7 considerations before buying a PPV Fan

How to avoid buyer’s remorse

At Ventry Solutions, Inc., we do not make claims about our products that can not be scientifically measured or proven. Unfortunately, we see many other products advertised using words like “highest, greatest, best, safest” because such claims can not be proven.

Even poor performing positive pressure ventilation (PPV) fans last a very long time. Please consider the following points before deciding which fan is best for you. Doing your research before you purchase may save you years of unnecessary hassles and hazards.

VENTRY Fan in use during positive pressure attack fire training, Kootenai Fire

THINGS TO CONSIDER...


Safety.

What will happen if something goes wrong when using a PPV Fan? Decades of experience have taught us that things DO go wrong on-scene, so Ventry® PPV Fans are engineered to be fail-safe. Propeller safety is of utmost importance (see demo video). Most of our customers who cite safety as their primary reason for choosing our fans have already had a close-call with another brand. We encourage everyone to consider safety BEFORE it becomes personal.

CFM.

Question how manufacturers determine their CFM values!

There are many ways of measuring air volume and many variables in the process; at this time, there is no consistency in the industry. We verify our fans’ air volumes using thrust. Newton’s Third Law of Physics provides a reliable way by which anyone can measure relative fan performance. Customers should never rely solely on manufacturers’ CFM values. If at all possible, compare different fans in-person, at the same time, and under the same conditions with a demo or free trial.

Efficiency.

Consider the air volume you get per horse of engine power. Excess horsepower is used to compensate for inefficient propellers. With Ventry Fans, you get more air using lower horsepower motors, saving you weight, size, carbon monoxide, noise and money. (Note this warning about PPV Fan comparison and hp.)

Size and Weight.

Get as large a fan as you can, based on space and personnel. More air is always better than less when it comes to ventilation. If you have the space and manpower, we always recommend going with the largest fan possible; however, it must fit in the truck. Check dimensions and compare similar-sized fans. All Ventry Fans are small enough to be operated by one person and offer the air volume of much larger fans.

The Fan's Value.

Especially when pondering price, consider a fan’s value (what you get for the money!) and prioritize air volume over horsepower.

Specifically, calculate how much the output costs you and ignore the horsepower. Simply divide the fan price by its output (price divided by cubic feet per minute in specs). Air volume is what you need from a ventilation fan, not a big motor! With some manufacturers, higher horsepower does not always directly correlate to higher output.

Long Term Satisfaction and Relationships.

Consider the long-term maintenance costs, service issues, and customer service that will come with the fan you choose! We suggest phoning the manufacturer and seeing if the experience is one you’d want to repeat in case you ever need parts, maintenance, warranty work, advice... Let’s talk!

Even after considering all those things, don't forget to...

Compare fans in-person.

If possible, please compare fans in-person before you buy! Include all-terrain Ventry Fans with the traditional and newest close-to-the-ground brands. Hands-on testing reveals important differences in noise, weight, overall geometry, ease of use, and other qualities.

Call us to arrange a demonstration or free trial. Unable to do your own testing? See results from others’ ppv fan trials.