How does dust collect on a running fan?

January 19th, 2009 | by DistanceRunner |
NSnoekums asked:


Our thermostat in our house is in our kitchen/diningroom. We spend alot of time in this area. Because of the lights, this area heats up and causes the thermostat to register warmer than what it should, making the furnace not run. The rest of the house ends up being realllllllly cold.

We keep a fan running, all the time, in this area because it helps the air flow and helps the thermostat not to “warm-up”. Every month or so I turn off the fan and the fan is full of dust. I keep my house dusted, but the fan is caked with it. Yuck! Why is this?

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  1. 9 Responses to “How does dust collect on a running fan?”

  2. By simpsons_freak88_2 on Jan 19, 2009 | Reply

    i’ve wondered the same thing. my guess is that when it ***** all the air through it gets all the dust with it and that just sticks right to the fan blades.

  3. By ? Q&A Guy ? on Jan 19, 2009 | Reply

    It “runs into it”. Dust is small enough to float in the air and tragicly it gets whammyed by the fan!

  4. By MT C on Jan 22, 2009 | Reply

    There is a lot of air coming in contact with the fan blades and hence a lot of dust. Additionally, static builds up on the fan blade due to the air movement over it and that attracts the dust to the blade. Once the dust is attached to the fan, it creates a rough surface which makes it easier for more dust to attach.

  5. By GreyFox on Jan 23, 2009 | Reply

    the leading edge of the fan is always pushing on the air, and…like your antenna on the highway catching a plastic bag, things will stick to it BECAUSE it is moving fast towards them. The rest of the dust sticks to that first bit of dust for one reason or another…often static, but also because anything can be in the air, even grease. (have you ever smelled frying oil in the air?) moisture, grease, and dust accumulate.

    Think also of a moving car and bugs. teh front of the car, even the angled parts, accumulate bugs because they stick when they hit. Some dust is like that, too.

    Feel the dust….doesn’t it feel a bit greasy…a bit damp on the part that is RIGHT on the fan (not the outer part of it)

  6. By monkeymomma46 on Jan 26, 2009 | Reply

    Becuase you can’t STOP DUST from Settling ! Just because the fan is always running doesn’t mean Dust can’t fall on it ! Dust gets everywhere ! Fans really get dusty alot and have to be cleaned often i know ! It’s because Fans are always moving the air and causing the dust to stir up ! becuase that is what fans do they stir up the dust ! It causes the dust to fly around your house and if your allergic to Dust Don’t use a FAN !!

  7. By survivor on Jan 28, 2009 | Reply

    Maybe there is a little grease coming off what you cook, along with steam which helps the dirt to stick.

  8. By intrepid on Jan 30, 2009 | Reply

    If possible, close the ceiling vent(s) closest to the thermostat. This will keep the heated air from adding to the temperature build-up of the lighting. Also, I have the same problem with dust build-up on fans.

    With or without the A/C on (I live in central Florida) the fan gets very dusty. It is inevitable. Fortunately, the fans I buy are easily disassembled for cleaning. Rinse the blades thoroughly with clean water to avoid leaving a residue that would attract dust.

  9. By lynno on Feb 2, 2009 | Reply

    dust gets any where and every where.it shreds off our bodies and in the air. i used to hoover my carpets three times a week,when i got laminate floors down. i was amazed how dust land on the floor every day,i put my swiffer over every day now and you should see the dust,and we have no pets and only two of us in the house.

  10. By rob on Feb 4, 2009 | Reply

    A rolling stone gathers no moss. Unfortunately A spinning fan collects everything.

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