How to Clean a Honeywell Tower Fan: Simple Step-By-Step Guide

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Easily take apart your Honeywell tower fan to clean out dust and debris
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If your Honeywell QuietSet tower fan isn’t working as well as usual or you can see dirt or dust buildup inside the grates, try giving it a good cleaning before you replace it! Honeywell recommends cleaning the fan without disassembling it, but for really tough grime, you may need to take the fan apart. We talked to cleaning specialist Alicia Sokolowski to find out everything you need to know about disassembling , cleaning , and reassembling your Honeywell Quietset Tower Fan.

Deep Cleaning a Honeywell Tower Fan

Cleaning specialist Alicia Sokolowski advises unplugging the fan before cleaning and working outside to avoid polluting the air indoors. To clean your Honeywell Tower Fan:

  1. Unplug the fan and lay it on its side.
  2. Unscrew the collar at the bottom and remove the base.
  3. Remove the exterior Torx and Philips screws and pull the casing apart.
  4. Unscrew the mounting and set screws on the fan core and remove the core.
  5. Use a vacuum, cloth, or brush to remove dry dust from all of the components.
  6. Wipe down the exterior with a damp cloth and let it dry.
  7. Reassemble and test the fan.
Section 1 of 3:

Disassembling the Fan

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  1. To avoid the risk of electrocution, Sokolowski says, “Make sure the tower fan is unplugged before you start cleaning it.” [1] Once it’s unplugged, lay the fan flat on its side with the back panel facing upward.
    • Consider placing a towel under the fan to catch any dirt or dust that may fall. This will also help prevent the fan casing from getting scratched during cleaning.
    • Note: Honeywell does not recommend disassembling the fan to clean it. Doing so may void the warranty if the fan has one. [2]

    Meet the wikiHow Expert

    Alicia Sokolowski is a green cleaning specialist and the President and co-CEO of AspenClean in Vancouver.

  2. Reach under the fan to the area where the cord comes out of the fan housing. Firmly grip the circle-shaped collar (also called a locking nut) and turn it counterclockwise until the fan casing separates from the base. Set the base and collar aside. [3]
    • The collar usually unscrews easily, but if the fan is old or especially grimy, it might take a little extra force.
    • On some models, the collar is red so you can easily find it.
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  3. Use a Torx bit (also known as a star bit) to remove the 2 Torx screws that were sitting under the collar. Find and remove a third Torx screw just above those two screws on the back of the fan. Then, unscrew the 4 Philips-head screws on the back of the fan near the top. [4]
    • Be sure to set all of the screws aside in a safe place, and keep track of which screws came from which location on the fan.
    • Some models may not have the 2 Torx screws under the collar—just remove the one on the bottom of the fan.
  4. “Take your time disassembling the fan so you don’t damage it,” says Sokolowski. [5] You may need to use a flathead screwdriver to pry the two halves of the casing apart. The casing that houses the fan core is held in place by plastic tabs that snap together, so don’t use too much force. [6]
    • On some models, the back of the housing is actually two pieces that sit inside each other. Lift the inner piece out of the outer one so you can clean both pieces.
  5. Find the first two screws on top of the fan core (the center part of the fan that rotates). Remove those with a Philips-head screwdriver and set them aside. Then, loosen the set screw on the bottom of the fan core just enough to remove the core from the motor. [7]
    • If the fan isn’t very dirty, you may be able to clean it without removing the fan core.
    • Once you remove the core, tighten the set screw again so it stays attached to the fan core—you don’t need to remove it completely.
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Section 2 of 3:

Cleaning the Components

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  1. When you start cleaning your fan, Sokolowski recommends using a vacuum brush to remove as much dry dust as possible. [8] Or, if you prefer, you can use an air compressor or a can of compressed air to blast away the debris instead.
    • Try to remove as much grime as you can with dry methods like the vacuum or brushes. The more you can avoid using water or cleaners, the better.
    • “It’s a good idea to clean the fan outside so you don’t pollute the indoor air,” says Sokolowski. [9]
  2. Try a soft-bristled nylon brush or a medium-sized paintbrush. This will help you get dirt and dust out of hard-to-reach areas, like between the fan grates. [10]
    • Use a cotton swab to clear out any dirt stuck in small corners where the brush can’t reach.
  3. Wring the cloth out as much as possible, then gently wipe down the back part of the case. This part won’t have any electronics attached, so if it’s really grimy, you can use more water as needed.
    • Be very careful wiping down the front of the housing—it contains the control panel and the motor. Wring your cloth out really well and just lightly go over the housing. Be very careful not to get water into the electronics.
    • Let these pieces dry completely before you reassemble the fan.
  4. This is an optional step, and you can skip it if it seems a little too intimidating—but keeping the motor lubricated will help prolong the life of your fan. If you want to try, remove the mounting screws that hold the motor in place. Find the bearings where the motor spins, then spray a little silicone lubricant or white lithium grease onto the bearings. [11]
    • These are good lubricants for motors because they don’t attract dust that will clog up the motor and cause it to stop running.
    • If you remove the motor, pay attention to which side the wires were on—you’ll need to put them back exactly how they were.
    • It’s also a good idea to lubricate the bearing at the top of the fan core.
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Section 3 of 3:

Reassembling the Fan

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  1. If you took out the motor, put it back in place, carefully realigning the wires just as they were, then reattach the motor mount screws. Loosen the set screw from the fan core and slide it back onto the motor, then tighten the set screw again. Reattach the 2 Philips screws that attach the fan core to the front of the housing.
    • Replace the inner piece of the back housing, then snap the front and back halves of the housing together again.
    • Replace the 4 Philips screws on the top of the fan, then the 3 TORX screws near the bottom.
    • Reattach the base and secure it with the collar.
  2. Plug the fan in and turn it on. If everything works how it should, you’re finished! But if you hear any rattling or squeaking, there may be a loose component somewhere. Disassemble the fan and check every component to make sure it’s seated firmly, and tighten every screw. [12]
    • You may need to lubricate the motor if you didn’t do that during the cleaning process.
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      • To make it easier to reassemble the fan, create an area to lay the screws in a pattern that resembles where they came from on the fan. You can also put them on a piece of paper and label their locations.
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      References

      1. ↑ Alicia Sokolowski. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview
      2. ↑ https://www.honeywellpluggedin.com/wp-content/uploads/hyf260_quietset_tower_om.pdf
      3. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Honeywell+Quietset+HY5260BC+Fan+Blades+Replacement/140192
      4. ↑ https://youtu.be/tgEdLU-0jLQ?t=13
      5. ↑ Alicia Sokolowski. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview
      6. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Honeywell+Quietset+HY5260BC+Fan+Blades+Replacement/140192
      7. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Honeywell+Quietset+HY5260BC+Fan+Blades+Replacement/140192
      8. ↑ Alicia Sokolowski. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview
      9. ↑ Alicia Sokolowski. Cleaning Specialist. Expert Interview
      1. ↑ https://youtu.be/tgEdLU-0jLQ?t=44
      2. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Honeywell+Quietset+HY5260BC+Fan+Blades+Replacement/140192
      3. ↑ https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/Honeywell+Quietset+HY5260BC+Fan+Blades+Replacement/140192

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