Ceiling fans can support the HVAC system in your home. In the summer, they push a steady breeze down to make your living space feel cooler than it is. In winter, they draw warm air up to create cozy, comfortable conditions faster than your heater can on its own. However, if your ceiling fans aren’t well-maintained, they might diminish your indoor air quality (IAQ), emit strange sounds and wobble on their mountings. The following are some helpful hints to help you care for them.
Dust Your Ceiling Fans
Over time, ceiling fan blades can develop large visible accumulations of furry, lint-like matter. If your fans fling clumps of debris when you turn them on, it’s time to clean them. Use a soft feather duster or a damp dusting cloth to gently knock off loose debris and wipe the fan blades down.
Avoid putting too much pressure on the blades during this process. Vigorous scrubbing movements and excess force can leave fan blades imbalanced and diminish the fan’s performance.
Many people clean their fan blades with old pillowcases. Simply place a clean pillowcase over each fan blade and then remove it to both loosen debris and collect it.
Reverse the Direction of the Blades’ Rotation
The direction in which fan blades rotate determines whether ceiling fans will push cool air down or draw warm air up. Thus, it’s also important to set your fans for the season. Your ceiling fans should rotate counterclockwise in summer and clockwise in winter.
Professional Ceiling Fan Maintenance
For assured safety, longevity and performance, it’s best to have professionals install your ceiling fans. It’s also best to have them professionally maintained on a routine basis. For some fan models, scheduling this service is essential for ensuring warranty compliance. It also eliminates the need to balance on ladders while holding heavy or sharp tools and tampering with electrical connections.
Check All Electrical Connections
Another important part of ceiling fan maintenance is checking the integrity of all electrical connections. This is a job for a licensed electrician who understands the nuances of the ceiling fan models you own and the age and condition of your home’s electrical system.
How to Know When Your Ceiling Fans Need Maintenance
Dirty, fuzzy-looking fan blades are a sure sign that your fans need professional maintenance. When these components have thick, lint-like buildups of debris, it’s safe to assume that their motors are dirty. Buildups of dirt within fan motors are a fire risk and can cause problems like overheating and short circuits.
Frequent short circuits can also be a sign of wiring problems, even if your fan never exhibited electrical issues before. For instance, if you’re battling a pest infestation in your home, you may have critters behind the scenes that are gnawing on wiring insulation or causing other damage.
The electricians at GVEC can help customers optimize their living spaces by installing and repairing or even providing help with maintaining ceiling fans. We can also install or replace interior and exterior lighting, wiring, EV charging stations, and more. We also sell and install whole-home surge protection, home generators and battery storage options for backup power.
To find out about our latest promotions or schedule service, get in touch with GVEC Electrician Services today.
