Ceiling fans, like any electrical device, do require the right care and maintenance procedures. If you tend these appliances well, they will last for a long time and will provide you good service every time.
Fan Maintenance: Do Ceiling Fans Need To Be Oiled?
Excellent maintenance will also help prevent costly repairs and replacements. Do ceiling fans need to be oiled though? As a fact, it is an important maintenance procedure that you need to perform on the device from time to time.
The ceiling fan is an excellent investment for your home or your workplace and it makes the environment around it more pleasant to move about or work.
If you want to have a unit that will last for a while, you have to make sure that it gets the proper tending it deserves to avoid having to remove your ceiling fan. The oiling procedure for fans is pretty simple and it will further extend the service of the unit. However, you have to keep in mind that various kinds of fans do need different means of maintenance steps.
Cast iron
For cast iron fans, they require lubrication done once or twice annually.
Stack-motor
A stack motor fan needs to undergo oil checks once annually. To take away and prevent dust accumulation on the flywheel, the component has to be cleaned occasionally.
Direct drive
Oil checks have to be performed on a direct drive fan once annually. The motor needs cleanup once every year as well.
Belt-driven
The belt-driven kind requires periodic cleanups and functionality inspection once or twice every year.
Friction drive
The friction drive type ceiling fan requires intermittent motor and flywheel cleanup and maintenance done twice every year.
If you have a vintage cast iron fan that is manufactured between the 1880s up to the 50s, then it makes use of the requisite heavyweight oil drum that was the norm in the fan industry at that particular time. Give it the matching maintenance procedures that it requires and it will maintain its integrity.
The Procedure
Before lubricating the ceiling fan, you need a few items needed for the procedure. You will need a de-greasing lube spray, 1-2 oz. of motor oil, preferably non-detergent, a clean cloth or rag for wiping down the item, and a ladder. Guarantee that the ceiling fan is turned off and has stopped completely.
Position the ladder underneath the unit and climb up till you are facing eye level with the ceiling fan. From here on in, you should find the motor’s oiling cavity then place the de-greasing lubricant spray’s straw into the cavity.
Spray the component generously with the lube. This will help clean and grease the internal components of the motor and prepare it for the lubricating procedure. To make sure that the oil will seep in on the parts efficiently, leave it alone for a good 1-2 hours.
After immersing the oil cavity with the de-greaser, it is time to lubricate the fan. Take away the cap from the oil tubing and position its tip within the oiling cavity.
Drain the contents of the oil tubing into the reservoir until it seems full. Rotate the fan by manual means by pushing one of the blades and let it rotate for a number of turns. Inspect the reservoir once more and take note if it displays any empty space. If it still has room, add the oil tube’s residual contents.
If the part overflows with the oil, wipe the excesses away with the cloth or rag. The ceiling fan should be able to operate quietly and effectively as soon as it is switched back on.
Based on the ceiling fan size and the frequency of use, different degrees of oil thickness might have a significant impact in terms of application.
Motor oils that have lower thickness are recommended more for smaller ceiling fans for home use. For bigger, industrial-grade fans, it will work best with higher volumes of motor oil that present a viscosity of 15 or higher.
Can You Use WD-40 On A Ceiling Fan?
While WD-40 is known for it’s ability to loosen things and make them run smoother, it’s not advisable to spray WD-40 on your ceiling fan. WD-40 is actually a solvent and rust dissolver, therefore does not provide lubrication like you need for your ceiling fan.
If you were to use it on your ceiling fan, it may help initially, but it will quickly dry up and make the initial problem even worse, so it’s best to avoid for your fan.
So do ceiling fans need to be oiled?
As said in this article, they require proper maintenance. Excellent maintenance procedures are essential for long-standing ceiling fans. Cleaning your fan and lubricating the motor and occasional oil changes will do the device plenty of good.
There are different kinds of ceiling fans hence they also need alternate methods of maintenance. The items needed for such upkeep are often affordable and accessible so consumers won’t be hassled with the steps involved in tending such devices.
It’s important to maintain your ceiling fan to prevent overheating and in very extreme cases prevent a ceiling fan from catching fire.