Industrial exhaust fans are absolutely essential for the health and safety of employees in some workplaces.
These fans stir up the stale air in enclosed spaces and replace it with fresh clean air.
This means they can reduce moistures levels in the air, which can prevent mold growth in places like bathrooms, locker rooms, or greenhouses. It also keeps guests comfortable for their visit to the spa.
Buildings that get hot and smelly, like gymnasiums, need industrial fans for proper ventilation. The fans keep the air cool and help disperse any odor.
But more important than any of these uses, industrial fans remove harmful materials from the air, like chemicals, bacteria, gasses, dust, and other debris particles. In businesses that revolve around medical health, chemicals, mining, agriculture, food processing, and automotive construction or repair need industrial fans to ensure their employees’ safety.
How Do These Fans Keep Employees Safe?
Industrial exhaust fans force old air out of the building and replace it with new air. That means any contaminants are getting sucked out of the building along with the air.
Because the fan also fills the building with fresh air, employees don’t have to breathe in harmful chemicals or gasses. The fans protect employees and keep the workplace safe so they can stay focused and get their jobs done.
What Happens When an Industrial Fan Stops Working?
If your industrial fan isn’t working, it’s no longer sucking those harmful contaminants out of the air. That means your workplace is no longer a safe environment for your employees.
But an industrial fan doesn’t have to break completely to make your workplace hazardous. Even fans that are starting to slow down aren’t functioning the way they should and aren’t cleaning the air as quickly or thoroughly as before.
You may not notice when you industrial fan starts to slow down at first because the slow down could be very gradual. As soon as you think something might not be running smoothly, you should call a professional to get your fan repaired.
Most workplaces can’t afford to be without industrial fans for very long. Working without a fan could result in serious health problems.
What Makes an Industrial Fan Break?
In some cases, residue could build up inside the fan, which will make it slow down and eventually stop if left unaddressed. Something inside the fan could have broken from wear. If you have problems with your fan soon after it’s been installed, it may be malfunctioning because it was installed incorrectly.
There are a few ways to recognize problems with your industrial exhaust fans.
- Poor air performance
- Loud noise
- Shaking or vibrating (you may only hear a vibrating sound)
- Sounds like grinding or metal scraping against metal
- System overheating
If you notice any of these signs, something isn’t working quite right inside your fan.
What Can I Do About It?
When your fan shows any of those symptoms, you don’t have any other choice but to repair it immediately. Repairs can be a hassle, and they can take money your business would benefit from if invested in other places.
And if you don’t take care of your fan, you could end up needing these repairs more than you’d like. If the situation is bad enough, you may even have to get the whole system replaced.
So the best way to make sure your industrial exhaust fans don’t malfunction and need repairs is to prevent any possible issues in the first place.
How to Prevent Industrial Fan Issues
This all comes down to good installation and proper maintenance. If either of these is messed up or ignored, you’ll end up with fans that don’t last.
Getting the Right Installation
Make sure the person installing your industrial fans know what they’re doing. This part could be hard to control, but you can start by finding a reputable company to handle the process.
Look at their reviews and, if possible, ask past clients how their industrial fans have worked and held up. The company may provide a reference list if you ask for one. Spend time talking to different companies before you make your final choice so you pick one that will fit your needs and get the job done well.
Scheduling Industrial Fan Maintenance
You should also ask how often your fans will need maintenance. After the system’s been installed, schedule those maintenance visits. If you can’t schedule them in advance, at least know the general time of year they should happen.
During maintenance, make sure all of the following parts get checked and, if needed, cleaned:
- Bearings
- Belts
- Blades
- Louvers and dampers
- Motors
- Inlets, shafts, main drive, outlets, and access ports
Keeping these parts clean and functional extend the life of your industrial exhaust fans and keep the workplace safe and secure for your employees.
Things You Can Do on Your Own
If you ever have to store your industrial fans before they can be installed, make sure they are stored in a place they won’t be damaged. If the fan gets damaged before it’s installed, you may end up needing a new one.
Depending on how long you need to store your fan, you should remove the belt tensions. You may not need to do this if you’re only storing your fan for a short time, but anything longer than a few weeks warrants taking those tensions off. This will keep them in good condition so they can function for longer periods once installed.
You should also rotate the fan wheel at least once a week (though it doesn’t hurt to do it more often). This keeps the shaft from setting and redistributes the bearing grease.
Preventing Problems with Your Industrial Exhaust Fans
It’s always better to catch a problem before it starts, and that’s even truer when that problem could create an unsafe workplace for your employees. The best way to prevent issues with your industrial fans is to make sure they are installed correctly and well maintained afterward.
Need some industrial exhaust fans for your workplace? Take a look at some of our products.