Proper maintenance of ventilation equipment plays a critical role in maintaining the health, comfort, and productivity of pigs in modern swine barns.
According to Nat Stas, Technical Services Director with PIC North America, ventilation systems are responsible for ensuring pigs have sufficient oxygen while maintaining stable humidity levels inside the barn. Ideally, relative humidity should remain between 50 and 65 percent to support pig performance and overall barn conditions.
Stas stresses that keeping ventilation systems clean and fully functional is essential to achieving those goals.
“We need to make sure we keep our equipment clean and functioning,” said Stas. “That includes replacing fan motors or belts when necessary and ensuring fresh air can properly enter the barn, whether through gable openings, soffits, curtains, or other inlet systems.”
Over time, wear and tear on barns can create gaps or structural issues that disrupt proper airflow. Missing fan louvers, poorly sealed doors, or other openings can cause air leaks that interfere with the designed ventilation pattern.
“If you see daylight where you shouldn’t see daylight, that’s a sign you need to seal it,” Stas explained. “Missing door seals, gaps in the structure, or damaged components can rob the air that’s supposed to be entering through the inlets.”
Routine maintenance tasks such as cleaning fans, sealing gaps, greasing moving components, and replacing worn equipment are essential to maintaining proper ventilation performance.
Stas also notes that troubleshooting ventilation issues often requires evaluating multiple factors.
“Just because you fix one item doesn’t mean another issue isn’t contributing to the problem,” he said. “There may be several steps involved in identifying whether the issue is related to fans, air infiltration, or inlet performance.”
PIC provides troubleshooting guides that walk producers through identifying potential ventilation issues and maintaining optimal airflow in the barn.
Producers looking for additional guidance can visit PIC.com, navigate to the Resources section, and search for ventilation-related materials.
