Comparing Industrial and Commercial Grade Fans - Eldridge

02 Dec.,2024

 

Comparing Industrial and Commercial Grade Fans - Eldridge

Hot summer weather has many industrial facility owners seeking solutions to provide a more comfortable working environment for their employees.  Looking for a quick fix, it may be tempting to buy commercial grade fans from an online supply house.  However, putting commercial grade fans in an industrial application will be more expensive in the long run.  In this blog, I&#;ll be comparing industrial and commercial grade fans so that you will understand why industrial grade fans are a better value.

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General Characteristics

Here are the general characteristics of industrial and commercial grade fans:

Industrial fans

  • Heavy gauge, welded housing construction
  • Solid, cast, aerofoil propeller blades
  • Heavy duty motors
  • Lifecyle is over 10 years

Commercial fans

  • Light gauge, bolted housing construction
  • Pressed and bolted propeller blades
  • Light duty motors
  • Lifecyle is 2-4 years

Comparing Differences

Here is a more detailed explanation of the key differences between industrial and commercial grade fans.

Motors

The biggest difference in the lifecycle time of the two grades of fans is the motor.  Heat greatly reduces the life of an electric motor.  Commercial grade fans use inexpensive motors that aren&#;t rated for high heat.  Because exhaust fans are placed where it is the hottest in a facility, they need to be able to endure a high amount of heat.  Over time, the high heat will cause the motor of a commercial grade fan to fail.  Industrial fans use heavier duty motors that have high heat ratings and thus, will last significantly longer.

Propeller Blades

The second biggest difference between the two grades of fans is the fan blade construction.  Most commercial fans will have pressed metal blades that are riveted to the blade stems.  Over time, the flexing of the blade and vibration will cause the metal to crack around the rivet point.  That will eventually lead to blade failure and a safety hazard due to flying blade parts.  Blades on industrial fans are cast in one piece so there is little risk of failure.  Also, the blade shape of an industrial fan is an aerofoil design which means it can move more air with the same or less motor horsepower.

Housings

Durability of the fan housing is also one of the key differences.  When a fan motor starts, there is severe stress imposed from the motor on the housing.  The heavier gauge material and welded construction of an industrial fan housing makes it better suited to absorb the stress without cracking.  Once a fan housing experiences a stress crack, moisture and vibration will eventually lead to failure.

Conclusion

When comparing industrial and commercial grade fans, the differences between the two fan grades are the durability of the motor, propeller blades and housing.  While the initial investment is more for an industrial grade fan, over the long run you will end up spending more money to replace the commercial fan two or three times compared to the lifecycle of an industrial fan.

Don&#;t go the route of a quick fix when your industrial facility needs more ventilation.  Call one of our ventilation experts at Eldridge and they will recommend one of our stock Eldridge Fans that best fits your application.

How Much Does An Industrial Fan Cost?

They&#;ve probably visited their local hardware store and purchased a ceiling fan or two for their home. Depending on their budget, they likely spent anywhere between $150 and $300 for a fan for their kids&#; bedroom. Maybe they splurged and bought a high-quality fan for upwards of $1,800. 

But when they learn how much industrial ceiling fans cost, they&#;re often surprised. Why do industrial fans cost so much more? Are they worth the investment? 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website Windmax Power.

WHAT FACTORS INFLUENCE THE COST OF AN INDUSTRIAL FAN

Like most other motorized products, numerous factors play a part in determining the cost of an industrial fan. 

SIZE

Industrial fans are bigger&#;WAY bigger&#;than residential fans. A ceiling fan in your home will be three to seven feet (1 to 2 meters) in diameter, but an industrial fan ranges anywhere from 8 feet to 30 feet (2.4 to 9.1 meters) in diameter. That&#;s huge. Aside from using more material, a fan that size also requires additional parts for its operation. 

SAFETY FEATURES

Because of their sheer size and weight, industrial fans require more extensive safety features to ensure they stay in place and hold together during operation. Big Ass Fans manufactures industrial fans with redundant safety features to guarantee safe and secure operation. 

INDUSTRIAL-GRADE PARTS

Industrial environments can be harsh. Factories and warehouse facilities can be extremely hot, dusty, humid, and greasy. To ensure their optimal operation, industrial fans need higher quality, more durable parts than the fan in your bedroom. These &#;industrial-grade&#; parts use materials that are heavy-duty in nature, designed to be nearly indestructible through regular use. 

MOTORS

Rotating massive airfoils for endless hours requires a tough and powerful motor. The motor in your home&#;s ceiling fan would barely cause industrial blades to budge. A bigger, better motor is an absolute necessity for industrial fans, and they&#;re more expensive to make. 

LONGEVITY & DURABILITY

When a company invests in an industrial fan, they should expect it to last for decades. With proper care and service, it&#;s not unreasonable to expect an industrial fan to last a lifetime. Building a heavy-duty fan that can operate for years on end necessitates higher quality parts with a higher price tag. 

SERVICE & SUPPORT

While industrial fans are manufactured to be durable and last a long, long time, they do need to be taken care of. If you want an investment like a car or computer to last as long as possible, you&#;ll get them serviced periodically to ensure they&#;re in prime working condition. The same goes for industrial fans; they&#;ll last longer and operate more efficiently with proper service &#; which costs money. 

WARRANTY

How much a manufacturer promises to cover the repairs and parts of an industrial fan will affect its cost as well. Many makers offer minimal warranties (one or two years), while others such as Big Ass Fans provide warranties up to 15 years. The length of a warranty will also affect the cost of an industrial fan. 

TECHNOLOGY

Industrial warehouse fans come with high-tech features that provide a host of benefits such as programmability, integration with other systems such as HVAC or fire suppression, and monitoring performance. These features add to the cost of an industrial fan. 

CUSTOMIZATION

Residential fans tend to follow a &#;one size fits all&#; approach to their features and functions. But industrial users have more complex requirements to make a fan fit their needs. This demands a more customized approach to manufacturing fans specifically for each buyer, which increases the cost.

OPTIONS

As with many products these days, industrial fans offer a variety of options to meet the specific needs of each buyer. Whether it&#;s security features, add-on features such as airfoil tips, or custom paint, any option will raise the price of an industrial fan. 

WHY INDUSTRIAL FANS COST MORE

An industrial fan costs more than standard fans in much the same way industrial refrigerators cost more than the fridge in your kitchen: they&#;re bigger, more powerful, more technically complex, and are made with industrial-grade parts and materials.

Technically speaking, products are considered &#;industrial&#; when they&#;re used in the manufacture of other products. Companies buy industrial goods because they need them; they&#;re a rational purchase, not an emotional one. 

Industrial fans cost more for all the same reasons. They&#;re an investment in equipment that helps businesses be more efficient and productive. Business managers know that industrial machinery&#;including fans&#;comes with a return on investment. They&#;re worth buying and paying more because of the tangible value they offer over the long term. 

HOW MUCH DOES AN INDUSTRIAL FAN COST YOU?

So, how much does an industrial fan really cost? The range of prices for an industrial fan is $3,000 to $15,000. That&#;s quite a range, and considering all of the factors listed above, it&#;s easy to see how the price can vary. 

The important thing to remember is buying an industrial fan is an investment with valuable benefits. Companies invest in industrial fans for a variety of reasons:

  • To ensure the comfort, safety, and well-being of their employees
  • To boost productivity and accuracy (which positively affects their bottom line)
  • To provide a more energy-efficient option that&#;s more affordable than AC

You can find out exactly how much it would be to invest in an industrial fan by contacting one of our airflow experts. We can provide a complimentary &#;airflow analysis&#; of your building and show you how an industrial fan is worth the investment. 

For more Industrial Large Ceiling Fansinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.