Fan Review

Current reviews of electric fans

Looking for a fan to keep yourself cool at home or at work? You have plenty of types to choose from, each with distinct advantages and disadvantages. For example, window fans can draw cool air into a room or blow warm air out, but they may also bring mosquitoes and other pests in through the grille. Floor fans provide the most power and can circulate air throughout a large room, but their high airflow comes with a lot of noise. Pedestal or tower fans, which can fit in a smaller space, offer good coverage for small to medium-sized rooms; most models oscillate to distribute air better. Smaller fans, which can be placed on tables or desks, are typically quieter than other types of fans and are best suited for small spaces. The smallest of all are tiny personal fans, which move very little air but offer the advantage of portability.

We found few professional reviews of fans, and those that we did find are of limited usefulness. ConsumerReports.org recently tested the new Dyson AM01 Air Multiplier (*Est. $300) against conventional fans in July 2010, but the brands and models of the other fans in the test aren't named. The editors at Real Simple magazine offer a list of 10 fans that they claim are the best out of 45 they tested for "power, sound and style," but they don't provide any description of their testing methods, and their reviews of the chosen fans are brief -- about one sentence each. Editors at Bestcovery.com, which features lists of the best products in dozens of categories, name their picks for the best pedestal, tower and window fans, but there's no indication the fans were tested and most seem to be chosen based on information provided by manufacturers. The roundup of stylish fans at ApartmentTherapy.com is even more limited -- although a photo of each fan is provided, there is no information of any kind about the fans' performance. Moreover, although the publication is based in the U.S., two of the featured fans are not widely available in this country, and one fan appears twice in the list.

Fortunately, there are plenty of user reviews for fans at retail websites such as HomeDepot.com, Amazon.com, Walmart.com, Target.com and Viewpoints.com. Many fans have more than 50 owner-written reviews, and a few have 100 comments or more. Each of these websites offers something a little different, and not just in terms of how easy it is to navigate the reviews. We found the most detailed reviews at Viewpoints.com, but there aren't as many individual reviews here as at some other sites. Walmart.com has the largest volume of owner reviews for individual models, but most are brief and give little insight into why a particular rating was chosen. Overall, Amazon.com seems to have the best balance of quality and quantity of reviews and is our main source of information for many of the fans covered in this report.

The price range of fans starts at about $10 for a cheap tabletop fan and exceeds $100 for some designer fans. However, reviews suggest that a higher price tag is usually based more on appearance than cooling ability. While we did find some standout models, it's clear that even a cheap fan can get the job done.

Of course, fans vary in more ways than just in their ability to blow air. Noise level, in particular, gets a lot of attention in user reviews, though not everyone agrees that quieter is better. Some owners prefer a loud fan that can double as a white noise machine. Reliability can be another sticking point. Although some manufacturers offer long warranties, reviews point out that returning a fan for repair or replacement can cost as much as buying a new fan. And while fans don't receive Energy Star ratings, some do use more power than others.

One line of fans that's receiving a lot of press is the Dyson Air Multiplier. The Dyson AM01 is available as a 10-inch table fan (*Est. $300) and a 12-inch table fan (*Est. $330). A tower version, the Dyson AM02 (*Est. $450), and a pedestal version, the Dyson AM03 (*Est. $450), are also available. Dyson claims these fans  --  which look a bit like oversized bubble wands  --  "multiply" surrounding air from 15 to 18 times and provide a smoother, more comfortable breeze than conventional fans. One professional test found that the Dyson AM01 does indeed produce good airflow, but blindfolded testers couldn't tell the difference between this $300 fan and an inexpensive conventional fan. So unless you absolutely love the stylish look of Dyson's Air Multiplier fans, you'll probably be just as happy with a less costly, more traditional fan.

Using fans effectively

Experts agree that you should place fans where you'll feel their breeze directly. In most cases, fans don't actually lower the temperature in a room; instead, they make you feel cooler through increased airflow. "By blowing air around, the fan makes it easier for the air to evaporate sweat from your skin, which is how you eliminate body heat," explain the editors at HowStuffWorks.com. Fans can also be used to draw cooler outside air into a room or push warm air out. An article on MarthaStewart.com recommends that if you have windows on only one side of a room, "set up a fan near the opposite wall to direct the air flow." To circulate air in a room, place a fan on a flat surface at least 4 feet high and angle it so it blows up a wall. This positioning will move stale air, according to Benjamin Bodie, the manager of a fan company, who is quoted in a Real Simple magazine article.

When choosing a fan, noise level is an important consideration. Some people like the white noise that many fans genrate, especially when they are trying to sleep. For others, the best fan is a silent one. Most of the reviews on Amazon.com mention the amount of noise a fan makes, though this is not to say that the reviewers reach a consensus on which models are too noisy. One person's purr is another's roar.

There are several types of fans to meet different situations. To cool a large room, you'll want a box fan, pedestal fan, tower fan or window fan. If it's just you at a desk, many tabletop options are available.