how to clean a tower fan

Tower fans have literary taken over the fan market due to their powerful performance. These fans help to shift the air passing through them and some of them have air treatment properties. Tower fans tend to gather dirt and dust inside, just like every other fan. If this dust and dirt are allowed to build up, it will affect the performance and the operation of the tower fan. The nature of their construction makes them somehow problematic to clean. In order to maintain the efficiency of a tower fan unit, it has tobe cleaned on a regular basis. In this article, we will guide you through the process of how to clean a tower fan properly.

The Cleaning Requirements

How to Clean a Tower Fan Same as ceiling fans, cleaning a tower fan helps to improve the air circulation process as well as the overall maintenance of the tower fan. A well-maintained fan will save you energy costs usually incurred in cooling your home. When the tower fan functions at peak performance, you won't need to crank up your AC unit. This ensures durability as you will be able to use your fan for long before needing to replace the parts. To be able to clean it effectively, there are a number of tools that you will need. They include cleaning brush, can of compressed air, mask to wear, eye-wear, screwdriver, and a small bowl.

Some of the tools, like the eye-wear and a mask, are not mandatory tools. A simple can that contains compressed air may enable you to clean the fan without necessarily taking it apart. In case you are sensitive any of the cleaning agents, then a protective gear would ideal inclusion in your set of tools. The basic materials you will need is the brush and the air compressor. The screwdriver will be useful if you need to take the unit apart. In doing so, you will have to follow the manufacturer's instructions so that you don't break the tower fan. Some models require a specific type of fabric to clean them and hence it is important to aware of such requirements.

Preparing the Cleaning Process

Before you start cleaning this type of fan, there are a number of preparatory steps you have to undertake. They include preparing yourself, disassembling the unit, and switching on the compressed air can. You will need to prepare yourself together with the surface that will be used for cleaning purposes. Put on the eye-wear and the protective mask that will keep dirt and debris away from your body in situations where there is too much dust around. You then have to put the tower fan on a clean surface in front of you. The fan then needs to be unplugged and be free from anything that is likely to damage it. Depending on the amount of dirt that needs to be cleaned, a garbage bag may be required. You can also use a surface that can easily capture the debris as it comes from the fan.

The next step involves removing the back panel using a screwdriver. There are models that don't have a panel and hence may not require this process. For those models that have this panel, it is usually held together using screws. Unscrew them in an anticlockwise direction and then place the screws in a small bowl. The small bowl helps to protect the screws from getting lost. Ensure you place the panel and the screws on the side of the working area so that they don't get misplaced.

The next thing is to switch on the compressed air can. Start by shaking it well for about 30 seconds and then check to ensure that there is no pressure being exuded while you are shaking. This is to protect against wastage during use. You will then turn on the air compressor and exercise the blower nozzle. Allow the pressure to build up for a certain period of time depending on the recommended time frame by the manufacturer. This can be anywhere between 30 seconds and two minutes.

The Cleaning Process

Having finished the preparatory stages, the next thing is to clean the unit. Begin by taking the air can and aim its tip towards the panels. For the flat panels, use a more horizontal angle to blow away the dust and dirt particles. There is a button on the can that you should press to get started. Once you are done with the flat surfaces, the next target is the fan's visible crevices. With these crevices, you have to begin at the top of the fan and then move systematically till you get to the bottom. This helps to achieve a thorough cleaning of the fan unit. In case there are dust and debris resulting from the cleaning process, ensure you push it to the side as you move on so as to avoid blowing them back into the panels.

You then need to turn the fan in the opposite direction of where it was looking before. Look out for any dirt component and scrub it off using the brush. Ensure you scrub off thoroughly the remaining dirt and dust and if need be use a cloth to collect the brushed off debris. If you removed the panels before cleaning, the next step is to place them back on to the fan. Ensure you place the panels where you removed them originally and in the same direction they were facing. This will ensure the panels are secured in their right place and that the screws are applied without much resistance.

Once the panels are in their right position, take a screw and start turning it in a clockwise direction. Continue turning until it is tight and then move to the next screw until all the screws are done. Once you have finished placing all the screws, place the fan back to its original location. Turn it on and enjoy the fresh, clean air that it can now blow.

Conclusion

Tower fans usually have a small footprint and hence making them a popular choice for small spaces. Tower fans collect dirt just like other regular fans. Now that we have gone through the steps about how to clean a tower fan, you should be equipped with the information needed to enhance the durability of your tower fan. Therefore, you will enjoy a unit that is dust free and functioning in an optimal manner. Once you finish cleaning it, you will need to access its air filters and clean them as well. These can be accessed either through a door, sliding out an opening, or removing a screwed hatch. You will need to take them out and blow the dirt off or run them through the water. Once they are clean and dry, reinstall them back into the tower fan. This process will keep your fan clean, nice, and able to circulate high-quality air.

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