How Long Do Commercial Rooftop Exhaust Fans Last? Extend Their Lifespan with These Tips

Your commercial rooftop exhaust fan is vital for the health of those in your condo or co-op property. Without proper ventilation, building occupants could be exposed to poor-quality air, germs, and unpleasant odors. Here’s what you need to know about rooftop exhaust fans, so you can keep yours going as long as possible to safeguard the health and well-being of residents.

How Long Does a Commercial Rooftop Exhaust Fan Last?

It depends on care

A commercial rooftop exhaust fan can last for approximately 15 or even 20 years under the right circumstances. However, as you can probably imagine, equipment sitting at the top of New York City multi-residential buildings takes a real beating. The care you give your exhaust fans and other rooftop equipment has a huge impact on their lifespan. Without proper maintenance and recognition that something is wrong, an expensive rooftop exhaust fan may only last five years or less.

Signs Your Rooftop Exhaust Fan Is Malfunctioning

What to watch out for

If your commercial rooftop exhaust fan is on the fritz or about to fail, you may not even have to make a trip up to the roof to find out. While directly observing the fan not running or hearing unusual sounds emanating from it are clear signs of a problem, there are other warnings inside the building too:

Residents complaining about stale air, excess humidity, etc.
Disagreeable odors, such as strong foods or cigarette smoke, in public spaces like hallways, lobbies, and stairwells
Growth of mold or mildew
Peeling wallpaper or paint
Higher rates of allergies, asthma, and airborne illnesses
Carbon monoxide detectors triggered
High radon readings
Difficulty selling or renting units due to air quality and smells
Occupants opening their windows, even in winter, to get fresh air
Air quality is better on upper floors of tall buildings as compared to lower ones

You might also see lights flickering or circuit breakers flipping if your exhaust system has an electrical issue, depending on your wiring.

If you do head to the roof, you might notice the following:

Fan is loose or not mounted properly
Fan blades or cover clogged with leaves or blown trash
Worn or disconnected wires
Loud vibrations or screeching coming from the fan when it’s on
Rust or other buildup preventing proper fan movement
Fan is only working intermittently, not necessarily when it should

Tips to Extend the Life of Your Commercial Rooftop Exhaust Fan

Keep fans free of debris

One of the best things you can do to hang on to your commercial rooftop exhaust fan longer is to regularly remove any items that block the path of air, including:

Leaves, especially in autumn
Twigs and plant matter after storms
Trash and debris blown on the air
Animal nests
Snow and ice (see more below)

Ideally, you want your staff to be in the habit of checking the rooftop equipment after every major storm and after the last of the leaves have fallen in October or November. Checking again at the start of spring is a wise plan.

Remove encroaching snow and ice

In winter, snow and ice are the prime enemies of rooftop ventilation equipment. After storms or heavy cycles of melting and freezing, someone should check your exhaust fans to ensure they’re not covered. You will likely have to do some shoveling on the roof to keep a path to any exhaust fans clear in case you need to repair them and remove precipitation that prevents proper airflow.

Keeping your fans free of snow and ice will also help minimize rust, which shortens the lifespan of outdoor machinery. If you’re close to salt water, you’ll also want to guard against the destructive force of salty air. Our experts at Antler Pumps would be happy to talk to you about the best exhaust fan materials, such as galvanized or treated metals, to resist salt air corrosion. Extra cleaning and maintenance checks are also wise in this scenario.

Erect barriers around fans

One way you can minimize exhaust fan damage from drifting snow and blowing debris is to install protective barriers. These fences are specially designed for rooftop equipment and offer multiple benefits:

Reduced exposure to precipitation and wind
Screening from plant matter and blown detritus
Blockage against larger animals (be aware that small rodents can fit through very small cracks, though, which may require fine wire mesh)
Separation of equipment areas from occupant rooftop gardens and terraces

Rooftop equipment screens today have a variety of features that make them attractive for users. Many can be installed without having to penetrate the roof. They use coatings to resist mold, rust, corrosion, and UV degradation. The panels are made to meet building codes, and top models slide open for easy access.

Schedule regular rooftop exhaust fan maintenance

As much as we recommend following all the steps above, nothing takes the place of professional exhaust fan maintenance. At least once per year — more if your fan is older or has had problems — experts like the team at Antler Pumps should give your commercial rooftop exhaust fans a once-over to check for problems, provide cleaning, and repair small damage. We can also perform more serious repairs in our shop, as well as select and install new fans should yours need replacement.

Is your rooftop equipment overdue for a maintenance visit? Don’t wait until you have an exhaust fan failure this winter, which can make repairs more challenging. Call Antler Pumps today at 212-534-2500 for an appointment.