Whilst industrial fans are quite large, they're rather small in terms of maintenance needs. Professional bi-annual or annual maintenance is important, but with a few simple tips you can ensure peak functioning and workplace safety between the professional visits. Of course, it's essential to practise workplace safety tips whilst performing any type of maintenance work, but generally, these tips are fairly simple to do in an industrial environment.

Keep reading to learn the top three DIY maintenance tips for industrial fans.

Ditch the Dust

Because industrial fans are often mounted in the wall, on a tall pole, or in the ceiling well out of your usual line of vision, you might not notice the dust when it begins to accumulate. But, just as a ceiling fan in your home gets a thick layer of grime over time, the industrial fan blades are dust magnets. That dust can weigh quite heavily upon the blades, potentially slowing function. In some cases, the dust could accumulate until other parts of the fan mechanism are affected, meaning a complicated and costly repair later. If you've got the equipment to reach the fan safely, make sure the fan's turned off then and clean the blades using old-fashioned cleaning techniques or even compressed air.

Mind the Mounting System

No matter where the industrial fan is mounted, checking the mounting system is important. Many industrial fans weigh 100 kilograms or more, so the mounting system must retain massive weight. It's usually simple to check the mounting system by scanning the back of the fan, where it's mounted, to look for loose screws, brackets and fasteners. If you notice a problem with fan stability, attempt to stabilise it in a safe manner if possible. For example, you could tighten the screws. If you can't stabilise it, contact your industrial fan maintenance specialist for help promptly. In the interim, make sure that no one walks under or around the fan in case it comes loose. 

Secure the Safety Cables

If you have an overhead mounted industrial fan, it should have safety cables. The safety cables, which are typically made of stainless steel, work as a backup for the mounting system.  If the safety cables are damaged (usually in the form of fraying or visibly weakened areas), even a single loose screw in the mounting system could be disastrous. If the safety cables look to be insecure, keep everyone away from the area and call your industrial fan maintenance specialist straight away.

Taking a few minutes to check the three things above can help you maintain both peak fan functioning and optimal employee safety, so schedule a check-up of your industrial fans as soon as you can.  

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