6 Things You Should Know Before You Buy An Exhaust Fan

An exhaust fan is a ventilation system which pulls old, stale, humid, hot, and unclean air out of particular space and replaces it with fresh, clean air. Depending on the space, it can keep equipment and structures from being damaged, but is also helpful for people who are working in these areas. It means they will not have to breathe contaminated air from the space they are in.

1. Knowing if your business needs an exhaust fan

Exhaust fans are necessary in any environment where air circulation is needed. This includes restaurants, grow-op or greenhouse operations, factories, and mines. You can see how even though all of these organizations are immensely different, they all have something in common: the air needs to be kept fresh for the safety of the people and/or the products.

2. Knowing your ideal mounting location and type

If you need your exhaust fan mounted on the ceiling or if you need it mounted on the wall, either one is completely possible. You need to be aware of what will work best in your situation before you pick one.

A wall-mounted exhaust fan will be placed high up on a wall facing a doorway to promote airflow. Wall-mounted systems are best used in warehouses, equipment rooms, factories and parking garages.

Ceiling-mounted or in-line exhaust fans are installed into the ceiling of a room and are most suitable for bathrooms, conference rooms and hotels.

3. Know if you require a system that can handle dangerous substances

If you are working in a workplace where the airborne particles may be dangerous or explosive, you will need to choose an exhaust fan that can handle these types of particles.

Specifically, there are explosion proof fans which are resistant to explosions. There are different classifications and groups which indicate different hazardous materials. Be sure that you choose a fan which is compatible to the type of substance you will be filtering out of the air.

4. Know the style of fan you need.

Belt driven exhaust fans are usually heavier-duty units and are used to push large amounts of air. These are big units, often used in big, industrial environments. In these exhaust fans, a belt connects the motor to the blades of the fan.

Direct drive exhaust fans are better for circulating dry air, and can be used in offices, garages, and warehouses. In these exhaust fans, the motor rotation and the fan blade movement will be the same speed. These fans are more efficient that belt driven fans due to a decreased amount of friction.

5. Know what kind of environment you are ventilating

Different systems have different skillsets. If you are ventilating a moist environment, or alternatively if you are ventilating a dry environment, you will need to make sure you find an exhaust fan that is designed to handle that type of environment.

6. Know the consequences of not having adequate exhaust fans

The most important thing to note is that skipping out on an exhaust fan will significantly reduce the air quality in that space. This not only means less comfortable working conditions for your employees, but depending on the particles in the air that need clearing out it could also mean damage to your equipment.

Damages both to people and to equipment can be caused by dangerous substances being left to float in the air and humidity that gets into the lungs or gets into the equipment.

Analyzing the different features on commercial exhaust fans and making decisions based specifically on the work environment being ventilated is important in finding the most suitable unit for you.

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