The summer heat is not too far off. Doing a springtime tune-up on your ventilation system will ensure that there is a successful environment in your facility where your employees are healthy, safe, and productive when the temperature heats up. Below are a few suggestions to make sure that your ventilation system is ready for the summer season.
Springtime Tune-up Suggestions
- Check the Amperage Draw – The health of a fan motor can be determined by checking the voltage and amperage. With the voltage and rated horsepower, determine what the normal amperage draw should be. If the motor is drawing more than the equivalent for its rated horsepower, the problem could be that the fan has become overloaded. Check the fan for obstructions or system modifications that may be causing additional static pressure. While most motors are designed with a service factor, operating in the service factor will shorten the life of a motor. Motors on explosion proof fans should never be operated in the service factor.
- Check Belts, Shives, and Bearings – The most common reason why a belt drive fans isn’t working properly is due to a loose or failed belt. When checking the belt tension, also make sure that the shives are properly aligned and that the bearings are lubricated.
- Inspect the Propeller – Dust and debris build-up on a propeller may lead to an in balance that will eventually cause the motor shaft or bearings to fail. After inspecting and cleaning the blades, slowly spin the prop to determine if there is an equal amount of clearance between the blade tips and the entire circumference of the housing. If there is little to no clearance at any point, the motor shaft may already be bent which means the motor should be replaced. Also, look for any cracks that may have occurred in the hub or blades. Over time, cracks can develop in aluminum due to imbalance or fatigue. If a crack is discovered in the hub or one of the blades this component should be replaced.
- Check Guards and Screens – OSHA standards require that ventilation fans located below 8 feet have guards to protect people from injury. However, we recommend that any fan located in an area where people are present have a guard to prevent flying debris in the event of a fan wreck. Loose, broken or rusted guards pose a serious safety risk and the fan should remain locked out until the guard is repaired. Screens are intended to keep birds and insects from getting into the fan and causing damage. Because most screens are exposed to the outside, the thin mesh could become ineffective due to corrosion. Any loose, broken or rusted screens should be replaced.
- Replace Filters – A common reason for low flow from a supply air fan is dirty filters. As a filter loads, the increasing resistance slowly reduces the air flow into a building. If you have designed your facility to have a positive pressure, it is important to regularly replace the filters to maintain that positive pressure. A good investment is installing an air filter restriction gauge on the filter housing to provide an alert when it is time to replace the filters.
- Check Dampers – Gravity dampers that fail to open completely will reduce the air flow from a fan. Use the linkage arm to open and close the damper noting the amount of resistance. Bent or damaged blades should be repaired or replaced. Apply lubricate to blade pivots and linkage arm connection points.
Conclusion
Performing a springtime tune-up of your ventilation system is very important, but it should be done safely. When performing any inspections or maintenance on a fan, it should be properly tagged and locked out. The person performing the work should ensure that the tagout and logout procedures have been performed before starting work. At Eldridge, we believe that ensuring employee health, safety, and productivity is what creates a successful environment any facility.