Fan Storage Recommendations
How often are you ready to install an industrial component like a centrifugal fan the moment it arrives at your facility? Unless it’s an emergency replacement, the answer is probably “not that often.” That means you need to think about proper fan storage to ensure your fan is ready for operation when you are ready to install it, whether that is a week or months after it arrives.
Essential Steps for Proper Fan Storage
If you must store your fan, please follow the following recommended fan storage procedures.
(Note: Always refer to your fan’s installation, operation, & maintenance manual for detailed instructions!)
Fan Coverage
It’s essential to cover the fan protect it from the elements so that it doesn’t start rusting. Pro tip: Avoid black plastic for fan storage if at all possible, as it can have the opposite effect, creating condensation and trapping moisture inside the plastic instead of keeping it out. Go for a clear cover instead.
Fan Protection
Isolate your fan in a protected area. You want to protect it from any potential damage from items sitting on top of it, falling onto/into it, leaning on it, etc.
Fan Isolation
Make sure you isolate your fan from any vibrations that may be existing within the area during fan storage. This includes the floor, walls and/or nearby machinery that have their own frequency, and can affect alignment during fan storage.
Tension Release
If you have a belt-driven fan, reduce the tension in the belt drive. It will arrive ready to go, but if you’re not ready to make it go, reduce the tension in your belts.
Wheel Rotation
Make sure to rotate your wheel once a week while it is in storage. This will help redistribute the bearing grease to prevent corrosion.
Grease Replacement
The final step, before you’re ready to start your fan up is to make sure you purge the grease in your bearings and put in new grease after prolonged fan storage.
Consequences of Improper Fan Storage
Please don’t just tuck your fan away in a corner and forget about it. One of the biggest reasons to include wheel rotation and tension release as essential steps in proper fan storage is to protect the bearings.
Leaving the fan belts tense creates a pull on the fan and/or motor bearings, which can lead to flat spots on your bearings. Failing to rotate the wheel can result in bearing failure, as the bearing grease may “puddle” at the bottom of the bearing and expose the rest of the bearing to corrosion. It can ruin your whole experience at startup!
Trust us, avoiding that simple maintenance is not worth the trouble it causes. Please follow these easy but important steps for proper fan storage in your facility.
Hear it from the Application Engineer
Senior Application Engineer Chet White provides an overview of what we need to know to properly help with fan selection in this 2-minute video.
When you’re ready to start your project, reach out and connect with one of our application engineers to discuss the details of your specification.
Related Content on Industrial Fan Applications
There are many factors to consider in every industrial fan application. We’ve seen it all. Here are two more articles that might be of interest as you think about your application:
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