If you are serious about horse raising, you should never overlook a stall fan system for your horse barn. The fresh atmosphere is of the utmost essence since horses are among the most sensitive species to the surrounding environment. Mold, fungus, fumes, ammonia can harm to their super delicate respiratory system.
As a result, go ahead and buy the best horse stall fans you can afford.
How to choose the Best Horse Stall Fan?
1. Where is the best location to install barn fans for horses?
2. Hard-wired fans or plug-in fans?
3. Should I position horse stall fans outdoor?
4. Do I have to turn on the fans all day long?
5. How can I maintain the fans?
The MaxxAir HVWM is 18 inches, which is a perfect dimension for nearly all equine barns. It also fits in limited floor space where overhead circulation is needed.
There are three-speed levels for your choice so you can choose the air circulation you want. High at 1150 cubic feet per minute (CFM). Medium at 1100 CFMs. and Low at 1050 CFMs.
OSHA-compliant rust-resistant grilles and powder-coated steel in the construction make sure that this MaxxAir will stand the time with you.
Its PSC motor is 100% enclosed and dustproof. Your safety and your horses’ safety are totally guaranteed.
Compatible to the standard 120V outlet.
Another 18-inch horse stall fan I want to introduce to you is the Air King 9318.
The fan blades are super powerful with 3 level setting. The highest is 3190 (CFM) while the lowest is 2660.
The structure of Air King 9318 has gone through and successfully passed the test in compliance with the AMCA standard.
It means fully sealed motors for quiet operation and little to no maintenance for high-velocity air circulation in long-term use.
One more highlight of Air King 9318 is how fast it is to install. Thanks to a pivoting head, the fans are able to work at the full capacity no matter where you set them up.
Air King also gives this model a 1-year warranty against any material and workmanship defect. So the fan performance is totally trustworthy.
A more powerful version of Air King 9318 is the model 9020.
This model is a bit bigger than the former. It is a 20-inch fan with the maximum capacity up to 3670 CFM.
An amazing number, isn’t it?
The design of the Air King is also super minimal. It is just a fan with a racket to be able to mount against a wall. You will neither be able to convert it into a floor fan nor can you mount it to the ceiling.
However, the majority of horse stall fans are on a wall. Thus, unless you have new ideas for the location of the air circulating system, Air King 9020 is still a great choice.
You have ETL and OSHA compliant, quality proved by AMCA standard and warranty in 1 year.
A larger size fan for horse stalls is the Lasko 2265QM, which is about 20 inches.
This is a versatile model that you can use as a floor fan and a wall fan also. There is a QuickMount, which you can imagine as a multi-functional handle, to turn a wall mounted high-velocity air circulator into a floor use and vice versa.
This built-in handle also enables you to carry the fans wherever you want without any inconvenience.
All the blades, the cage, the versatile handle are strong, heavy-duty metal. The Lasko 2265QM is built to stand the time and will long live with you and your horse stalls.
Finally, I have the most shining star among horse stall fans I have used, the NewAir WindPro 18W.
Still a wonderful size at 18 inches, compatible with the normal 120V outlet. What really makes a difference is the high capacity. NewAir WindPro 18W can speed up to 3000 CFM, making it one of the highest velocity industrial grade fan.
You just have to pay half of the Air King to get the same power. Isn’t it fantastic?
Furthermore, the motor of NewAir fans is a dual ball bearing. It means that the durability is upgraded and the fans are far more energy-efficient. The dual ball bearing decreases friction while providing intense air flow.
I highly value this NewAir model in terms of safety. Though the structure looks slim and somewhat vulnerable, it is actually sturdy and perfectly balanced.
The tilt is adjustable so you can have air blown exactly where you want just by loosening the knob.
Indeed, it is commonly mistaken that all stall fans are appropriate for barn use.
So here are some features you should look into carefully to find the best horse stall fan.
Box fans are the most common kind of horse fans you can find in the market.
It is cheap. It is sold literally everywhere. It is also easy to install.
Box fans are manufacture for use in the residential area, not in a dusty horse barn.
Usually, box fans come with unsealed motors. So be careful if you intend to grab a cheap box fan in a nearby electronics store for your equine barn.
Another typical kind of horse fans available in the market is ceiling fans. It basically looks like the normal ceiling fans you have in your living rooms.
However, never install a residential ceiling fan in equine barns.
Fans for family use can’t stand the extensive use in the horse stalls, and they will soon fall apart.
One thing I don’t like about ceiling fans is that it will be quite complicated to set up. How you run your electric wires is a crucial and also controversial issue when you install a ceiling fan.
They are very powerful in making wind within your equine barn, yet not creating coldness to your lovely horses.
This kind of horse stall fans seems to be a perfect combination of the other two above.
It is safe and quite simple for you to set up. Just position a wall-mounted basket fan strategically in the horse barn, you can have the most airflow, keep your equine from insects.
The price range for this model is quite large. So I am sure that you can at least get some wall-mounted basket fans on your budget.
If the motor of the fan is not enclosed, dust, water, anything will easily get into it, which decreases the efficiency and the worst thing can be an accident.
Therefore, you have to choose the fan that has its motor sealed.
You can find this information on the label of the fan. If you can’t find the label, look at the back of the fan.
Do you see the copper wires in the motor?
If yes, it is not enclosed. And don’t waste your money on it.
If you buy cheap fans, it is highly likely that they will wear out in several months and rebuying them is certainly not economical.
How to know the fans will be long-lived?
According to my experience, you should trust the commercial quality. I find that those fans that are designed for commercial purposes tend to be more sturdy.
If the airflow rating is too high, the working fans will lead to too much dust and make your horse cold. On the other hand, the low airflow rating does not seemingly do anything.
The ultimate figure for a fan is about 2,000 cubic feet per minute (CFM).
A fan of this size brings about a refreshing atmosphere without decreasing the temperature.
To prevent any unworthy problem, the stall fans should have some kind of protector in case of overheating.
In my opinion, a thermal overload protector is also necessary. When the thermal system reaches above a certain temperature, the protector will turn off the fan. After cooling down, it switches on the fan again.
In addition to a thermal overload protector, you can buy stall fans with a fuse.
One more option for you is to install a ground-fault circuit interrupter. It will support the whole fan system.
From my perspective, the best place in your horse barn to set up fans is the stall front. There, you can mount your fans upright, it will blow horizontally, which creates most airflow.
If you can’t position the fans in the stall front due to the structure of the barn, place them along the wall or in the corner.
Keep in mind that it must be out of the horse’s reach.
Plug-in fans are normally less safe than hard-wired ones. The more cords the fans have, the less secure they are.
Furthermore, fans that have plug-in require much thought to find a suitable place for installation.
That’s why my recommendation is hard-wired fans.
If the barn fans can be used outdoor, there must be a statement in the label. You should check it first. Terms such as “waterproof”, “sealed/ enclosed motor” are often used for outdoor use.
Notwithstanding, the environment outside the horse stalls is harsh and you will have to spend more money on maintenance. As a result, it’s better to place the air circulating system inside.
Of course not. It will be a waste of electricity if you keep the fans working all days and nights, let alone it can cause coldness to your horses or lead to overheating troubles.
An average of 8 hours per day is enough to have fresh air in the horse stalls.
There are some basic things you can do to increase the lifespan of your horse stall fans.
The blade cage is often easy to open so you can clean the blades regularly. Horse barns are dusty so the blades really need a well clean-up.
You should also give oil to the motor to prevent lousy noise when the high capacity fans are working. However, this is a bit more complex because the motor is sealed or enclosed. Remember not to lose any screw.
Having skimmed through my top 5 best horse stall and barn fans, you must have made your own decision on your best model for your equine barn.
In my case, I always put my trust in NewAir WindPro 18W.
It has everything a barn fan should have at a very reasonable price. Perfect size. Strong enough power. Extreme security and sturdiness.