Modern agriculture no longer relies on the weather alone. Controlling temperature and humidity inside greenhouses and drying houses is central to crop quality and cost — but these environments are harsh on equipment: heat, high humidity, spray from misting systems, and dust. Ordinary ventilation fans fail fast here, so choosing a splash-proof, heat-tolerant fan matters.
Why ordinary fans fail in greenhouses and drying houses
- Spray and high humidity damage the motor and circuitry, causing rust.
- Accumulated heat in drying houses degrades non-heat-rated fans quickly.
- Dust and plant debris clog blades and wear the bearings.
- Near-24/7 operation means short-life fans need frequent replacement.
What an agricultural fan should have
- Splash-proof — withstands misting systems and spray in the greenhouse.
- High-temperature tolerance — runs in drying houses and hot midday conditions.
- Long service life — years of continuous running with little maintenance.
- Enough airflow/pressure — genuinely moves air and humidity even through screens or filters.
San Ace splash-proof and high-temperature fans
Sanyo Denki’s San Ace line includes splash-proof models (such as the San Ace 40WF) and high-temperature models built for harsh environments, plus long-life models that run for years — well suited to greenhouse and drying-house ventilation exposed to spray, humidity, and heat.
A popular pick for agriculture is the splash-proof San Ace 120, model 9WPA1224P4G001P — a 120 mm, 24 V DC fan with PWM speed control for strong airflow and energy savings, ideal for continuous greenhouse and drying-house ventilation.
Fruit drying (dry heat): choose wide-temperature or long-life models
For a fruit drying house or any “hot and dry” drying process with no spray, you don’t need a splash-proof model — prioritize a wide-temperature-range or long-life model instead. The fan faces continuous heat, so temperature tolerance and service life matter more than water resistance.
- Wide-temperature-range models — run in continuously hot drying rooms without degrading fast.
- Long-life models — some rated to ~150,000 hours, reducing replacements and downtime.
- Still available as DC + PWM to save energy during continuous operation.
The right model code depends on your drying room’s size and actual operating temperature. The PMC team can match a San Ace wide-temperature or long-life model to your process (see our San Ace model-number guide for how the codes work).
Save energy with DC fans
Many San Ace waterproof fans are DC brushless (like the San Ace 120W running on 24 V DC), which uses noticeably less power than a traditional AC fan and can be speed-controlled with PWM to run only as fast as needed. When a greenhouse or drying house runs fans nearly 24/7, the long-term electricity difference is huge.
- More efficient than AC fans — less power for the same airflow.
- PWM speed control — slow down when full airflow isn’t needed, saving energy immediately.
- Running 24/7 — the cumulative bill differs greatly from AC over time.
- Lower motor heat, easing the overall cooling load.
Popular models for agriculture, at a glance
| Use case | Fan type | Recommended model |
|---|---|---|
| Greenhouse / areas with spray and misting | Splash-proof 120 mm, DC 24 V + PWM | San Ace 120 · 9WPA1224P4G001P |
| Fruit drying / dry-heat drying | Wide temperature range | Sized to temp/frame — ask our team |
| Near-24/7 running, longevity-first | Long-life (up to ~150,000 h) | Sized to frame — ask our team |
How they’re used in greenhouses and drying houses
- Greenhouses — exhaust accumulated heat and draw in cooler air to keep crops healthy.
- Greenhouses — control humidity to reduce mold and plant disease.
- Drying houses — remove moisture from produce (herbs, fruit, chili) for even drying.
- Drying houses — circulate hot air evenly, cutting drying time and energy cost.
- Livestock houses — ventilate air and odor, reducing heat stress on animals.
Benefits for agri operators
- Consistent product quality from controlled temperature and humidity.
- Less spoilage and disease from trapped humidity.
- Lower replacement costs thanks to long life and durability.
- Faster drying, saving energy and increasing production cycles.
If you are a modern agri operator planning ventilation for a greenhouse or drying house, the PMC Technology team (the San Ace distributor in Thailand) can help size the airflow and choose the right splash-proof, heat-tolerant fan for your space and process — free consultation.
Important: what IP68 does and doesn’t cover
An IP68-rated waterproof fan is only protected in specific areas. Understand the scope before installing so the fan isn’t damaged by an incorrect connection.
- ✅ Covered: the fan housing, motor, impeller, and bearings — dust-tight and able to withstand water immersion under the maker’s rated conditions.
- ❌ Not covered: the lead-wire ends and the connection point (connector) — you must waterproof the joint yourself; the fan does not seal it for you.
- ❌ IP68 means resistance to water immersion, not high-pressure jets (that’s a different rating, IPx9K), and it does not certify chemical resistance.
- 💡 Tip: route the cable so the joint sits above any water line and enclose it in a waterproof junction box.
