How do you keep your barn fans clean? I’m finally having fans put in each horse’s stall (yes, enclosed motor, the fan that hundreds of horse people recommended) and can’t figure out how to keep them clean. I have a four-stall wood barn where each stall opens to a large paddock. I use mini-flake pine bedding (produces a layer of dust just by existing). I throw large towels over the floor fans when they aren’t being used but what do you do with ones up high? Thanks for any tips.
Unfortunately the only way I know of is regular vacuuming with a soft brush attachment. I have tried a soft dust mop on a long poll but that produces fall out that you have to wear mask and goggles for.
I use the air compressor to blow dust off any portable fans, motors, does a nice job, easy to do often. Probably a portable compressor with long hose, could do the dusty upper fans. But at some point you have to rub off dirt. Blowing off the blades finally just does not remove sticky dirt. I have washed blades, screens, with Dawn to cut the greasy buildup, then rinse clean. I have no idea where the “sticky” comes from, but it is always on a fan you use.
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I spray mine off with the hose.
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The fan I bought says you can do that but I wondered … Hard to do with wood walls, however.
This is what I do, and it’s part of the reason that I don’t permanently attach the fan to the wall, but instead hang it from a heavy-duty hook on the door. I blast it off with the hose about once a month, and let dry in the sun. At the end of the season I scrub it down with soap.
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I have wood walls and this hasn’t caused a problem. I have power washed the walls at times as well. Just do it on a dry day and turn your fans on afterwards so that the barn dries out. Honestly, I can’t see any other way to get the fan clean - they get pretty dusty and dirty.
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Yep, we hose off our (permanently mounted) fans as well and everything dries out just fine. We also have wood walls.
I use a leaf blower turned on high for monthly cleanings during use. Out of season, I take them down and brush them and give a good cleaning with the shop vac.
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During the summer, we use a leaf blower on our enclosed motor fans. At the end of the fall, we take the fans down, hose them off (we have confirmed with the manufacturer this is okay to do), cover with plastic and store until spring.
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Thanks for the tips!
So which fan is the one recommended by hundreds? I am looking at getting new fans here.
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I got this one from Valley Vet but I think it’s offered many places. jdmfg is the manufacturer. There’s a GREAT facebook page called Ingenious Tips for Horsepeople and if you go into that, put “fans” into search, you’ll get all sorts of links and tips.
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Thank you.
I just put up a Durafan, like the one here: https://www.qcsupply.com/durafan-hig…ontent=Durafan
It seems to be doing a nice job.
Nuclear leaf blower.
Thank you.
