Why Is My Tower Fan So Loud? Here’s Why (+ How to Fix)

Tower fans are touted for being whisper-quiet, but a few mechanical issues can make them extremely loud. You wouldn’t want your tower fan to be louder than a traditional floor fan, so it’s best to target the internal components and balance to ensure the tower fan isn’t too noisy.

Your tower fan is so loud because of these reasons:

• Loose bearings
• Overheated motor
• Not enough bearing lubrication
• Dirty fan blades
• Higher speed modes
• Unbalance tower fan motor

Throughout this post, I’ll show you why your tower fan is loud, what you can do about it, and how to prevent it from happening. I’ll also explain if you need to get a new tower fan due to a damaged motor, stripped bearings, and so on.

Loose Bearings

According to iFixit, your noisy tower fan might have loose bearings. These bearings become misaligned from vibrations, unbalanced fan blades, or running the fan on an uneven surface. A tower fan’s bearings are on its motor shaft. The shaft rotates the blades, but it needs a bearing to move.

How to Fix

Tighten the bearings with these steps:

1. Unplug the tower fan from the wall.
2. Loosen the retaining screws and locate the bearing and shaft.
3. Loosen the shaft from the retaining plate, realign it, and tighten the screws.
4. Test your work to ensure the bearings aren’t loose anymore.

Remember that some tower fans can’t be opened. Check if the manufacturer prevents people from working on the fan prior to trying any of the solutions found in this post. Realigning the bearing can fix your squeaky tower fan, too.

Overheated Motor

Overheated tower fan motors can get quite loud. Here are a few reasons the motor is too loud:

• Grinding motor bearings
• A lack of airflow
• Excessive runtimes

Using your tower fan non-stop for several weeks or months will inevitable clog it and overheat the motor. You might have to replace the capacitor if it shorts or gets too hot for too long.

How to Fix

Try these suggestions to stop the tower fan’s motor from overheating and getting too loud:

• Replace the bearings if the company can provide the part number for your tower fan.
• Clean the debris off of the fan’s blades with compressed air and paper towels.
• Never run the tower fan longer than the company suggests (or more than about six to ten hours).

I run my tower fan throughout the night, then give it a multi-hour break before using it again.

The Falcon Dust Compressed Air Can includes a built-in straw for precise, close applications. You can quickly remove the dust and debris from the tower fan’s blades, motor, bearings, and more. It’s also great for computer parts and hard-to-reach spaces around the house.

The Motor Isn’t Lubricated

If the tower fan’s motor isn’t lubricated, the bearings will grind against the motor shaft. It’ll create a loud hissing sound that eventually ruinings the bearings, motor, and shaft. You’ll more than likely have to replace the tower fan if you don’t lubricate it often enough. See the manufacturer’s recommendations to know how frequently you need to add a lubricant.

How to Fix

Soundproof Living claims a tower fan’s bearings need to be lubricated or they’ll screech and grind. Here’s how to do it:

1. Unplug the tower fan. It’s important to prevent electrical shocks.
2. Remove the retaining screws. Pull fan’s housing off of the motor to reveal the bearing and shaft.
3. Lubricate the bearing and motor shaft. Try WD-40 to lubricate the parts around the tower fan. They come with straws for close-up lubrication.

Dirty Tower Fan Blades

Dust, grime, and other debris can coat the tower fan’s blades. Not only do they wear on the motor by making the blades heavier, but the debris also overheats the tower fan. In fact, dirty fan blades are one of the many reasons your tower fan isn’t blowing air or cooling the room.

How to Fix

Clean your tower fan’s dirty blades with these methods:

• Spray the tower fan’s blades with an all-purpose cleaner. I suggest turning off the fan and unplugging it to prevent electrical problems. Wipe the blades with a paper tower or a microfiber cloth to remove the solution.
• Keep liquids away from the tower fan at all times. It’s best to limit the humidity, too. Some liquids create a sticky film on the blades that’s hard to see until it’s too late. You’ll have to scrub the stains with an abrasive sponge.

High-Speed Settings

Running your tower fan at a higher speed will increase its sound output. Many popular tower fan brands list the decibels of the lowest setting, which might make you think the fan will be whisper-quiet. Make sure you test how loud the highest setting is before writing a complaint.

How to Fix

The only option here is to lower the speed. Test the decibels and contact the manufacturer if the tower fan is louder than they claimed. You could use the tower fan as white noise, but make sure you ask the company if you hear any of the following noises:

• Screeching
• Hissing
• Grinding
• Louder than normal operation

Unbalanced Tower Fan Motor

If your tower fan is tilted, it’ll push the bearing against the plastic housing of the fan. The scraping sound will echo throughout the room. It can also make the tower fan vibrate against nearby surfaces, loose screws, and so on. Some tower fans have unbalanced motors, which prevents the fan from oscillating.

How to Fix

So, what should you do if a tower fan motor is unbalanced? Try these steps:

1. Make sure the tower fan is on a balanced, level surface.
2. Place a level on top of the fan’s base to ensure it’s flat and level.
3. Open the fan and check if the bearings and motor are aligned.

It’s also useful to check if all of the screws are tightened. Loose screws will rattle when the tower fan circulates the air and cause the fan’s blades and housing to misalign.