Choosing between attic fan setups: roof or gable mount?

On airflow, I’m not sure two gable fans would really solve the distribution issue if your attic’s long and narrow. Sometimes a roof fan smack in the middle actually pulls air more evenly, especially if your soffit vents are clear.

I get where you’re coming from - my place has a weird L-shaped attic and I went back and forth on this exact thing. Ended up with a roof fan right in the “elbow” and it did help even out the hot spots, but yeah, cutting into new shingles made me nervous. Did anyone else notice a difference in cooling bills after switching setups? I’m curious whether the noise tradeoff is worth it long-term, or if it’s just one of those “feels cooler” things.

I’m curious whether the noise tradeoff is worth it long-term, or if it’s just one of those “feels cooler” things.

- I totally get the “cutting into new shingles made me nervous” part - felt the same way.
- Went with a gable fan because I chickened out on messing with the roof, but now I wonder if I should’ve just gone for it.
- Noise-wise, it’s not terrible, but I do hear a low hum sometimes at night (old house problems?).
- Cooling bill didn’t drop a ton, but the upstairs feels less like a sauna, so maybe that’s worth it?
- If you’re in a spot with brutal summers, even a small improvement feels huge... but yeah, not sure about the long-term payoff yet.

Cutting into a roof always gives me the heebie-jeebies too - one wrong move and you’re playing “find the leak” every time it rains. I went with a roof fan a few years back after a hailstorm forced a shingle redo anyway, so I figured, why not? The noise is noticeable, but honestly, the squirrels in my attic are louder half the time. My electric bill barely budged, but the upstairs doesn’t feel like a toaster anymore. If you’re in a muggy spot, even a little relief is worth a bit of hum, in my book.

Cutting into a roof always gives me the heebie-jeebies too - one wrong move and you’re playing “find the leak” every time it rains.

Yeah, I get that feeling every time I see someone pop a new hole up there, especially if the shingles are on the older side. I will say, though, if you’re already redoing the shingles like you mentioned, adding a roof fan makes a lot more sense. Less risk of messing up the waterproofing since you’re already working with fresh materials. I’ve seen gable fans work well too, but they’re not always an option if your attic layout’s weird or you don’t have decent gable vents to start with. Plus, in humid spots, even a little extra airflow can help keep the insulation from getting funky. The noise is real, but I’d take a low hum over sweating through another summer any day.

The noise is real, but I’d take a low hum over sweating through another summer any day.

Totally get that - comfort wins out for me too. I was nervous about the cost and hassle, but honestly, the drop in attic temps was worth it. Did you find the install added much to your budget, or did you DIY?