Get your fans ready for harvest

Regular inspection, maintenance and testing of your fans will help them stay in good working condition and ensure they are ready when needed, including during the fast-paced harvest season. Here are some tips for fan maintenance before use, after use and as required.

Before each use:

• Inspect fans for:

  • Foreign objects that can obstruct the airflow of the fan, cause damage to the fan components or create build-up of debris within the air ducts or in the plenum under the bin floor.

  • Loose guarding or mounting hardware that can lead to excess noise and vibration, wear on the motor bearings and can potentially lead to other damage or unsafe operation.

  • Free rotation of the fan impeller and motor. Resistance in rotating the impeller can be a sign of motor bearing damage or some other obstruction.

  • Signs of rodents nesting inside the motor housing or the rear cooling blades and inside the fan control box. Rodents can enter through the tiniest of spaces and chew through wires or cause obstructions with their nesting.

  • Signs of excess vibration such as wear on rotating parts or stress cracks on the fan housing, motor mount or on the air ducts. Excess vibration can be caused by loose mounting hardware of the fan or fan motor, a fan impeller that has gone out of balance or an improperly supported fan. Refer to the fan manual for mounting hardware torque specs and fan support recommendations.

  • Signs of damage or wear to the power supply lines leading to the fan.

• Test the operation of the fan as early as possible before it is needed to allow time to correct any potential issues. Ensure there is at least 2 feet of grain in the bin before testing to prevent potential lifting of the floor and misalignment or knocking over of the floor supports.

After each use:

• Check again for the above issues. It is always better to catch and correct potential issues before the fan is needed again for operation.

• Cover the fan inlet between each use to prevent rain, snow or other debris from entering the fan or air duct. Covering the inlet also prevents free spinning of the fan impeller which can lead to premature wear on the motor bearings or centrifugal switches.

• When shutting down the fan for extended periods, cover the entire fan with a tarp or other cover to keep out foreign material and protect it from weather conditions.

As required:

• Check the fan impeller for build-up of dirt or debris that may result in imbalance of the impeller and vibration issues. The impeller can be cleaned with a pressure washer or hose, although the fan may need to be disconnected from the air ducts to allow run off of water and debris.

• Check all electrical connections for tightness as these connections may become loose over time.

• Replace or repair worn or defective parts as needed.

• Always ensure the fan is locked out and isolated from any power sources before servicing the unit.

AGI Aeration

If you need some new fans for harvest, consider AGI aeration equipment. AGI fans and heaters are designed to efficiently manage airflow inside the bin to maintain your grain quality. Our complete lineup of fans includes high speed centrifugal (3 to 40 HP), low speed centrifugal (5 to 50 HP) and in-line centrifugal (3 to 15 HP).

Learn more about AGI Aeration

Warranty

AGI fans come with a three-year limited warranty and a one-year full replacement policy.

Troubleshooting resources

Our product experts are available to help you troubleshoot and resolve issues as quickly as possible. Call us at 1-800-565-2840. 

You can also find troubleshooting resources in our product manuals, AGI fan service manual and on our YouTube channel - Fans & Heaters