Fans are nice, but they’re not really a fix if your attic’s full of holes.
Couldn’t agree more. I went down the same rabbit hole—thought a fancy roof fan would be the magic bullet, but all it did was suck my AC straight out the gaps in the attic floor. My electric bill barely budged, and I swear the only thing moving faster was my frustration level.
I’m in southern Oklahoma, so we get that same “walk into an oven” vibe upstairs. Once I finally got around to crawling through the itchy insulation and sealing up every weird little gap (who puts a random hole behind a chimney?), things actually cooled off. The fan helped a bit after that, but it was like putting a cherry on top of a melted sundae.
Had the same leak issue with my roof fan after a hailstorm—tiny drip right at the flashing. Not catastrophic, just enough to make me paranoid every time it rained sideways.
If I had to pick, I’d say focus on insulation and sealing first. Fans are fine, but they’re not miracle workers if your attic’s basically an open window.
Once I finally got around to crawling through the itchy insulation and sealing up every weird little gap (who puts a random hole behind a chimney?), things actually cooled off. The fan helped a bit after that, but it was like putting a cherry on top of a melted sundae.
That “cherry on top of a melted sundae” line nails it. I see folks jump straight to attic fans—usually roof-mount—thinking it’ll fix everything, but if the attic floor’s leaky, you’re just pulling conditioned air out and making your AC work overtime. It’s like running your car with the windows down and wondering why it’s not cooling off.
I’ve inspected plenty of houses where the fan installation caused more headaches than it solved. Roof fans are notorious for those little leaks at the flashing, especially after storms or if they weren’t installed with proper sealant. Gable fans are easier to maintain, and you’re less likely to end up with water dripping onto your insulation... but again, if the envelope isn’t tight, all you’re doing is swapping hot air for cool dollars.
If you haven’t checked the attic hatch or those weird plumbing chases, that’s usually where I find the biggest gaps. Once those are sealed up, either fan will actually do its job. Otherwise, you’re just cooling the neighborhood.
Crawling around in attic insulation is a rite of passage, I swear. I learned the hard way that you can have the fanciest fan setup out there, but if you’ve got gaps around recessed lights or that weird spot behind the bathroom vent, you’re just cycling air from your living room up to the attic. I’ve patched more holes with leftover rigid foam and cans of spray than I care to admit. Gable fans are less hassle for leaks, but I’ve seen roof fans do fine if someone actually takes the time to flash them right. Either way, sealing first always saves headaches... and energy bills.
I hear you on the sealing—I've seen way too many folks blame their attic fans for leaks when it's really just sloppy prep around vents and lights. Personally, I lean gable fans if you’re in a spot that gets hammered by storms. Less chance for water to sneak in, especially if your roof’s already got a few years on it. That said, I’ve patched up plenty of roof fan installs where someone skipped the flashing or used cheap caulk... and yeah, water finds a way. Either way, chasing leaks in blown-in insulation is a nightmare.
Gable fans definitely have their place, especially if you’re dealing with older roofs or heavy weather. I’ve seen a lot fewer callbacks on gable installs compared to roof fans, just because there’s less direct exposure and fewer roof penetrations to worry about. That said, I’ve also run into situations where the attic just didn’t vent well with gables alone—especially on low-pitch roofs or when the house is boxed in by trees and doesn’t get much wind. Sometimes you end up needing a roof fan just to get any real airflow.
One job sticks out: customer had a 15-year-old asphalt shingle roof, lots of valleys and dormers, and they wanted a roof fan for extra cooling. The original installer used some bargain-bin flashing and skipped the ice & water shield around the opening. First big rain after install, water started dripping right onto the insulation. By the time I got called in, there was a soggy mess up there and mold starting on the rafters. Ended up having to pull out a section of insulation and redo the whole fan install with proper flashing and sealant. Not fun for anyone.
I get why people like roof fans—they can move more air if you size them right—but unless you’re really careful with the install, they’re just asking for trouble down the line. Gable fans are less risky from a leak standpoint, but sometimes they just don’t cut it for airflow depending on attic layout.
If you’re in a spot that gets hammered by wind-driven rain or snow, I’d lean gable every time unless there’s no other option. But if you do go with a roof fan, spend the extra time (and money) on good flashing and sealants—don’t trust whatever comes in the box. Water always finds that one weak spot... especially when you least expect it.
