conditioner and heater are turned off. If your home turns into too chilly at evening, use a fan timer or variable speeds to raised regulate the temperature whilst you sleep.
