Blowers Continued…

Most contain air filters so that any floating particles like dirt and dust will not be continuously blown around. Many models also convert to a vacuum which make it a very handy multi-purpose tool. The hand held blowers can be efficient and fun to use, however, there are a few downsides. Like with any power tool, the noise levels and pollution they create can be a problem, since most run on gasoline, much like a lawn mower does.

Ventilation and air quality

Have you ever been inside a room or building where window ventilation is impossible and felt as though the air is stale and heavy. Blowers are also used in some homes and many commercial buildings as a means to filter and circulate the air. They are often used in place of air conditioning, which can be expensive and less economical or environmental. Blowers remove the musty, stale air from a building or room and bring in fresh outside air.

Blowers can be installed on a roof, inside ducts or on walls. When buying an industrial blower there are a few things to take into consideration. First figure out what size the area to be ventilated is going to be. This will help determine what size blower you need. Measurements are taken in Cubic Feet per Minute (cfp). Static resistance refers to the total resistance to incoming air form the ducts and other areas. In other words, how hard will it be to move the air around the physical building or through the ventilation area? These measurements are best taken professionally by a contractor or manufacturer.

The Air Movement and Control Association have rated blowers into three different classifications. The higher the class number the greater the performance and the higher the price. Besides the performance and price you may want to consider the material your blower will be made out of. Blowers can be either metal or plastic, as many products today are. The main long term benefit to plastic blowers is that they will not corrode and will last longer. Whereas metal blowers, like other metal machines, have the ability to corrode over time in places where the metal has been damaged or weakened.

By Jeanne Rongitsch