The birds are chirping, its staying light a little longer, the temperature is climbing…. It can only mean one thing – Spring is here! Spring marks the traditional time of the year to open the windows, air out the house and take care of those once a year spring cleaning projects. Most people have their standard checklists that probably include items such as cleaning windows, gutters and other items around the house that couldn’t be done during the winter months.
Those are all great and need to be done, but there are a few other things around the house that could use a little attention. When is the last time you did any maintenance to your ventilation systems? Your exhaust fans provide a crucial function to the indoor air quality (IAQ) of your home. That is why it is important to keep them running properly. Here are a few tips to consider:
- Clean your fans. ALWAYS FOLLOW THE MANUFACTURERS RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CLEANING AND TURN OFF THE POWER TO THE UNIT BEFORE STARTING. Most exhausts fans have grills that can be removed and washed with soap and water (as long as there are no electronics in the grill). The interior of the fan can either be wiped with a dry cloth or vacuumed. You might be a little surprised how much dust and dirt can build up in your fan. The good news is that means the fan is working. All that dust is going up into the fan instead of being breathed in by you.
- Actually make sure your exhaust fans are working. Do a walk-through of your home and make sure the fans are operation correctly. Do they turn on? Are they making loud noises? Does it seem to be moving air?
- Is anything stuck in your ductwork? Inspect the wall or roof cap where the air is exhausted out of the home for build up of dirt, debris, bird’s nests or anything else that would cause the air not to flow freely. Always use caution and take the proper safety steps when using a ladder or when up on a roof.
- For range hoods, make sure the grease filters are clean and in good repair. This should actually be done 3 or 4 times a year. If you haven’t been doing it, now is a great time to start that cleaning schedule.
For more information about spring cleaning, maintaining and troubleshooting your exhaust fans and range hoods visit the FAQ section of this site.
May 1, 2017
