Frequently Asked Questions About Fans

mulberry | Apr 22, 2011 |

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Controlling the climate in your home or office can consume a great deal of energy. Fans offer a more economical way of maintaining a livable temperature without increasing or decreasing your thermostat settings and sending your utility bill soaring. There are of course, several types of fans, and each is designed for a specific situation. Consumers want to consider the job they want the fan to do before they buy.

Here are some typical situations:

1. What type of fan would work best to keep my 14" x 18" great room cooler?
There are a couple of options of course, but a ceiling fan is often your best bet in a large space, especially if you have vaulted or high ceilings. A ceiling fan can be used to create a breeze during the warmer months but be reversed in cooler weather to better mix the warm and cool air to avoid having all of your heat hiding out near the ceiling where it naturally tends to go.

If you have high ceilings, you probably want to be sure your ceiling fan has a remote control so that it's easy to turn it on and off or speed it up and slow it down.

2. I want a fan that I can use in my garage while I'm working out there, what would you suggest?
Again there are a couple of options, but if you are working in the garage, one popular choice is a box fan. These fans don't oscillate and therefore won't stir up dirt, sawdust, and so forth around the garage but can be aimed where you need it to keep you cool. They are powerful enough to cool a relatively large area as well.

Box fans are also a good choice for drying out a floor, such as, for instance, after carpet cleaning. This is because they move air at floor level.

3. I work in an office area which I share with 2 other individuals. I'm always hot, and they are always cold. Is there a fan small enough to move the air just in my immediate area?
Sure. There are small desk fans that can be used just for this purpose. They range in size from three inches to nine inches. Some will clip on your desk and others are made like any traditional desk fan.

All desk fans are designed to cool a smaller room, rather than a large space. They are for individual use in most instances although a larger 14" to 16" desk fan which oscillates can handle an entire small room.

4. We really want to cut our air conditioning expenses and use it only in extreme circumstances. However, I want to keep our bedroom cool at night. Will a desk fan be sufficient in our large bedroom?
Possibly, but a small window fan might be something to consider also. Because it sounds like the fan will be a somewhat permanent fixture, placing it in the window allows you to keep your tabletop space open and these units sometimes offer more power, dual blades, and therefore more air flow. Some of them also have locks for security reasons which is something to consider as well.

5. I have a desk fan I really like, but I don't really have a table to sit it on in my studio. If I set it on the floor, only my feet and legs get the air movement and cooling. What is my best option?
It sounds like a pedestal fan is the right fit in this situation. It can cool a relative large area but it moves air up higher, where your upper body will get the full effect of the air movement and cooling it creates. It you have small kids or pets around however, a pedestal might not be a good idea as it could tip over more readily.

Choosing the right type of fan is a pretty easy task but you do want to think through your situation before buying. Desk fans are for individuals and small spaces, box fans are for moving air down low, while pedestal fans and ceiling fans are typically best for the largest spaces.