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-   -   Securing Lanai Fan in Anticipation of a Hurricane (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-new-members-forum-115/securing-lanai-fan-anticipation-hurricane-359820/)

Kzeus 07-04-2025 08:00 PM

Securing Lanai Fan in Anticipation of a Hurricane
 
We’re new to Florida/The Villages & have a pool area including a covered lanai. The section above the pool is screened & the adjacent seating area is covered by a solid roof. All sides surrounding the lanai & pool are enclosed by screens.

Our concern is with the 4 large ceiling fans hanging in the roofed area of the lanai. From the roof to the blades, there is a 4 ft "stem." Even light winds cause the blades to turn. We’re concerned about possible damage during hurricane-force winds.

The previous homeowner mentioned that she would tie a rope to each fan and anchor it to a bucket sitting on the ground below the fan, filled with rocks to limit movement. The fan manufacturer didn’t have recommendations. Our own online research led to two suggestions:

1. Removing the fan blades before each storm
2. Tying the blades together
Neither option seems ideal.

If anyone has ideas on how to safely stabilize large hanging fans during strong winds, we’d truly appreciate your insight. 🙏🏼

Bill14564 07-04-2025 08:58 PM

We don’t do anything with ours. I’ll have to see if we have the 4” extender but I’m pretty sure we do. Been through four or five hurricanes with no problems.

Kzeus 07-04-2025 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2443386)
We don’t do anything with ours. I’ll have to see if we have the 4” extender but I’m pretty sure we do. Been through four or five hurricanes with no problems.

Thank you. That provides a degree of relief. 🙏🏼

Bill14564 07-04-2025 09:27 PM

You have a four foot stem? Mine might be four inches, certainly not four feet.

I like the bucket idea. A large five gallon bucket filled with water will weigh 40 lbs. Easy to fill right in place with a hose and depending on your lanai, easy to empty by just tipping it over.

Kzeus 07-05-2025 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2443388)
You have a four foot stem? Mine might be four inches, certainly not four feet.

I like the bucket idea. A large five gallon bucket filled with water will weigh 40 lbs. Easy to fill right in place with a hose and depending on your lanai, easy to empty by just tipping it over.

A good idea, and easier than carrying rocks! Thank you!:BigApplause:

villagetinker 07-05-2025 08:30 AM

Our house, 2013 vintage has 2 ceiling fans (no stem) flush mounted in the screened lanai, and we have been through several hurricanes with no damage to the fans.

Battlebasset 07-05-2025 11:02 AM

My fan blades had not been cleaned in awhile, so I took them off when Milton hit last year. Cleaned them before I put them back on. So if you look at it that way, that's a way to make the best of things.

Michael G. 07-05-2025 11:02 AM

I have a white ceiling fan in a pergola and have been using a bungy cord on the blades attached to the rafters .
From what I been reading here, I just might do nothing from now on.

Kzeus 07-05-2025 12:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2443493)
Our house, 2013 vintage has 2 ceiling fans (no stem) flush mounted in the screened lanai, and we have been through several hurricanes with no damage to the fans.

Thank you. We hope for the same.🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-05-2025 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battlebasset (Post 2443571)
My fan blades had not been cleaned in awhile, so I took them off when Milton hit last year. Cleaned them before I put them back on. So if you look at it that way, that's a way to make the best of things.

Yes, that's a positive way to look at it. Thank you. 🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-05-2025 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bill14564 (Post 2443386)
We don’t do anything with ours. I’ll have to see if we have the 4” extender but I’m pretty sure we do. Been through four or five hurricanes with no problems.

Thank you. Hopefully we'll experience the same as you have with no issue.🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-05-2025 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2443572)
I have a white ceiling fan in a pergola and have been using a bungy cord on the blades attached to the rafters .
From what I been reading here, I just might do nothing from now on.

Thank you. It seems that those who have responded have not experienced issues, so we hope there's no need for worry. 🙏🏼

Arctic Fox 07-05-2025 01:13 PM

I know this will elicit numerous angry responses, but a "hurricane" in The Villages is rarely anything remotely resembling a proper hurricane along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.

Hurricanes gain energy from the heat of the ocean which, as you may have noticed, is not that close to us here. Thus their energy is quickly dissipated when passing over land.

At the slightest hint of a wind above 20mph this forum is filled with posts asking when to evacuate and how many extra toilet rolls they should be buying up (to add to those bought the three previous times, and still stacked up in the garage).

Be prepared, but don't over-react.

Kzeus 07-06-2025 01:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2443493)
Our house, 2013 vintage has 2 ceiling fans (no stem) flush mounted in the screened lanai, and we have been through several hurricanes with no damage to the fans.

Thank you for your response.

Kzeus 07-06-2025 01:24 AM

Thank you for your response!

Kzeus 07-06-2025 01:25 AM

Thank you for your reply.

Kzeus 07-06-2025 01:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2443592)
I know this will elicit numerous angry responses, but a "hurricane" in The Villages is rarely anything remotely resembling a proper hurricane along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.

Hurricanes gain energy from the heat of the ocean which, as you may have noticed, is not that close to us here. Thus their energy is quickly dissipated when passing over land.

At the slightest hint of a wind above 20mph this forum is filled with posts asking when to evacuate and how many extra toilet rolls they should be buying up (to add to those bought the three previous times, and still stacked up in the garage).

Be prepared, but don't over-react.

Thank you for putting our minds a bit more at ease. No angry response from us - only gratitude that you took the time to answer. 🙏🏼

retiredguy123 07-06-2025 01:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2443592)
I know this will elicit numerous angry responses, but a "hurricane" in The Villages is rarely anything remotely resembling a proper hurricane along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.

Hurricanes gain energy from the heat of the ocean which, as you may have noticed, is not that close to us here. Thus their energy is quickly dissipated when passing over land.

At the slightest hint of a wind above 20mph this forum is filled with posts asking when to evacuate and how many extra toilet rolls they should be buying up (to add to those bought the three previous times, and still stacked up in the garage).

Be prepared, but don't over-react.

I agree. A hurricane is defined as sustained winds (not gusts) of 75 mph or higher. As far as I know, The Villages has never experienced a hurricane. Yet, many people continue to refer to past hurricanes in The Villages.

Rocksnap 07-06-2025 04:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2443639)
I agree. A hurricane is defined as sustained winds (not gusts) of 75 mph or higher. As far as I know, The Villages has never experienced a hurricane. Yet, many people continue to refer to past hurricanes in The Villages.

We had sustained winds of at least 80 mph last Oct during Helena.

retiredguy123 07-06-2025 05:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocksnap (Post 2443647)
We had sustained winds of at least 80 mph last Oct during Helena.

Not according to AI or the Orlando Sentinel. There were some wind gusts reported of up to 60 mph during Helene in central Florida, but no sustained winds anywhere near 75 mph. There is a huge difference between a sustained wind and a gust.

NoMo50 07-06-2025 06:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rocksnap (Post 2443647)
We had sustained winds of at least 80 mph last Oct during Helena.

Helene was in September last year. Milton came thru in October, and was the stronger of the two.

Indydealmaker 07-06-2025 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kzeus (Post 2443385)
We’re new to Florida/The Villages & have a pool area including a covered lanai. The section above the pool is screened & the adjacent seating area is covered by a solid roof. All sides surrounding the lanai & pool are enclosed by screens.

Our concern is with the 4 large ceiling fans hanging in the roofed area of the lanai. From the roof to the blades, there is a 4 ft "stem." Even light winds cause the blades to turn. We’re concerned about possible damage during hurricane-force winds.

The previous homeowner mentioned that she would tie a rope to each fan and anchor it to a bucket sitting on the ground below the fan, filled with rocks to limit movement. The fan manufacturer didn’t have recommendations. Our own online research led to two suggestions:

1. Removing the fan blades before each storm
2. Tying the blades together
Neither option seems ideal.

If anyone has ideas on how to safely stabilize large hanging fans during strong winds, we’d truly appreciate your insight. 🙏🏼

We have lived here 15 years and your fears are virtually baseless. We have never experienced hurricane force winds. Other than securing or removing lightweight items that can blow away, we have never seen the need to go overboard. We never turn ceiling fans off anyway. They are designed for 24/7 operation.

retiredguy123 07-06-2025 06:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NoMo50 (Post 2443668)
Helene was in September last year. Milton came thru in October, and was the stronger of the two.

At my house, neither storm ever exceeded 40 mph wind speeds.

Berwin 07-06-2025 06:41 AM

1) Our ceiling fan has a three-foot stem because the roof over it is sloped so don't worry about the folks on here saying you must be mistaken. We've weathered three or four storms since we've been here and the fan has been just fine. It is under a roof surrounded on three sides with the fourth side open to the bird cage with no damage. Do what feels safe for you. 2) I joined the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and in the training, when people asked where we would relocate to in a hurricane, the instructor said, "This is where people relocate TO in a hurricane." Yep, we had friends from St. Pete stay with us a week last year when Milton hit there.

MandoMan 07-06-2025 07:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kzeus (Post 2443385)
We’re new to Florida/The Villages & have a pool area including a covered lanai. The section above the pool is screened & the adjacent seating area is covered by a solid roof. All sides surrounding the lanai & pool are enclosed by screens.

Our concern is with the 4 large ceiling fans hanging in the roofed area of the lanai. From the roof to the blades, there is a 4 ft "stem." Even light winds cause the blades to turn. We’re concerned about possible damage during hurricane-force winds.

The previous homeowner mentioned that she would tie a rope to each fan and anchor it to a bucket sitting on the ground below the fan, filled with rocks to limit movement. The fan manufacturer didn’t have recommendations. Our own online research led to two suggestions:

1. Removing the fan blades before each storm
2. Tying the blades together
Neither option seems ideal.

If anyone has ideas on how to safely stabilize large hanging fans during strong winds, we’d truly appreciate your insight. 🙏🏼

If you want to loop a pice of string around a blade of a ceiling fan and tie it around The handle of a bucket of rocks, fine, but definitely don’t HANG a bucket of rocks from a fan blade. You would risk warping it permanently, or snapping it off. Their strength is sideways. I’d also recommend not unscrewing the blades before a storm. 1. Being up on a ladder unscrewing fan blades has its risks. 2. Every time you do that, there’s a risk of ending up with an unbalanced fan, and that can be frustrating. 3. In a hurricane, the blades are not likely to turn faster than they would if the fan were on high. 4. The blades are firmly screwed to the heavy fan body, which will keep them in place.

Justputt 07-06-2025 09:23 AM

Never had a problem with the ceiling fans and we don't do anything to them, HOWEVER, the screen door can be trashed because the wind will rattle it until it slams open, bending the closer mechanism and potentially breaking the door. We ended up using a zip or wire to secure the handle/latch to the strike plate.

Justputt 07-06-2025 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MandoMan (Post 2443688)
If you want to loop a pice of string around a blade of a ceiling fan and tie it around The handle of a bucket of rocks, fine, but definitely don’t HANG a bucket of rocks from a fan blade. You would risk warping it permanently, or snapping it off. Their strength is sideways. I’d also recommend not unscrewing the blades before a storm. 1. Being up on a ladder unscrewing fan blades has its risks. 2. Every time you do that, there’s a risk of ending up with an unbalanced fan, and that can be frustrating. 3. In a hurricane, the blades are not likely to turn faster than they would if the fan were on high. 4. The blades are firmly screwed to the heavy fan body, which will keep them in place.

After a storm, I did see broken fans at our Dabney pool, so it can happen if they're really exposed.

Michael G. 07-06-2025 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker (Post 2443676)
We never turn ceiling fans off anyway. They are designed for 24/7 operation.

I read that ceiling fans running does not have anything to do with helping cool/heating a room.
Ceilings fans are only for people's comfort, moving air.

In other words, turn off ceiling fans when no one is in the room
to save energy.

Agree or not?

retiredguy123 07-06-2025 09:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Michael G. (Post 2443738)
I read that ceiling fans running does not have anything to do with helping cool/heating a room.
Ceilings fans are only for people's comfort, moving air.

In other words, turn off ceiling fans when no one is in the room
to save energy.

Agree or not?

I agree. My ceiling fans are just to look at because I don't want any air moving around. If I am warm, I turn down the thermostat.

kcrazorbackfan 07-06-2025 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kzeus (Post 2443385)
We’re new to Florida/The Villages & have a pool area including a covered lanai. The section above the pool is screened & the adjacent seating area is covered by a solid roof. All sides surrounding the lanai & pool are enclosed by screens.

Our concern is with the 4 large ceiling fans hanging in the roofed area of the lanai. From the roof to the blades, there is a 4 ft "stem." Even light winds cause the blades to turn. We’re concerned about possible damage during hurricane-force winds.

The previous homeowner mentioned that she would tie a rope to each fan and anchor it to a bucket sitting on the ground below the fan, filled with rocks to limit movement. The fan manufacturer didn’t have recommendations. Our own online research led to two suggestions:

1. Removing the fan blades before each storm
2. Tying the blades together
Neither option seems ideal.

If anyone has ideas on how to safely stabilize large hanging fans during strong winds, we’d truly appreciate your insight. 🙏🏼

We have 12” extensions on ours in the outdoor kitchen and never have had a problem.

thelegges 07-06-2025 11:47 AM

Milton created 80+mph winds in Parts of TV. Not only 11-13” of rain. Giant Live Oaks were felled on roads, common areas, and some homes.

While Milton was definitively less damage than coastal, but still hundreds of thousands of damage to homes, roofs, cars. Fans didn’t seem to be in the mix of damaging claims.

midiwiz 07-06-2025 02:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kzeus (Post 2443385)
We’re new to Florida/The Villages & have a pool area including a covered lanai. The section above the pool is screened & the adjacent seating area is covered by a solid roof. All sides surrounding the lanai & pool are enclosed by screens.

Our concern is with the 4 large ceiling fans hanging in the roofed area of the lanai. From the roof to the blades, there is a 4 ft "stem." Even light winds cause the blades to turn. We’re concerned about possible damage during hurricane-force winds.

The previous homeowner mentioned that she would tie a rope to each fan and anchor it to a bucket sitting on the ground below the fan, filled with rocks to limit movement. The fan manufacturer didn’t have recommendations. Our own online research led to two suggestions:

1. Removing the fan blades before each storm
2. Tying the blades together
Neither option seems ideal.

If anyone has ideas on how to safely stabilize large hanging fans during strong winds, we’d truly appreciate your insight. 🙏🏼

first item would be, when we lived by the port our outdoor fans never turned ever. not to mention why a 4ft drop? but aside from that we aren't what I (or most) would call hurricane territory. the storms over the last week or two are pretty much what to expect. so I wouldn't even bother working about anything like that.

Babbs1957 07-06-2025 09:05 PM

One other thing about a fan in a wind.....the harder the wind blows, the faster the blades spin. So it actually is designed to easily move in a breeze to protect it's blades. I have had fans on a front porch for 30 years on the coast. Never worried about the blades because of the spin. If it was kept from spinning, then you have a blocking of the wind and the fan blades and motor would become a projectile. BTW, I grew up on a farm with a very tall windmill. Prairie winds were extremely strong. You never tie down the blades or vane to avoid the tower destroying itself.

Kzeus 07-06-2025 09:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by villagetinker (Post 2443493)
Our house, 2013 vintage has 2 ceiling fans (no stem) flush mounted in the screened lanai, and we have been through several hurricanes with no damage to the fans.

Thank you. 🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-06-2025 09:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2443639)
I agree. A hurricane is defined as sustained winds (not gusts) of 75 mph or higher. As far as I know, The Villages has never experienced a hurricane. Yet, many people continue to refer to past hurricanes in The Villages.

Thank you for clarifying. 🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-06-2025 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Indydealmaker (Post 2443676)
We have lived here 15 years and your fears are virtually baseless. We have never experienced hurricane force winds. Other than securing or removing lightweight items that can blow away, we have never seen the need to go overboard. We never turn ceiling fans off anyway. They are designed for 24/7 operation.

Thank you for putting our fears to rest. I'm sure that after we've been here for one hurricane season, our perspective will be more realistic and our fears put to rest. 🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-06-2025 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by retiredguy123 (Post 2443677)
At my house, neither storm ever exceeded 40 mph wind speeds.

Thank you for sharing your experience. 🙏🏼

Kzeus 07-06-2025 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Justputt (Post 2443734)
Never had a problem with the ceiling fans and we don't do anything to them, HOWEVER, the screen door can be trashed because the wind will rattle it until it slams open, bending the closer mechanism and potentially breaking the door. We ended up using a zip or wire to secure the handle/latch to the strike plate.

Thank you! 🙏🏼 We wouldn't have thought to do that!

Kzeus 07-06-2025 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcrazorbackfan (Post 2443769)
We have 12” extensions on ours in the outdoor kitchen and never have had a problem.

Thank you for sharing your experience. 🙏🏼

margaretmattson 07-06-2025 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arctic Fox (Post 2443592)
I know this will elicit numerous angry responses, but a "hurricane" in The Villages is rarely anything remotely resembling a proper hurricane along the Atlantic or Gulf coasts.

Hurricanes gain energy from the heat of the ocean which, as you may have noticed, is not that close to us here. Thus their energy is quickly dissipated when passing over land.

At the slightest hint of a wind above 20mph this forum is filled with posts asking when to evacuate and how many extra toilet rolls they should be buying up (to add to those bought the three previous times, and still stacked up in the garage).

Be prepared, but don't over-react.

It depends on the hurricane. Many have strengthened after landfall. Several times, central Florida has had more damage than the coast. Also, hurricanes, like Milton, can cause over one hundred tornadoes that strike inland. My rule of thumb is: be overprepared and hope nothing happens. Do not be the fool who does the opposite. Many have died because they did nothing to protect and provide.


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