Tower fans are generally a good way to circulate some air in a room but they can have some issues. Turning off when you’re not asking for it is one of those issues. Here’s what can cause your tower fan turning off and how to fix those problems.
If a tower fan keeps turning off, it may be caused by a loose power cord or melted thermal fuse. Dirty filters are another common reason for a tower fan to turn off. Over time, they can become clogged with dust and other debris, which reduces the fan’s airflow and causes it to overheat.
If you have a tower fan that’s constantly shutting off, this article will provide an in-depth guide to finding and repairing the problem. In addition to the causes, you’ll also find tips on how to fix them.
Contents
- 1 9 Reasons and Fixes For a Tower Fan Turning Off
- 2 1. The Power Cord Is Loose
- 3 2. The Power Cord Is Faulty or Broken
- 4 3. There’s a Lack of Lubrication in the Motor
- 5 4. There’s Excess Dust Buildup and Clogged Fans
- 6 5. The Thermal Fuse Is Melted
- 7 6. The Motor Bearings Are Rusted
- 8 7. There’s Water or Moisture Damage
- 9 8. The Tilt Sensor Gets Triggered
- 10 9. The Oscillation Settings Are Incorrect
9 Reasons and Fixes For a Tower Fan Turning Off
1. The Power Cord Is Loose
It’s an obvious thing but sometime the solution is simple. The tower fan’s power cord should always be securely plugged into a working electrical outlet. If it’s not, your tower fan will keep turning off with small movements like the fan turning. The continuous surge of electricity could cause damage to the fan’s internal components, which can result in your fan breaking altogether.
How To Fix
To fix a loose power cord, follow these steps:
- Make sure that the power cord is securely plugged into the wall outlet.
- Look at the cable and ensure it’s not kinked or twisted.
- Check for any debris or dirt on the connector pins.
Also check if that particular outlet works properly with other appliances. If it doesn’t, that is the issue.
2. The Power Cord Is Faulty or Broken
The most common cause of fan shutdowns is a faulty or broken power cord.
If you have a faulty or broken power cord, it may cause your fan to keep shutting down. This is because, if your power cord breaks, it won’t be able to conduct electricity effectively, causing your tower fan to lose power.
Check for kinks in the cable and the connection to the fan. If you got a multimeter, you can check the cable properly, otherwise a visual inspection will have to do.
How To Fix
Unfortunately, the only way to fix this problem is to replace the power cord. However, if the tower fan is new and the power cord was already faulty or broken, you could most likely take it back to be replaced. Check if you’re still under warranty, otherwise it’s not too difficult to replace it yourself.
3. There’s a Lack of Lubrication in the Motor
Tower fans require a little bit of lubrication for smooth functioning. Without it, your tower fan might keep turning off because there is too much resistance. Adding a tiny bit of lubricant every few months will help keep things moving along.
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How To Fix
To fix a lack of lubrication in your tower fan, all you need to do is lubricate your fan’s gears with a bit of machine oil or spray. While this might seem like a daunting task to some, it’s relatively easy to do. Lubricating your fan’s gears should give it enough traction to function smoothly again.
Usually there are tiny holes in the fan motor that are there to add lubricant. If you’re not sure which ones, read the manual. You’ll also have. to remove the covers first.
Using a SAE20 oil without detergents is best. Don’t use WD-40.
4. There’s Excess Dust Buildup and Clogged Fans
This is perhaps one of the most common reasons why tower fans keep turning off, especially if you have pets in your home. Dust buildup on fans can reduce their efficiency and cause them to fail sooner than necessary.
A tower fan’s filter is vital for removing excess dust and debris from the air. If it becomes clogged, the fan will not be able to function as intended. This can cause the fan to turn off unexpectedly because the blades cannot move enough air to cool the room. Dust and other debris can also accumulate on the blades of a tower fan, causing them to become clogged. This all increased the load on the motor and once it becomes too much, it can overheat or burn out (see below).
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How To Fix
Read this article on how to clean a tower fan for an in-depth explanation.
5. The Thermal Fuse Is Melted
A thermal fuse is a little device that helps to prevent the electric motor from overloading and burning out. It does this by melting at a certain temperature and so cutting the power supply to the motor. This means you have to replace the fuse but they are a lot cheaper than a new motor (or house if it starts a fire).
Tower fans are particularly prone to thermal fuse failure. This is because the electric motor in a tower fan produces a lot of heat and there are more shrouds keeping the heat in that in a normal fan. Sometimes the thermal fuse can also just fail without the motor overheating.
How To Fix
To test the thermal fuse, you’ll need a multimeter. You can read here how to do that.
You’ll need to replace the melted thermal fuse to fix this problem. This can be done by either contacting an electrician or replacing the fuse yourself. However, be sure to read the instructions for the new fuse to make sure you replace it correctly.
6. The Motor Bearings Are Rusted
Another possible cause of your tower fan turning off, is due to rusty motor bearings. It’s easy for tower fans to accumulate rust in the motor bearings overtime, especially if it’s exposed to water. Lack of regular lubrication will also speed up corrosion as lubricants often protect agains rust.
How To Fix
Here are some steps you can take to fix rusty motor bearings:
- Remove the cover of the motor and inspect the bearings for signs of rust. If you find rust, replace the bearings as soon as possible.
- Clean all of the dust and debris from around the motor using a can of compressed air. This will help to prevent future problems with the fan turning off.
7. There’s Water or Moisture Damage
Many appliances are damaged by water. If you spilled some liquid on the fan, it’s possible this is caused some water damage and this is causing the failure. corrosion on certain parts can increase the resistance in the fan and overheat the motor. Shorted out electronics can also give weird problems.
How To Fix
To start, make sure everything is completely dry. Taking off the covers will help you inspect the fan and dry it faster.
Cleaning the areas where there’s moisture damage might help to improve functioning, however, if electronics are really affected by moisture, there isn’t much you can do except replace them. And since that’s often difficult, it’s better to get a new fan.
8. The Tilt Sensor Gets Triggered
The tilt sensor is responsible for detecting whether or not the fan is in a tilted position. If it detects that the fan isn’t in the correct position (more than 45 degree of lean), it’ll automatically turn off the fan.
This is meant to protect the fan and you but if the sensor is not working correctly, you can get weird random turn-offs. Check the manual of your fan if there is a tilt sensor.
How To Fix
Common ways to fix the tilt sensor in your tower fan include the following:
- Replacing or adjusting the tilt sensor.
- Resetting the fan controller.
- Replacing the motor.
If the motor needs replacing, you might be better off just buying a new tower fan, especially if it wasn’t too expensive. Buying the motor and replacing it yourself can take time and money you’re not wanting to spend.
9. The Oscillation Settings Are Incorrect
Tower fans oscillate, which means they move back and forth to create a breeze. Oscillation is the term used to describe this type of movement.
All tower fans have oscillation settings that can be adjusted. The oscillation setting determines how far the fan moves back and forth. Most tower fans have at least three different oscillation settings: low, medium, and high.
Some tower fans also have an adjustable timer. The timer can turn the fan off after a certain number of hours. Therefore, your fan could be continuously turning off if your oscillation settings aren’t what you want them to be.
How To Fix
If you’ve tampered with the oscillation settings and have no idea how to resolve the problem, reset your tower fan to its factory defaults.
To prevent your tower fan from turning off, you need to adjust the oscillation settings. The oscillation should be set to the widest angle possible. This will help keep the fan running for a more extended period.
