Reopening Guidance for Hospitality

Fans, motors and drives may have become heavily contaminated, especially if oil or grease has leaked, and allowed to solidify due to non-use. Impellers may have heavy deposits on the blades. Fans must be kept clean and dust-free for optimum use, and to avoid burning out of the fan motor. The windings of a motor are closely wrapped and separated only by a thin layer of insulating lacquer. This lacquer can deteriorate due to age, weather changes and heat. The insulation generally lasts a lifetime but can lose its properties more quickly if there is a lot of grease, dirt and dust.

Kitchen extract fans generally operate under increased strain and are therefore particularly prone to burn-out due to the heat, grease-laden and oily environment they operate within. The likelihood of this occurrence increases with age. This is more prevalent if there is a significant build-up of heat modified oil, due to a lack of regular cleaning. A clean motor will dissipate heat more effectively than a dirty motor, therefore lasting longer. Regular cleaning also prevents imbalance which leads to increased vibration.