Yes, you can put a whole house fan in a two story house. Mount one near the top of the home, usually in the attic stairway or an upstairs ceiling, and it pulls hot air out through the attic while drawing cool outdoor air in through open windows. Two caveats: open windows on both floors, and expect more noise upstairs than downstairs.
That last point is the reason most two-story installs go wrong. A whole house fan moves air, it does not refrigerate, and a single unit parked over the busiest room downstairs will cool the second floor noticeably less than the first. I spent several weeks going through the spec sheets, warranty terms and owner complaints on the leading whole house fans rated for two story homes, and these seven are the ones worth shortlisting.
Before the picks, one framing note. Nearly every whole house fan on the market is sold with a square-footage number on the box, and for two story homes that number assumes 8-foot ceilings and an attic with serious exhaust venting. If your attic cannot move roughly 1 square foot of free vent area for every 750 CFM, the fan will spin and underperform no matter what the label says.
If you want a broader look at airflow and ventilation gear for your home, our guide to whole-house ventilation fans for fresh air covers the exhaust side of the problem, and our roundup of whole house fans for summer cooling goes deeper on when to run one.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Best Whole House Fans for Two Story Homes in 2026
Centric Air QA-Deluxe 5500
- 5072 CFM
- 2-speed remote
- R-5 insulated damper
- Covers up to 3400 sq ft
QuietCool QC ES-7000 RF
- 6878 CFM high
- ECM motor
- Wireless RF control
- Covers up to 3440 sq ft
Centric Air ECM 4800
- 4203 CFM
- 3-speed wall switch
- Acoustical ducting
- Covers 2-story up to 2800 sq ft
All Seven Whole House Fans at a Glance in 2026
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Centric Air QA-Deluxe 5500 |
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Check Latest Price |
| QuietCool QC ES-7000 RF |
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Check Latest Price |
| Centric Air ECM 4800 |
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Check Latest Price |
| QuietCool QC ES-5400 RF |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Centric Air 4.0 Ultra Quiet |
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Check Latest Price |
 Solatube EPS Plus 2502 |
|
Check Latest Price |
| QuietCool QC ES-6000 RF |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Centric Air QA-Deluxe 5500 – Best Overall for Two-Story Homes
QA-Deluxe 5500 Energy Efficient Whole House Fan 2 Speed Temp/Timer Control
5072 CFM
2-speed remote with timer
51 dB
R-5 damper
Covers to 3400 sq ft
Pros
- Cools a full two-story home fast
- Quiet on low speed
- Remote with timer and thermostat
- No framing between 16-24 inch joists
- 10-year motor warranty
Cons
- Audible on high speed
- Thin installation documentation
- Foam damper doors flutter in wind
This is the one I keep coming back to for two story homes, and the reason is simple: it is the only unit in this group with a review base deep enough to trust. One hundred and seventeen reviews at a 4.5 average is a real sample, not a handful of early buyers, and the pattern across those reviews holds up.
Owners in homes from roughly 1100 to 3000 square feet report whole-home temperature drops within about half an hour of switching it on, and several mention a visible reduction in how often their air conditioning runs. The airflow rating is 5072 CFM with a 5500 CFM maximum, which the manufacturer rates for homes up to 3400 square feet. The 18-inch plastic blades, aluminum housing and brushless motor pull 630 watts on high.
The R-5 insulated damper is the detail that matters most in a two-story retrofit. When the fan is off, that damper seals the attic off from living space, which is what stops cold attic air from leaking back down through ceiling registers in winter. A 10-year motor warranty and 3-year parts warranty are also the best split warranty in this group, though the parts term is short enough that you should read it carefully.
Two things temper the recommendation. Several owners flag that the 5500 CFM version is oversized for homes under about 2500 square feet, and the documentation does not clearly show how the ducting meets the damper box and fan head. If your two story home is on the small side, look at the Centric Air ECM 4800 below instead.
Check that your attic venting matches the airflow
A fan rated at this output needs real exhaust capacity behind it. Buyers who installed this unit in under-vented attics report it running but not achieving the rated CFM, and the fix was never the fan, it was the soffit and ridge venting.
Verify your net free vent area before you buy, and keep the fan at least a foot clear of blown-in attic insulation so it is not sucking fiberglass into the air stream.
Consider this the wrong pick if you need sleep-quiet high speed
Owners consistently describe the low setting as quiet enough to run in the background, and the high setting as noticeable in a quiet house. In a two-story home with bedrooms directly beneath the mount point, that trade-off is harder to live with than it would be on a first floor.
If your main concern is bedroom noise, the acoustical-ducted units later in this list are the better trade, even at lower airflow.
2. QuietCool QC ES-7000 RF – Best for Large Two-Story Homes
Quietcool QC ES-7000 RF Energy Saver Advanced Whole House Fan with Wireless Control – Up to 6878 CFM – As low as 164 watts – Two Speed – Covers up to 3,439 SQFT – 10 Year Warranty
6878 CFM high,4304 CFM low
Brushless ECM
Wireless RF control
Covers to 3440 sq ft
Pros
- Highest airflow here
- Quiet for the volume of air moved
- No control wiring to fish through walls
- Contractors rate it easy to install
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- Large unit that needs two people to install
- 164W is the highest low-speed draw
- One reported blade failure with no replacement
This is the capacity leader of the group, rated at 6878 CFM on high and 4304 CFM on low, and the manufacturer rates it for homes up to 3440 square feet. For a large two story home where you want the whole volume turned over in a few minutes, that headroom is the reason to choose it.
The 19 reviews here are dominated by professional installers, several of whom call it their unit of choice and one of whom reports having fitted four of them. The recurring praise is for the suspended motor head, which hangs from attic rafters rather than sitting on the ceiling plane, and for the wireless RF control, which removes the need to fish control wires down a wall.
The ECM motor draws 727 watts on high and 164 watts on low, which is the highest minimum draw of any unit here. The 164-watt floor still costs a fraction of what a central air conditioner pulls, but if you plan to run this fan overnight on low, the QuietCool ES-5400 RF draws less than half that.
Plan the install around size. The unit is 41 inches deep, 28 inches wide and 40 inches tall, and owners consistently note it realistically takes two people. It also needs 9.18 square feet of net free attic venting, the highest requirement of any pick here, so an under-vented attic is a hard stop.
Budget for a two-person install and real attic vent area
Before you order, walk the attic and confirm you have close to 10 square feet of free exhaust area and room to work around the rafters. Owners who did both report a clean install with no framing and no joist cutting, since the unit fits 16 or 24 inch on-center joists.
The 14 by 36 inch ceiling cut-out is larger than a standard light fixture opening, so confirm the mounting location has clear joist space on both sides before the day of the install.
Consider this the wrong pick if attic access is tight
There is no getting around the footprint. In a two-story home with a low-clearance attic or a narrow stair run, a 41-inch-deep unit with a rafter-suspended head is a much harder install than the compact models on this list.
Owners also report a single durability failure, a fan blade shearing off within a few months with no replacement supplied, so this is not a zero-risk durability record. QuietCool customer service is generally rated well by buyers, which partly offsets it.
3. Centric Air ECM 4800 – Best Value Three-Speed Pick
QA-Deluxe 4800 ECM Energy Efficient Whole House Fan, 3 Speed Wall Switch
4203 CFM
3-speed wall switch
491 watts
Covers 2-story to 2800 sq ft
Pros
- Three speeds including a very quiet low
- Plug-and-play switch needs no wall wiring
- Tight-fitting laser-cut damper box
- Buyers report clear electricity savings
Cons
- Wall switch response lags after a button press
- Temperature cutoff does not always engage
- No smart-home connectivity
This is the most interesting pick in the group for a mid-size two-story home, and the three-speed control is the reason. Most competing units offer two speeds, which in practice means low or loud. Three speeds let you sit at a genuinely quiet middle setting overnight and still have headroom for a hot afternoon.
Airflow is rated at 4203 CFM, with 3209 CFM under California Title 24 rules, and the manufacturer rates it for two-story homes up to 2800 square feet. It draws 491 watts, the lowest high-speed figure of any direct-drive style unit in this roundup, and the motor is a brushless ECM.
The control is a plug-and-play low-voltage wall switch with timer and temperature control, so you are not running control wire through a wall to the attic. Buyers also rate the build quality highly, and one installer reported the manufacturer shipping parts to resolve an install issue rather than making him chase it. The R-5 insulated laser-cut damper box assembles with machine screws, which is a better seal than a foam door pushed into a frame.
The honest limitation is sample size. Eleven reviews at 4.7 is an excellent score on a thin base, and there is no four-year durability record here. If you want the quietest possible running at the lowest possible wattage and can accept a smaller coverage figure, the Centric Air 4.0 below is the alternative.
Check that 4 square feet of attic venting exists
The stated requirement is 4.0 square feet of attic ventilation, the lowest of any pick in this roundup, which makes this the easiest unit here to support in a modest attic. That matters in older two-story homes where the ridge and soffit venting was never upgraded.
Still confirm the figure in your own attic. A fan that outruns its exhaust path loses CFM quietly, and buyers report confusing results for exactly this reason.
Consider this the wrong pick if you want app control
There is no smart-home connectivity here, and reviewers raise that as a genuine limitation. The wall switch also responds slowly after a button press, and the temperature cutoff does not consistently stop the fan at the set point.
Those are real annoyances rather than dealbreakers, but if you already run your home from a thermostat app, expect to control this one by hand or with a plug-in timer.
4. Centric Air 4.0 Ultra Quiet – Built for Bedrooms Underneath
Centric Air 4.0 Ultra Quiet & Energy Saving Whole House Fan, Plug & Play
3945 CFM
5-blade composite rotor
Acoustical ductwork included
15-year motor warranty
Pros
- Acoustically engineered rotor and ducting
- 623W motor using about a third standard energy
- 40000-hour motor rating
- 15-year motor warranty
- R-5 gravity damper seals attic
Cons
- Only 8 reviews
- so durability data is thin
- Lowest airflow per watt of premium options here
- Needs about 5.5 sq ft of attic venting
Whole house fan noise complaints cluster around second-floor bedrooms, because that is where the unit has to sit and where people are trying to sleep. This Centric Air model is the one I would look at first when noise is the deciding factor. It ships with acoustical ductwork and uses a German-engineered, precision-balanced 5-blade composite rotor with wing-tip design, all aimed at reducing sound at a given airflow.
It is also two-speed rather than three or seven, at 3945 CFM, or 3921 CFM under HVI-916 measurement. Rated coverage works out to roughly a mid-size two-story home. The motor is rated for 40000 hours, carries a 15-year warranty, and uses about a third less energy than industry-standard fans.
The R-5 gravity damper seals the attic when the system is idle, which is what you want in a cold climate where an open ceiling hole becomes a heat leak all winter. About 5.5 square feet of attic ventilation is required.
I would be cautious here, and buyers should be too. The 4.9 average across 8 reviews is the highest rating in this roundup, but 8 reviews is a very small sample and no reviewer is giving you a four-year report on this specific listing. The engineering claims are strong; the evidence base is thin.
Confirm the mounting point is not over a bedroom
Acoustical ducting helps, but no fan is silent and this one moves real air. Mount it in a hallway, stair landing or other low-occupancy space rather than directly under a sleeping room, and the noise argument largely disappears.
Also allow for the 28 by 14 by 14 inch housing plus the duct run. Attic-hung installations need a clear path from the fan head to the grille.
Consider this the wrong pick if you need high CFM per room
At roughly 3900 CFM, this unit is sized for a two-story home in the middle of the range, not a large one. Buyers who needed serious volume in a big two-story volume are better served by the QuietCool models later in this list.
The wattage is also 623 on high, which is not the lowest number here, so the energy story is about motor efficiency and lifespan rather than a small power draw.
5. QuietCool QC ES-5400 RF – Best for Mid-Size Two-Story Homes
Quietcool QC ES-5400 RF Energy Saver Advanced Whole House Fan with Wireless Control – Up to 5003 CFM – As low as 89 watts – Two Speed – Covers up to 2,502 SQFT – 10 Year Warranty
5003 CFM high,2842 CFM low
ECM at 88.9W low
Covers up to 2502 sq ft
Needs 6.68 sq ft venting
Pros
- Lowest low-speed power draw in the group
- Wireless RF control with 12-hour timer
- No framing or joist cutting
- Window locks included
- 10-year warranty
Cons
- Customer service calls reportedly go unanswered
- Included grille screws strip in drywall
- Duct size is not stated in the listing
The QuietCool Energy Saver line is the one that changed how these fans are built, and the ES-5400 RF is the mid-size member. It moves 5003 CFM on high and 2842 CFM on low, and the low setting draws 88.9 watts, by far the smallest power draw of any unit in this roundup. If you plan to run this fan through the night on low, that number is the whole argument.
It is rated for homes up to 2502 square feet, which makes it the right capacity for a two story home in the lower-to-middle range rather than a large one. The 14 by 30 inch ceiling cut-out fits 16 or 24 inch on-center joists with no framing, and the motor head suspends from the attic rafters rather than sitting in the ceiling plane.
The wireless RF control kit includes a glass wall switch and a countdown timer up to 12 hours, so no control wire has to be run through a wall. That is a meaningful install saving in a finished two-story home, where fishing wire means cutting into drywall you would rather leave alone. Owners with a year of use report quiet running and no problems for the volume of air moved, and window locks are included for when the fan is running with windows open.
The 4.3 average across 11 reviews is the widest spread of any pick here. The two-star and three-star reviews are about support and install fit, not airflow: unanswered installation help calls, soft grille screws that strip when mounted straight into drywall, and a bent damper cross member arriving in the box.
Plan for the 6.68 square feet of required venting
This is the requirement most likely to stop the install, and it is the most commonly skipped. If your attic does not have close to 7 square feet of net free vent area, adding soffit and ridge vents is a project you should price before ordering the fan.
Also check the duct size before you buy fittings. The listing does not state it, and buyers report mismatched ducting as a result. Ductwork left unsupported can separate from the fan head over time.
Consider this the wrong pick if you are not comfortable on a ladder
The install is described as a one to two hour job with minimal electrical work, but you still need safe attic access and a correctly sized cut-out. The mounting screws supplied are not up to the job in bare drywall, so plan to add your own fasteners.
Verify the cut-out location has clear joist space on both sides before the fan is on a ladder, and keep blown-in attic insulation away from the fan head.
6. Solatube EPS Plus 2502 – Budget Pick for Smaller Two-Story Homes
Solatube Whole House Fan EPS Plus 2502 CFM Quiet Cooling Fan 2200 Sq Ft
2502 CFM
7 variable speeds
R6 insulated damper
15-year motor warranty
Pros
- Seven variable speeds
- the finest speed control here
- Patented HushMount 2 noise control
- R6 damper exceeds the R5 units
- Complete DIY kit with ducting and fasteners
- 15-year limited motor warranty
Cons
- Only 2 reviews on Amazon
- Smallest capacity in this group
- Capped at about 2200 sq ft
Solatube built its reputation on tubular daylighting, and this ducted whole house fan is the value entry point of the group. At 2502 CFM it covers up to 2200 square feet, which makes it the right size for the smaller end of the two story market and the wrong size for anything larger. Your two-story home needs roughly twice this airflow, so check your square footage before you fall for the specification list.
What it does offer is control nobody else here matches: seven variable speeds, so you can find a genuinely near-silent setting rather than choosing between two fixed points. The patented HushMount 2 mounting system and a precision-cut jet blade design target noise and vibration, and the R6 insulated damper doors are a step up from the R5 dampers on the competing units.
It also comes as a complete kit. Motor, fan, damper, mounting system, remote, grille, fasteners and ducting are all in the box, which removes the most common source of install delay. The warranty is the best structured one here, with 15 years limited on the motor, 10 years on mechanical parts and 5 on electrical.
Check your conditioned square footage before anything else
This is the one pick in the roundup where capacity is the deciding factor rather than a preference. If your two story home is above roughly 2200 square feet, this fan will not clear the whole volume in a reasonable time and you should step up a tier.
Below that threshold, the 7-speed control and the R6 damper make it a genuinely pleasant unit to live with, especially for anyone sensitive to motor noise.
Consider this the wrong pick if you need proven long-term data
Two reviews, both five-star, is the entire evidence base, and the 5.0 average carries very little weight. The HushMount 2 mounting, R6 damper and 15-year motor warranty are manufacturer specifications, not things buyers have confirmed over years.
Treat it as a capable entry point for a smaller two story home rather than a proven performer, and keep the receipt.
7. QuietCool QC ES-6000 RF – Higher CFM in the Mid Range
Quietcool QC ES-6000 RF Energy Saver Advanced Whole House Fan with Wireless Control – Up to 5576 CFM – As low as 112 watts – Two Speed – Covers up to 2,788 SQFT – 10 Year Warranty
5576 CFM high,3417 CFM low
ECM at 112W low
Covers up to 2790 sq ft
Needs 7.44 sq ft venting
Pros
- 112W low-speed draw
- Owners report a balanced quiet rotor
- Some buyers roughly halved their energy bill
- Wireless remote works reliably
- Customer service rated well by buyers
Cons
- Lowest rating here at 3.4
- One unit failed after about an hour
- Packaging damage and bent parts reported
- Awkward duct-to-grille connection
I am including this one because the airflow figure is genuinely competitive, and I am warning you about it because the reviews are not. Ten reviews at a 3.4 average is the lowest rating in this roundup, with 21 percent one-star reviews, and that has to shape your expectation before you buy rather than after.
The specification sheet is strong. It moves 5576 CFM on high and 3417 CFM on low, rated for homes up to 2790 square feet, and the ECM motor draws 455 watts high and 112 watts low. Like the other QuietCool Energy Saver units it uses a 14 by 36 inch ceiling cut-out, an rafter-suspended motor head and the wireless RF control with a 12-hour timer.
The enthusiasts behind the positive reviews report real results, including roughly halved energy bills and 3 to 4 degree drops in upstairs rooms, which is exactly the second-floor performance a two-story buyer is looking for. Several also praise the rotor balance and the relative quiet at that output.
The detractors report a unit that failed after about an hour and would not restart despite confirmed power, a resealed box with bent flanges and mixed-size screws, and a duct-to-grille connection that is awkward to seat. Service is the one consistent positive across both camps.
Choose this only if the number matters more than the rating
If your attic venting can support the 7.44 square feet of net free area this unit requires and you want more airflow than the 5003 CFM ES-5400 provides at a similar footprint, the engineering case holds. The 14 by 36 inch cut-out is the same as the larger ES-7000, so the install geometry is already familiar territory.
Inspect the unit on arrival. Bent flanges and bent grille frames were reported, and those are visible problems you can return rather than troubleshoot.
Consider this the wrong pick if reliability is your top priority
A 3.4 average with a one-star bloc is not a rounding error in the data, and early motor failure is a serious complaint for a permanently installed appliance. Most buyers in this position are better served by the ES-7000 RF, which has more reviews, a higher rating and more headroom.
Also note the remote is described as clunky and considerably thicker than the product photos suggest, which matters if you are replacing a wall switch you use daily.
How to size a whole house fan for a two-story home
Size on total conditioned square footage across both floors, not on one floor, and do it before you fall for a model. The most common two-story failure is a homeowner picking a unit rated for their main floor and then finding it will not turn over the full volume.
Two rules do most of the work. First, the coverage figures manufacturers print assume roughly 2 CFM per square foot of conditioned area, which is why a 5072 CFM fan is rated for 3400 square feet. Second, the ceiling height matters: the older rule of thumb of square footage times three is a volumetric figure that only converts to CFM at 8-foot ceilings.
Third, and most often skipped, you need about 1 square foot of free open exhaust area for every 750 CFM. A 5000 CFM fan needs close to 7 square feet of net free attic venting. If your attic is short, adding soffit and ridge vents is cheaper than a fan that underperforms forever.
Forum discussions on sizing consistently land in the same place, with recommendations clustering near 5000 CFM for a full air change every two to three minutes in an average home. That is a sanity check on any number you are given.
Finally, count your windows. A whole house fan needs openable windows on both floors to move air. Opening only downstairs starves the upper level, which is the single most common reason a two-story install disappoints. If your second floor has few or no operable windows, no amount of CFM fixes it.
Where to install it in a two-story home
The attic stairway is the most common two-story install, and it is often the only practical option in a finished home. The fan sits above the stair opening, draws from both floors, and exhausts into the attic. The tradeoff is acoustic: you are putting a permanently running appliance over the busiest circulation space in the house.
A second-floor ceiling mount, usually in a hallway or laundry area, is quieter for the bedrooms below because it is further from them, but it cools the main floor less evenly. A first-floor ceiling mount is the quietest for sleepers and the least effective for upstairs rooms.
Whichever you pick, do not cut trusses or joists. Every unit in this roundup fits between 16 or 24 inch on-center joists without framing, and if your intended location does not, move the location rather than the structure. A licensed electrician should confirm circuit capacity and run the wiring to code.
In a cold climate, the seasonal side of this matters as much as the cooling side. The opening in your ceiling is a hole to the attic from October through April, so the insulated damper matters, and a removable insulation cover for the stair opening is worth adding.
One more safety note that comes up constantly on HVAC forums. Before you run a whole house fan, close fireplace dampers and check for gas appliances that could backdraft, and make sure you have working carbon monoxide detectors. Also, if you ever see dust or attic air coming down through ceiling registers, the damper or duct seal has failed and needs fixing, not tolerating.
When a two-story home should skip a whole house fan
Skip it if your summers are persistently hot and humid. A whole house fan cools by air movement and evaporative cooling, both of which stop working well when the outdoor air is already saturated, and running it in those conditions can add humidity to the house.
Skip it if the attic cannot support the required vent area, and skip it if your home is a tight modern build with few operable windows, because there is no supply path for the air to enter through. For high pollen days or wildfire smoke, keep the windows shut and use central filtration instead.
And consider carefully if the cooling season is short. In a northern climate the fan may only earn its keep on a handful of evenings, which is a fair argument for a portable unit instead. Many owners end up running a whole house fan alongside central air rather than instead of it, using the fan on mild nights and the AC on the rest.
If you want to see how these compare on the general cooling question, our whole house fans for summer cooling guide covers usage habits, and our extension ladder roundup covers the attic access equipment most two-story installs need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put a whole house fan in a two story house?
Yes. Mount it near the top of the home, usually over the attic stairway or in an upstairs ceiling, and it pulls hot air out through the attic while drawing cool outdoor air in through open windows on both floors. Expect more noise upstairs than a first-floor install, and open upper-level windows or the second floor will barely cool.
What size whole house fan do I need for a 2000 sq ft two story house?
For a two-story home of about 2,000 sq ft with 8 ft ceilings, target roughly 4,000 to 4,500 CFM. A common rule is about 2 CFM per square foot of total conditioned area, so 2,000 sq ft lands near 4,000 CFM. Confirm your attic has about 1 sq ft of free exhaust area per 750 CFM, which works out to roughly 6 sq ft.
How many CFM should an attic fan be?
Size on total conditioned square footage across both floors at roughly 2 CFM per square foot, and check the unit covers your two-story ceiling height. Then verify 1 sq ft of free open exhaust area for every 750 CFM. A fan that outruns its attic venting loses airflow quietly, which is the most common sizing mistake.
Do whole house fans need attic vents?
Yes, and this is the most skipped step. A whole house fan needs a free exhaust path through the attic, roughly 1 sq ft of net free vent area for every 750 CFM. The QuietCool ES-7000 RF alone needs 9.18 sq ft. Without it the fan spins but will not reach its rated CFM.
Why don’t people use whole house fans anymore?
Adoption dropped mainly because central air became affordable and variable-speed compressors got efficient, and because a whole house fan only works when outdoor air is genuinely cooler than indoor air. They remain the cheapest way to cool a home on mild nights, and most owners keep both rather than choosing one.
Can you use a whole house fan with central air?
Yes, and many owners do. Run the whole house fan on mild evenings and mornings when outdoor air is cooler than indoor, then switch to central air for the rest of the summer. Running both at once wastes energy and the compressor will fight the airflow.
Our Two-Story Whole House Fan Picks in 2026
The best whole house fans for two story homes are not the biggest or the cheapest, they are the ones matched to your conditioned square footage, your attic venting and how much noise you can live with upstairs. Start with the Centric Air QA-Deluxe 5500, which has by far the deepest owner feedback here and covers homes up to 3400 square feet. Go bigger with the QuietCool QC ES-7000 RF if your attic has the 9.18 square feet of venting it demands.
If noise over bedrooms drives the decision, the Centric Air 4.0 Ultra Quiet is built for it, and the Centric Air ECM 4800 gives you three speeds and a 4.7 rating at a mid-size capacity. Measure your attic before you order any of them, open windows on both floors when you run it, and you will get more usable cooling from 2026 than most owners expect.