Don’t throw that tower fan away just because it stopped working! If the fan turns on but the blades are not turning, it probably can be fixed. Tower fans are upwards of $40 and should not be thrown out just because they stopped working. If the red power light turns on, most likely the motor needs cleaned and lubed.
Seriously, if you have a screwdriver and some WD-40 or other lubricant you can most often fix the tower fan. Plus while you have the fan apart you can clean all the dust and hair that collect on the fan blades and grill. Did you know that you should clean your fan every year? Dust, lint, and pet hair fill and attach themselves to the blades and motor of box, tower, and ceiling fans and should be cleaned regularly.
I have 3 tower fans and one is about 9 years old! Every year it needs to be oiled or lubed and it runs all season. My other 2 tower fans are at least 6 years old and every spring I drag them out and clean and oil them. I have an air compressor and so I blow off all the visible dust and hair (I have pets) before I take the fan apart. If you do not have an air compressor there are options to blowing out the fans- blow dryer or use the exhaust on your shop vac.
Here are basic instructions to removing the grill/cover of the fans. Note that you may have to adapt the instructions for the removal of the covers but lubing the fan motor will be the same. Takes about 15 minutes and will save you the cost of a new fan. Just remember to UNPLUG the unit! 
After you remove the screws, you may need a screw driver to help pry open the back plastic cover. Sometimes the back cover may need to be pushed up to remove after you separate the front and back covers from each other. I have one fan that has a button release to remove the fan grill cover and another tower fan that I need to push down to remove. You will may have to try a few different approaches to remove the cover. Once the cover is removed you can see how much dust and hair get trapped. Clean this up and then use WD40 or some other lube/oil on the top and bottom of the fan blades. You can see from the picture where to spray or squeeze the oil/lubricant. Next turn the fan blades to loosen them. Then either stand the fan up (we laid it down on its top to get it working) and plug it in and turn it on. You may have to help start the fan blade (be careful) and let the fan run for a few seconds. Turn off and on to make sure it works. If this works, then put the cover back on and pat yourself on your back for saving yourself money.
This simple process can be used on box fans too! The hair, dust, and lint get gunked up in the fan blades and motors and needs to be cleaned out. Do not throw it out- clean it and lube it.
I hope that I have given you some inspiration to clean those fans and lube them up so you can get many years of use out of them. Thank you for stopping by and watch for more tips and hints for the home and garden. I now have included a YouTube video on taking off the back for anyone who has problems.
Creating. Inspiring. Gardening without the rules!
2016 copyrighted material C Renee Fuller @The Garden Frog Boutique
Renee, this is a great, detailed guide, very useful for me. I wish more people had a DIY mindset like you, instead of our throw away culture! Did you find doing this maintenance made the fan run any quieter?
Jeff recently posted…Hush! Best Quiet Fans for Home and Office: Top 10
actually yes it did. after the dust builds up they get quite squeaky. A lubricant works better but my fans have run for years!
I have always cleaned my oscillating fans but never realized I could take apart my tower fan! Thanks so much for this!
Thank you! for stopping by! I am glad the information was helpful.
Thank you for the info. Didn’t know it was that easy! I will definitely try this tonight.
Thank you for reading. I am glad this was helpful!