This article discusses if dust affects a fan. Even if you frequently clean the rooms inside your house, they can still get dusty especially if the windows are always open to let fresh air in. Dust can also accumulate in the fans. You might be wondering what happens if your fans are always dusty. Does it affect the efficiency of the fan? Let us discuss the answer below.
Does dust affect a fan? Dust can affect how the fan works. Dust built up on the blades of the fan will also affect its efficiency. It will reduce its speed, the blades will wobble, and there will be a lot of stress on the motor of the fan. Aside from that, dust will also spread in the room as the fan rotates. If there is a lot of build-up on the motor of the fan, it can be dangerous to use.
What causes too much dust on your fans? Why is my ceiling fan getting too dusty? How can dust affect the fan? What happens when there is a lot of dust build-up on the ceiling fan? These are some of the questions that we will discuss. Check out the rest of the article below for more information.
Why is My Ceiling Fan Getting too Dusty?
The ceiling fans get too dusty because as the blades rotate, it accumulates dust. When the blades move, they are charged with static electricity which becomes a magnet for dust. Aside from that, the room can also be the reason why the ceiling fan gets too dusty. This is especially true if the windows are always open and outside dust can easily get in.
Why Do the Blades of My Fan Get Dusty?
The blades of the fan can get dusty because of static electricity. This happens when the fan blades rotate quickly to provide air. When the molecules move, they create an electrical charge on the edges of the fan blades. The electrical charges are the ones that attract dust particles that circulate in the air inside the room. Make sure to clean the blades when you see the dust on the edges otherwise, the dust will continue to accumulate. We have also shared this article titled, why do decorators hate ceiling fans? You can check out the article for more tips and information.
How Does Dust Affect a Fan?
If there is a lot of dust build-up all over the fan, it can lead to various issues such as noisy operation, wobbling, the bad air quality inside the room, and motor damage. Make sure to clean the fan regularly to avoid dust build-up. Let us learn more about how dust can affect a fan below.
It Can Affect the Quality of Air that You Are Breathing
If the fan gets too dusty, it can affect the quality of air that you are breathing. This is because when you turn on the fan and the blades start to spin; dust can flew and gets mixed up in the air. The air will get contaminated which can affect your health. If you have allergies or respiratory illness like asthma, a dusty fan is a big no-no.
It Can Affect the Operation of the Fan
Too much dust build-up can affect how the fan operates. As the dust builds up on the blades, it can get heavy and can cause a lot of stress on the blades and the motor of the fan. As a result, the fan will rotate slower and will not be able to cool the air inside the room. You might also notice noise coming from the fan.
What Happens When there is Too Much Dust Build-Up in a Fan?
If there is too much dust build-up in a fan, it will not work efficiently and will not move air as it should. Moreover, if the fan is covered with dust, it can throw dust particles in the air inside the room. Take note that fans are dust magnets. Make sure to clean them regularly to avoid problems. Too much dust can put a strain on the motor of the bad which can lead to damage. You can also read this article that discusses what room should have a ceiling fan. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
How to Prevent Dust from Accumulating in the Fan?
To prevent dust accumulation in the fans around your home, make sure to wipe them regularly. The cleaning schedule will have to depend on the amount of dust that gets accumulated in the fans. If the fan is prone to dust, wipe it once a week. Do not wait until there is too much dust in the fans before you decide to clean them.
On the other hand, if the cause of dust accumulation in the fan is the room itself, you need to clean the room. Usually, if the windows of the room are always open to let fresh air inside, dust will also get in and this can get stuck on the fan’s blades.
How Do You Properly Clean a Fan?
There are a few steps that you need to do to clean a fan which include pugging it off, preparing it, dusting, and wiping. Cleaning a fan is not that hard depending on the type of fan that you have as well as its location. You can wipe the fan but if there is too much dust, you will need to disassemble it to properly clean the blades. Below are the steps on how to clean a fan.
Step 1: Plug It Off
The first step that you need to do is to plug the fan off. Do not attempt to disassemble or clean the fan when it is plugged in because it is dangerous especially if the blades are made of steel.
Step 2: Prepare the Area
If there is too much dust in the fan, you should take it outside to clean so that the dust will not circulate into the room as you clean it. On the other hand, if you are cleaning a ceiling fan, you need to prepare a broom and vacuum to clean dust and debris that falls off it as you clean.
Step 3: Start Dusting
Once you have taken the fan outside or prepared the area, you need to remove the dust and dirt that covers the fan and the blades. You can use a cloth or a duster to wipe the dust. There are special tools that you can purchase from your local hardware store that are made to specifically remove dust from fans. Otherwise, you can also use an old pillowcase.
Step 3: Wash the Fan
After wiping all the dust from the fan, you need to wash it. Use a cloth or a sponge to do this step. Moist the cloth in water that is mixed with a cleaner and wipes it on the blades and all over the fan. Avoid spraying liquid into the fan because it can accidentally get into the motor. Let it dry before assembling.
✅ Video – How to Clean Dusty Ceiling Fan
Clearing Clutter for Clarity shared the video below on YouTube. It discusses how to clean a dusty ceiling fan. In the video, the process on how to remove dust from the fan is shown. Watch the video for more cleaning tips and information.
Can Too Much Dust on the Fan Affect Your Health?
Too much dust on the fan can affect your health. Take note that when the fan operates, the blades can spread into the room and mix with the air that you breathe. This is dangerous if you have allergies and respiratory illnesses. People who have allergies or asthma are at risk. You can also check out this article that discusses what type of ceiling fan is most efficient. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
When Should You Clean a Fan?
You need to clean the fan when you notice dust build-up on the blades or its casing. This will have to depend on how often the fan is used as well as the amount of dust that it accumulates. It is recommended that you clean the fan at least once a week. If it accumulates dust faster, you may need to clean it every other day or twice a week.
Should You Use Cleaning Chemicals on a Fan?
You can use cleaning chemicals as long as it is mentioned on the label that it is safe to use for fans. On the other hand, do not use toxic chemicals or cleaners on the blades of the fan because it can cause discoloration and can even damage the motor housing. Aside from that, do not use cleaning materials that contain harsh compounds that damage the blades or the casing of the fan.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed if dust affects a fan. We have found out that dust does affect a fan so you need to clean it regularly. Too much dust build-up does not only cause a lot of stress to the motor and blades of the fan, but it will also affect the quality of air that you breathe. Above, we have shared tips on how to clean a fan. Thank you for reading!