Pedestal Fans

Pedestal fans

With pedestal fans, the fan head is mounted on a stand so the unit can be placed behind couches or other furniture. Most pedestal fans can be adjusted so that the height of the fan head is 3.5 to 4 feet above the ground.

In the review by Doree Shafrir at Slate.com, the 16-inch Allaire Classic Oscillating Stand Fan from Restoration Hardware is the second-best reviewed fan of seven. Shafrir likes the "classic, streamlined design" and the extras: the height and angle of the fan can be adjusted, and it rotates. The fan Shafrir reviewed has since been replaced by a newer model, the Allaire Telescoping Floor Fan Brushed Nickel, which comes in 12" (*est. $190) and 16" (*est. $210) models. These fans have the features praised by Shafrir and are made of heavy-gauge, solid steel. Both models are also available in black.

On the other end of the price spectrum, Real Simple recommends the Essential Home 16" Oscillating Fan F1660 (*est. $25). The pedestal height and the angle of the fan head can be adjusted. This plastic fan isn't very exciting to look at, but features three speeds and weighs 10.5 pounds. Reviews say it's pretty quiet as well. It is available at Sears.com, where one reviewer gives it 4 out of 5 stars. This model is easy to clean -- the front grills pop off so you can clean the blades. It comes with a limited one-year warranty.

The Holmes HASF-99 10-Inch Velocity Blizzard Stand Fan (*Est. $45) receives an average of four stars from more than 30 reviewers on Amazon.com. It has three height settings: 16", 26", and 40". This 9-pound fan is made of black plastic. Most reviewers comment on the noise, which is too loud for some but just right for others. It has a three-year limited warranty, which is longer than most.

Vornado's 630 floor fan is also available as a pedestal fan, the Vornado 783 (*Est. $100) with an adjustable-height stand. We didn't find too many reviews at Amazon.com for this fan, but the overall rating is similar to other fans -- most are happy with it, but others say it's noisy and that it's not as nice as the fans Vornado made ten years ago.