Can You Replace an Attic Fan Motor From Inside the Attic?

Types of Fans

• There are two distinct types of attic fans that may require new motors if they fail to operate. They are exhaust fans, which force hot air out of the attic, and whole house fans, which draw up hot air from your home and into the attic to cool your living space. Whole house fans, which need to be open to your home, are mounted in the ceiling and can be accessed from inside the attic, or from below in a room or hallway in your home. Exhaust fans include those that are mounted in the gables and those that are mounted on the roof.

Exterior Service

• Only attic exhaust fans that are mounted on the roof need to be serviced from outside. Besides the whole house fans that you can access from your home's top floor, other attic fans are all accessible from inside the attic. Replacing the motor on a roof-mounted exhaust fan requires using a ladder to access the roof and removing the fan assembly from outside. For exhaust fans mounted in roof gables, you may have a choice of whether to access them and replace the motor from a ladder against the side of your home or from inside the attic, which is generally safer and more comfortable.

Working in the Attic

• The type of attic you have determines how difficult it is to replace a fan motor from inside. Attics without plywood floors usually have joists with insulation between them, limiting where you can safely step. A finished attic is much easier to move around in. The location of the fan is also an issue, since it determines how much space you'll have to work and how much of the attic you'll need to navigate to reach the motor.

Replacement vs. Repair

• Replacing a roof-mounted attic exhaust fan's motor can extend the life of the fan and get your attic cool again. However, the motor is the most complex and expensive part of the fan. The difficulty of rooftop repairs, and the need to disassemble the fan to replace the motor, often make it more efficient to simply replace the entire fan assembly in the event of a motor failure. When motors are more accessible, and belong to fans that are meant to be serviced manually, replacing them may be a cost-effective way to get your fan running again.