Posted 2018-05-25 3:03 PM Subject: Barn Fans in the Summer
Elite Veteran
Posts: 926
We use those small box fans in the barn during the summer. It's been suggested that we replace them each year. We typically blow the dust off at the end of the season and place them in a box or a bag for the winter. Usually we keep them if there is no obvious problem with the cords, or if it's still clean around the motor. Curious what others do, replace each year or keep if in good condition.
Posted 2018-05-25 3:12 PM Subject: RE: Barn Fans in the Summer
Expert
Posts: 1520 Location: Illinois
I get the round open fans, usually at TSC and they last years and years. I pull the grates off each year and spray them down for cleaning. The rest just blow it off with the air compressor, or you can just wipe off the dust with a rag. I have some that are probably 10 years old now, working just fine and the motors have stayed clean. I think the open round ones stay cleaner than box fans and mine oscillate so the horse can still get a breeze even when not standing directly in front of them. I also have ceiling fans in each stall as well mounted to the rafters
Posted 2018-05-26 6:04 AM Subject: RE: Barn Fans in the Summer
Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
JLazyT_perf_horses - 2018-05-25 3:12 PM
I get the round open fans, usually at TSC and they last years and years. I pull the grates off each year and spray them down for cleaning. The rest just blow it off with the air compressor, or you can just wipe off the dust with a rag. I have some that are probably 10 years old now, working just fine and the motors have stayed clean. I think the open round ones stay cleaner than box fans and mine oscillate so the horse can still get a breeze even when not standing directly in front of them. I also have ceiling fans in each stall as well mounted to the rafters
Are the ones from tsc around $80 and 20" ? I almost bought them yesterday but wanted to do a little more research on them first. I've used the cheaper box fans from walmart but I never felt like it put out enough air flow in my barn.
Posted 2018-05-26 5:40 PM Subject: RE: Barn Fans in the Summer
The simple truth is … you can't keep your barn any cooler than the
temperature of the air.
Do NOT use any type of overhead fans that will bring down heat from
the metal roof and can be 140*F to blow on your horses.
Make sure you have good roof peak ventilation to naturally create
hot air movement out the top of the roof or the gable ends of the
barn.
Barns that have peak vents, gable vents or turbines always
have a "cool" feeling due to natural air movement when you step
inside out of the sun.
In race and trainer barns you will see the box fans on each stall which
have a good safety record and low power usage along with one
of the 48" big box fans sitting in the alleyway to move air down the
barn and move "humidity" (peepee or wet alleyway) out of the barn.
The reason most barns do not use the round high velocity fans or oscillating
fans is due to feeding alfalfa and horses do not get leaves or dust blown
into their eyes.
If your barn has poor ventilation above the top of the doors … you can
climb up a ladder or stall front and feel the heat generated by stale air
and the hot roof. The air is trapped and no movement other than at the
top of the doors. The word OVEN comes to mind... lol
Barn Fans in the Summer
