Fan Review

Introduction to Fans

We found two comparison tests of electric fans. Engineers at the Good Housekeeping Institute tested 32 models based on four factors: ease of use, features, performance and safety and appearance. Other staff members at Good Housekeeping rated the importance of each attribute, factoring in the price to identify the best fans in four categories: floor fans, pedestal fans, tabletop fans and window fans. Unfortunately, only the four best fans are described; the other fans in the test are not mentioned. At Slate.com, Doree Shafrir tests seven electric fans, providing a rating for cooling ability, noise, design and value, as well as an overall score. Owner-written reviews at Amazon.com and other sites are most helpful for their overall ratings. A few fans top 100 reviews.

Fans use 90% less electricity than air conditioners, according to The Green Guide. A fan can make a room feel as if it's seven to twelve degrees cooler -- enough of a difference that you might be able to get by without the AC, saving energy costs and cutting down on the emission of greenhouse gases in addition to lessening demand on the summertime power grid. While a fan can't always make room comfortable enough in the heat of summer, we found helpful tips to help maximize their impact.

Fans come in many configurations, some more useful than others when it comes to cooling a room. The Entreeair Door Frame Fan (*est. $22), sold at The Home Depot, is shaped like a triangle to fit into the corner of a door frame. Although it seems like this would be a good way to increase circulation throughout the home, this particular model still needs some work. Many reviewers at The Home Depot complain that the fan's noise level exceeds its cooling power.

The price range of fans starts at about $10 for a plastic model and exceeds $100 for a metal one, but in reviews, the extra cost of a fan seems to be based more on appearance than cooling ability. However, some reviewers maintain that metal models last longer than plastic ones. While we did find some standout models, it's clear that even a cheap fan can do the trick.