Antler Pump & Motor Corporation

571 Timpson Place Bronx, NY 10455

Phone: 212-534-2500

Contact us on email!

Published on
January 3rd, 2023

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.


Article from

Our Privacy Policy

Antler Pump & Motor Corporation (the “Company”) strives to ensure the highest standards for property listings and customer information privacy. Please review the following statement to learn about our company practices and policies. Please be aware that our Privacy Policy is subject to change at any time.

1. Purpose.

This Privacy Policy (“the Policy”) provides information on how the Company uses your personal information. By agreeing to the Policy, you agree to our collection and use of your personal information as described in the Policy. This Privacy Policy is effective for all new users of Sanitaryplumbing.com.

2. Personal Information.

You can browse some areas of Antler.nyc (“the Website”) without being a registered user. However, certain activities do require registration. (You consent to the transfer and storage of your information by registering with Antler.nyc). We may collect and store the following personal information:

  • Name, email, address, telephone number, and (depending on the service used), move-in dates;
  • Transactional information (such as lease terms, lease parties);
  • Computer sign-on data, statistics on page views, and traffic to and from the Website; and
  • Other information, including IP address and other web log information.

3. Use of Information.

Our primary purpose in collecting personal information is to provide you with a safe and user-friendly experience. For example, the Company may use your personal information to:

  • Improve our services and the Website’s content and layout;
  • Provide the services and necessary customer support you request;
  • Resolve disputes, collect fees, and troubleshoot problems;
  • Track and record customer satisfaction with our services;
  • Protect the Company against error and fraud;
  • Inform you of special promotions and announcements;
  • Enforce our agreements, terms, conditions, and policies; and
  • As otherwise described to you at the time of collection.

We may occasionally ask you to complete optional surveys. These surveys are used to improve and customize your experience with Sanitaryplumbing.com.

The Company always provides you the ability to opt-out of further communication such as promotions and surveys; see the Opt-Out section below.

The Company does not share any of your personal information with outside organizations, companies, individuals, etc. The only exception to this standard is if such a disclosure is reasonably necessary to respond to any and all legal processes.

4. Links to Other Sites.

The Website may have links to other websites that may collect personally identifiable information about you. The Company is not responsible for the privacy practices of the content of those linked websites.

5. Safety & Security Precautions.

The Website has strict security measures in place to protect you and your information from fraud. Once your information is provided to Antler Pump & Motor Corporation, we strive to ensure the confidentiality of your identity and information.

6. Opt-Out.

The Company provides you with the opportunity to opt-out of receiving promotional and other non-essential, marketing-related communications from Antler Pump & Motor Corporation. If you would like to opt-out of these select communications, please see any of the Company’s email communications and follow the directions indicated.

7. Account Protection.

Your password ensures the security of your account. When choosing a password, the Company suggests using various characters. It is highly recommended that you do not disclose your Sanitaryplumbing.com password to anyone. (If you do disclose your password or your personal information with others, you are responsible for all actions taken in the name of your account.) If the security of your password is compromised for any reason, please contact the Company immediately.

8. Accuracy of Information

The Company does not guarantee the accuracy of information for any and all of its properties on the Website, and is not responsible for any errors or misrepresentations (made by Renters, the Client, or otherwise).

9. Cookies

The Company may place a small cookie on your computer’s hard drive. This allows us to personalize your use on the Website. In order to maximize the functionality and usability of the Website, you must set your browser’s preferences to allow both permanent and temporary cookies.

10. Changing Your Personal Information.

Should your personal information change, please immediately update your information on the Website. This will ensure the accuracy of our records. The Company does retain personal information from closed accounts in order to comply with law and collect and disburse any fees owed.

11. Third Parties

This Privacy Policy addresses only the use of information we collect from you. Since Antler.nyc does not control the privacy policies of third parties, you are subject to the privacy policies of those third parties. It is advisable that you consult with the management of third parties before you disclose your personal information to others.

12. General

We may amend this Privacy Policy at any time by posting the amended terms on the Website. All amended terms are immediately effective after they are initially posted on the Website.

13. Privacy Policy Questions & Concerns

Questions and/or concerns regarding the Policy should be emailed to the following email address: info@antler.nyc.