Oiling or Lubrication of Floor Fans

March 15, 2023

Floor fans--also known as box fans--are an inexpensive way to keep your home cool while circulating the air. Over time, a floor fan can become dirty, dingy and not work as well as it once did. Years of use can create the need for your floor fan to be lubricated. Lubricating a floor fan involves dismantling the entire fan. The process is easier than it sounds and should be performed once a year to give your floor fan a thorough cleaning.

Fans come in a variety of designs to meet all your cooling needs.

Step 1

Turn the floor fan off and unplug it from the wall.

Step 2

Remove the screws from the floor fan’s front cover--also known as grill--with a screwdriver. Typically, you will need to Phillips head screwdriver. Place the screws in a safe location. After the screws have been removed, gently pull the cover off the rectangular housing. Repeat the process for the floor fan’s back grill.

Step 3

Remove the mounts or screws to disconnect the fan blades from the motor. Lay all the pieces out in front of you.

Step 4

Fill a bucket with 1 gallon of cool water. Add 1/4 cup of liquid dish soap. Mix the contents together thoroughly with a wooden spoon. Submerge a cloth in the mixture and wipe all parts of the fan--except the motor--with the cloth.

Step 5

Saturate an old toothbrush in the mixture and scrub the floor fan’s front and back cover. Continue scrubbing until you have thoroughly cleaned the grills.

Step 6

Wipe all fan parts dry with a towel.

Step 7

Brush dirt, dust, hair and other debris off the motor with a dry, soft-bristled brush. Do not allow the motor to get wet. Alternatively, use a can of air to blast away any dirt or dust on the motor housing.

Step 8

Place a drop of SAE 20 non-detergent oil into each oil port. Spray a lightweight lubricant on the shaft of the motor.

Step 9

Reassemble the floor fan. Attach the fan blades to the motor. Secure the front and back cover to the fan’s housing.

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