Steam Exhaust Maintenance
The most likely reason for your steam fan to squeal is due to loose belts or bearings in the fan losing the grease necessary to assure it runs smoothly.
Most stack fans have an aluminum bearing inside the stack fan. In order to replace this assembly with bearings with high temperature grease inside you follow these steps:
- Raise the stack extending from the fan housing and move it to one side or further up to expose the fan blade and bearing housing.
- Loosen or slide the fan belt off of the pulleys.
- Loosen and remove the four bolts holding the bearing housing in place.
- Remove the fan, the bearing assembly and the pulley out of the stack fan housing
- Replace the bearing assembly with a new one, which can be purchased directly from Midbrook.
- Re-install the fan pulleys in the same original location and tighten the screws.
- Check fan blade itself for wear or nicks in blade fin.
- Always replace fan with a stainless steel blade.
- When installing fan blade, use some anti-seize on the shaft to help in future replacement.
- Install the fan in same location as the original was and tighten the setscrews.
- Use silicone and a new rubber gasket at the connection of the stack fan and the stack.
Belts
When belts become loose or worn out they need to be replaced. These can be ordered from Midbrook. To tighten loose belts
- Loosen motor mounting bolts
- Back motor out with adjusters until the belt is tight with minimal depression between the belt.
- Do not over tighten!
- Check to assure the belt runs true on the fan pulley and the motor pulley
To change the worn out belts, follow the same directions as above.